When K.T. found out she was pregnant, she apologized in case she was stealing my thunder. Or, at least, dimming my spotlight.

Which couldn't be further from the truth.

In early/mid December, I had this somewhat irrational paranoia that my brother and his wife had also conceived and had chosen Christmas to tell everyone. Since Matt and I were saving our announcement presents until last, that would mean John would get in the first announcement.

Just thinking about it made me jealous. Don't get me wrong - I want John and Sam to have kids. I think John would make a fantastic dad. But I'd gone to all this effort to spring a surprise (and any of my friends will tell you, keeping my mouth shut for most of a month - especially to my mom - was an effort of heroic proportions) and I wanted it to be my surprise, dammit!

It turned out to be irrational paranoia, of course, and I relaxed as soon as we'd finished opening their gifts. Almost immediately, I changed my mind. It wasn't the pregnancy I'd wanted to myself, it was the news-breaking event. It would have been kind of cool to be able to share the experience with someone, if only via e-mail.

I like to talk. A lot. But only another pregnant woman would have the patience to deal with the endless yammering I want to do on the subject. I've talked to Kris a little, of course - she has nearly unbounded enthusiasm for the project - but we generally only get together with the Brandts for an occasional dinner out. And there are some discussions you just can't have in a public place. Especially with The Guys around. And anyway, Emma always sidetracks me.

So when K.T. told me they were going to start "trying" in earnest, I was very excited for them. (Suddenly, I understand how Kris felt, back when she was pregnant and urging me to join her.) I kept my fingers crossed for her, and I think I was nearly as thrilled, when she made her announcement, as I'd been for my own discovery. (Well, okay, not really. But lots.)

Last weekend, after we'd finished our editing, K.T. and I wound up talking about various aspects of pregnancy and child-rearing for something like two hours. We discussed names and the sticky question of discipline and the pros and cons of religious education and breastfeeding and maternity clothes and a whole assortment of TMI topics - you know, the sort of rambly discussion you can only have with a close friend and lots of giggling.

Jealousy? For pregnancy? Ha. The books are right - get pregnant, and suddenly you're surrounded by other pregnant women and babies. And I feel a weird kind of bond with every one of them.

Plenty of room in this limelight for all the swollen bellies.

--Liz