First Pregnancy

“Did it change colors?”

“Don’t look at me, I’m no chemist.” My husband threw back with raised palms in defense.

It’s only been a little over eleven years and things have really changed. Back then we had to carefully mix our first morning urine with a couple of different vials and hope we did everything correctly. Nice prelude to breakfast, eh?

I wasn’t pregnant that time and when I was, I only had to pee on a stick to find out. I had to wait over a year to see those two purple lines. Of course, it helps when your husband shares your bed instead of hanging out with twenty or so other guys in a barracks doing Basic Training.

I thrived during pregnancy. Don’t get me wrong, throwing up, nausea, hemorrhoids, aches, pains, heartburn and childbirth aren’t fun but all the good stuff outweighed the bad.

The first time I felt the baby move was at once eerie and awe inspiring. This “Alien” like fluttering in my abdomen would move me to smiles and tears. I can’t really explain it. It has to be experienced first hand. A little person was growing inside of me, MY little person! I shared him with my husband but it was all up to me on how he lived his first nine months.

As much as I enjoyed pregnancy, I was happy to get him out too. At least after the pushing was over, I was happy!

He was perfect, no cone head, deep blue eyes and a shock of black hair danced on his head.

When the nurse first walked in my room later, she asked if we’d had a boy or girl.

“A boy!” my husband said proudly. “I only make boys!”

To which the nurse chuckled.

God had the last laugh though.

We’ve had three girls since!



***Featured in the 05/08/2003 Short Story newsletter***