Well then.

Good Morning 2014.  Here you are.  And here I am.  I’m not sure I was quite ready for you yet, but I’ve noticed that the way time passes is rarely affected by what I am and am not ready for, so I suppose it’s no surprise that you arrived anyway.  You were right on schedule after all, according to my calendar.  I saw you in last night, if only just, and without a bang.  Try not to take it personally.  I was sleepy.  So far you are not raining, which I choose to take as an excellent omen for the year ahead.  Thanks for that.

We’ll take down our Christmas tree today.  I’ve loved having it, but let’s face it – it’s so last year. (Oh yes, and goodbye 2013.  It’s been a ride, but it would seem our time has passed.  Organ harvesting aside, you’ve given me a lot, between the pregnancy, the travels, and the opportunities for introspection.  You’ve introduced me to new friends and new experiences and new aspects of myself that surprised me to find out existed.)

Today we will also see some movies, because a movie theatre binge is our New Years tradition.  Also, I wake up today finding myself at 36 weeks, which means there may not (undoubtedly won’t) be so many movies in the near future.  Everyone tells us we should enjoy things like this while we still can (way to make the baby sound like a prison sentence, people) – movies, dinners out, having money, sleep, quiet time.  So we’ve been enjoying – taking it easy, and following our whims, and dating.  It’s been nice. More than nice.

We’ve also been doing the other things you’re supposed to do to prepare for a baby, which mostly seems to involve buying things you would never buy under other circumstances, but for us has also meant re-decorating the guest room that will soon be a nursery, organizing the closet in said room, doing some craft projects, hiring a doula, taking extra vitamins, and trying to get our heads around the idea that where there has – for a long time, and quite successfully – been two, there will soon be three.  And the newest of the three will lack basic communication, hygiene, and survival skills.

I always look to the future with anticipation.  Depending on the topic, I have equal parts pessimist and optimist in me, but I always look forward to the unknown things that the future will bring me.  Change is stressful, but it is also exciting.  It grows you, and you never know how until it happens.  This year, there is some predictability to the changes ahead, but they are still huge changes, and the kind I have no experience with.  I am nervous and excited and happy and scared and cautiously optimistic.

So here I am, 2014.

Bring it.