Funny Question...

Jeromy and I have so enjoyed sharing the excitement of Sweet Pea the last few months - especially after so many weeks of having to keep her a secret. We consider ourselves so blessed to have family and friends who are so supportive of us, and of our growing family. People have been so kind...asking us how we are doing, how I'm feeling, sending us cards and gifts, letting us know they are thinking of us.

Amidst all of this there's a question we get quite often that makes us laugh:

Are you excited?

I suppose it's very similar to my feelings of the question, "How's married life?" when you are newly married. Now I'll be the first to admit that I have probably asked others both questions...guilty as charged. But they are both a bit ridiculous.

Of course we're excited! This baby has been talked about and dreamed of for literally years... we planned her carefully, and even if we hadn't been planning, her impending arrival would make us, two happily married, stable individuals who have always wanted children VERY excited.

Of course there is also nervousness. Sometimes LOTS of nervousness. We've heard from many that parenting is the most challenging job one can ever take on. Jeromy and I have faced lots of "tests" in our relationship, and we're certain that parenting will bring a whole new set of unimaginable "tests." I'm definitely nervous. I hope that we're ready (or as ready as we can be). I hope that we will stay financially stable. I hope that we will be able to raise Sweet Pea to be a strong, confident, and loving young lady.

And then there's the whole business of actually giving birth. This gives me so much fear that most days I just have to push (no pun intended) it out of my mind. Don't get me wrong...I'm so thankful for the opportunity to give birth. I know others who have had problems with it...and I'm infinitely thankful that Jeromy and I have not had similar difficulty. I don't want to seem ungrateful. But nervous...nervous I am.

Jeromy and I joked of how we could answer the question, "Are you excited?" We giggle about what people would think (or course we wouldn't answer this way A) because it's not the case and B) because we couldn't keep straight faces: "Noooo...." or "No...(under your breath) the condom breaks ONE time and this is where we are..."

Further, I've had people ask me, "Is your husband excited?" Ummm...last time I checked this was a two-person situation. We wouldn't be expanding our family if we both weren't thrilled about it. Yes, Jeromy's excited. We both are! And we are both nervous. Both seem to be appropriate emotions. And they can co-exist.

But admist the excitement and the nervousness, we also both rest assured that we are, and will continue to be well supported...by our families, our friends, our church family, our co-workers, etc. There's another emotion for that...grateful.