Is it Something in the Water?

Just the other day I remember writing about feeling very content with where I am in life right now, and how I have stopped thinking about the whole baby thing.

Ha. That was funny.

You see, the very next day, I found out that someone I work with is pregnant. It was a big surprise to her and everyone else, so obviously there has been a lot of excited chatter about it in the teacher's lounge.

Let me add that two other teachers have babies who are less than one year old, one other is 32 weeks pregnant, and one other is hoping to get pregnant soon. It's like there's something in the water. I believe that myself and the gym teacher are the only staff members left who do not have kids, and who are not trying. We are the minority. We're also the youngest staff members, but not by much!

I work in a small school district, so that's a pretty big percentage of our teachers who are pregnant, hoping to get pregnant soon, or who just had babies! I don't think the conversation amongst staff members has hit any subjects other than pregnancy/babies and the Swine Flu in 2 weeks. And it's about 80% pregnancy/baby talk to about 20% Swine Flu talk.

Just when I thought I was being a good little content wife, I become consumed with jealousy for pregnant teachers, and those with babies. It's not a pretty thing! I'm being totally honest with you all, but I have a hard time feeling happy for these people because of my jealousy! I know it sounds horrible! I'm praying about it and working on it, though.

As I was leaving the teacher's lounge today feeling excited for the newest pregnant teacher, yet sad for myself at the same time, I came up with a pretty good idea. I decided to make a list of all the things I want to do before we have kids. And it's not going to be a to-do list that I'm going to try to work my way through as quickly as possible so that I can hurry up and have kids. Instead it's going to be a list that I look at when I'm feeling jealous or discontent. I'll see all the things that I still want to do before having kids, and it will hopefully make me feel better about the fact that we're not ready yet. And I know you're never REALLY ready, and you shouldn't just keep waiting because all of your ducks aren't in a row. But this list is simply to keep me sane and content.

I probably won't share my list on here. However, I will share one item...probably the most important one in my opinion: Go to Disney World! I am one of those people that loves Disney World, even at the age of (almost) 25 :-) I want to take a trip down to Florida during January or February or some other not-so-touristy time. I want to stay at Disney's Wilderness Lodge which is right inside Disney World (okay, that part will NEVER happen b/c of the price. We'll definitely have to stay somewhere cheaper outside of the resort. But I'm just dreaming here ;-)) I want to ride every ride at Magic Kingdom...Space Mountain and The Haunted Mansion I want to ride over and over :-) I want to stay late and watch the Wishes fireworks show and watch the look on Luke's face when he sees the most spectacular fireworks show EVER! I want to walk through the World Showcase at Epcot Center, eating at one of the great restaurants there. I want to see the animals on the Kilimanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom, and I've been dying to ride Expedition Everest ever since it opened. I want to watch as many shows at Hollywood Studios as I can fit into a day, and I want to take Luke to see the Indiana Jones show and to ride the Star Wars ride. And I want to face my fears and ride the Tower of Terror. And of COURSE we would have to stay late and watch Fantasmic! I want to spend an evening exploring Downtown Disney and seeing the Cirque de Soleil - La Nouba show. Wow, I practically have the whole trip planned already! :-P If only money weren't an issue!

Betcha never knew I was such a huge Disney World fan! I know I'm a total nerd since I know so much about every attraction, ride, and show there. I've been there 4 times, though, 2 of which were in the past 6 years. Luke, however, has never been there. And I always thought it would be so much fun to go together once before we have kids, so that we could be kids ourselves one more time. Who knows if we will ever actually make it there before kids come along, but I sure hope we do!

So I guess now I have a "happy place" to go to whenever the jealousy and discontentment starts to creep in. And that "happy place" just happens to be the Happiest Place on Earth! :-)

Please tell me there are other Disney World fans out there. I guess I'm definitely a kid at heart!