I Want

A few months ago, one of my co-workers became a dad for the first time. He and his wife had an adorable little girl. Recently, after sharing a phone call with his wife -- where they were obviously trying to coordinate some upcoming plans with regard to the new baby -- the co-worker remarked to me, "Boy, I picked the wrong time of year to have a kid. We can't go on vacation or anything."
Now, I know what he meant, and he doesn't know my situation, but all I could muster was a polite smile to his statement and went on with my work. His remark started me thinking of all the "inconveniences" parenthood would bring, and I began making a mental list. In the end, I decided those inconveniences sound pretty good to me....

I want to bounce from one doctor's appointment to the next and get poked a prodded and get stuck with needles for blood draws.

I want to endure the bloating of ovarian stimulation.

I want to be sore from PIO injections.

I want to endure the torture of the two-week wait.

I want to wait for the dreaded call from the doctor's office the afternoon of my pregnancy test.

I want to impatiently kill time from one ultrasound to the next.

I want to have sore boobs.

I want to get morning sickness and throw up each day, have my stomach turn at the sight of a tuna fish sandwich.

I want to be so tired I can barely get through a day of work.

I want to have headaches and backaches and have to pee every 45 minutes.

I want to cry at the drop of a hat.

I want to have heartburn.

I want to miss out on a planned vacation because I can't fly while pregnant.

I want to grow out of my favorite, most comfortable jeans and have not a thing in my closet that fits.

I want stretch marks.

I want to have to pass on drinks with the girls, and just order caffeine-free ginger ale.

I want to have trouble sleeping and trouble getting comfortable in bed.

I want to worry that we won't have the nursery finished in time, and wonder if we're ready for the big day.

I want to feel contractions.

I want to wonder if the pain is ever going to end.

I want to spend two, four, six, eight, 10 -- however many it takes -- hours in labor.

I want to feel the exhaustion of just having brought our son or daughter into the world.

I want to endure one sleepless night after the next.

I want every inconvenience being a parent can bring. I want all of it, because then it simply means I'm a mom.