I have always been a proponent of gender equality. The wage gap makes me angry and I find the political and social attacks on women's reproductive rights enraging. I loved playing co-ed IM sports in college, especially when it came to being able to out perform some of the guys on my teams 😏 when my now husband and I went out on our first date, as he was pulling out his wallet I grabbed the check and paid. When he asked what I was doing, I politely said that I'm perfectly capable of it and I don't believe he should feel expected to pay. He also ran in front of me to pay for the movie later haha.

So here is the core of this post: I don't think I was ever fully able to embrace what makes us, as women, so amazing until now... now that I am expecting my first child. I work for one of the top Silicon Valley companies and shuttle in. Each day is filled with nausea and the fear of having to run to the driver's trash can and apologize for the mess. I feel like my body has been hijacked, but in the best way possible. I keep pace at work with meetings and appointments and do not skip a beat even when I'm feeling terrible. I know (and hope) that in 7 months I am in for yet another painful, yet wonderful experience. I know that after that I will have to manage being a wife, a mommy, and a full time employee. 

With this new found awe and appreciation, I just want to say that all of you ladies deserve a round of applause, regardless of your situation in life-- you are AWESOME and capable of so much, NEVER forget that.