Before the weeks began, a wish

One of my cradle-to-grave bffs is less than a week from her due date. Her road to 40 weeks was neither a short nor an easy one.

After 2 heartbreaking miscarriages, A’s 3rd pregnancy left us full of hesitant hope – even though we were both bummed that it meant canceling our summertime trip to Newfoundland, our 3rd Canadian province in the same amount of years.

Not long after she shared the early news with me, I happened upon a small trinket in a store. If you know me, you know I’m never one to pass up the perfect purchase, especially for another.

In a box measuring no more than 2 inches was a tiny ceramic gold star, etched with the words wish a little wish.

It was the only one in the store, sitting solo among the pretty, frivolous decorative wares.

I bought it, then gave it to A, proclaiming it was to bring her good luck as she held her breath through those uncertain first 3 months of pregnancy.

Three months came, and went. By the time she felt secure carrying the baby we’ll meet any day now, I was in the thick of cycle monitoring and trying to conceive myself.

She handed the star back to me at that time, sharing that it had sat atop her bedside table every night, and now it was me who needed the extra luck. I promised to never move it from my own nightstand, and I haven’t, as I sit here marking 18 weeks into my pregnancy.

It will, however, move on soon.

My friend B and her husband have been trying to conceive for some time, and it’s time to pass on the luck to her.

A and I are both hopeful that this simple little star will make her wish come true as well.

At 18 weeks, my little wish is now 5.5 inches long, and weighs about 6.5 ounces. The nervous system is maturing rapidly, and hearing is becoming more acute. Baby is yawning, hiccupping and swallowing, as well as twisting, rolling, punching and kicking – and I’m told I should be able to feel it soon.

In another 2 weeks I have my 20-week anatomy ultrasound, where I could – but won’t! – find out the sex.

What do you think? Boy or girl?