Yep. That’s a 19 up there. A little number, if you ask me.

An old man stopped me in the grocery store today to tell me I was going to have a baby. I asked him with a smile, “Do you think so?” He was so sweet and unassuming. And he surprised me. “Yep,” he said. “And it’s going to be twins!” I gently assured him that it was not, but just that I was 2.5 weeks away from my due date, and I laughed a little. “Nope, twins,” he repeated. “Two girls. And I know their names, too. Kate. And Replicate.” HA! He totally had me. And then he quipped, “And if it’s two boys…Pete. And Re-pete!” Here I thought I was just entertaining the notion of a cute older gentleman, and it turns out he was entertaining me. We had a good laugh, and I wished him a good evening. Ah. The little things.

I’m thinking about this tonight because really, this pregnancy and all that I’ve enjoyed about it has been made up of the very little things. Sure, I’m gearing up to post photos of a finished nursery, and now I drive around with a car seat reminder in the back of the Jetta, and both feel like VERY BIG THINGS at the moment. But when I look back day by day, it’s all of the tiny interactions, the midday thoughts and daydreams, the movements in my belly and the meaningful well wishes from people we love that have made it all so incredible. I feel like I’m watching a movie, and I’m inside of it at the same time.

Jason and I made our way around the nursery tonight, and as I folded up blankets and we played briefly with stuffed animals and toys, I was thinking about all of the people who have blessed us with things in honor of Baby K’s upcoming arrival. I remember which gifts came from whom, and why they’re significant; I admire stitches hand sewn with baby in mind and bedding lovingly crafted by a soon-to-be-grandma and a great aunt. I consider sacrifices of time and resources and hospitality–all of which have ushered us through this season and helped us, one gesture at a time, to prepare for what is next.

All of baby’s clothes are washed and folded, his or her blankets tucked away and awaiting a cuddly little person to warm and swaddle. Toys all wait to play, books to be read, diapers to be worn, music to be loved and listened to day after day. And we wait to be parents. To cradle and comfort and sooth and bathe and snuggle and pray for and love more than we can even begin to fathom now. Then, it will still be all of the little things that matter…only the little things will be fingers and toes, eyes and ears, wisps of hair and tear drops and the greatest sounds in the whole world.

I’m so drawn to the little things right now. And it all gets littler from here.

soaking it in,

mm