Becoming a Mom

I've always been one of those people that has trouble living in the now. I'm always looking forward to the next weekend, to the next vacation, our next milestone. But, friends, in this moment in my life, I am forcing myself to slow down and inhale the sweetness that is the present. I want to remember every feeling, good or bad. I want to revel in every stretch and change my body and life is going through now. Because friends, you see, I'm growing a little HUMAN at this present moment.

Phil and I have gone through a lot to get to this point, a lot more than I ever would have predicted at the beginning of our journey to grow our family. Last year was, hands down, the hardest year Phil and I have ever been through, together and individually. But, thanks to our merciful God, friends and family, we made it through with emotional scars that are a road map to our journey today. Right now.

And, right now, I'm pregnant and in absolute bliss. Truly, deeply and with my whole heart, I love being pregnant! When I sit down and really think about what my body has been doing these past 19 weeks, my mind is absolutely blown. I'm so amazed by how God designed women's bodies to grow and adapt to a little person being formed inside the uterus. From the beginning of my pregnancy to today, our little one has grown from the size of a sesame seed to a grapefruit - what?! At this point, our baby can swallow, suck their thumb and hear the sounds outside. I am just so in love.

I don't know if it's because God thought I needed a break from the hell that was 2013, but this pregnancy has had very mild symptoms. I really can't complain. I remember every morning waking up during my first trimester and just expecting that morning sickness to hit. Ok, this is the day I'm gonna throw up. But I never did. I've had no aversions to food, no heartburn. A lot of times I would forget that I was pregnant altogether. Then I would remember and you couldn't wipe the smile off my face no matter how hard you tried. Now it's pretty impossible to forget with my growing bump and little kicks I'm starting to feel :) I know I still have a bit more than halfway to go, but I'm so thankful for making it this far with little complaints. I know that is not something to take lightly (I've heard plenty of horror stories while sharing mine..).

This time last year I know my head and heart were in such a different place. This time next year we'll have a little 8 month or so old baby to hug, love and enjoy. A lot can happen in a year and, depending on what that year brings, it can go by so quick, or painfully slow. This year so far has been such a blessing. As we welcome August, there are still five more months to go; and I plan to try and relish each and every moment of it.

Our little growing one:

 

6 weeks

13 weeks

18 weeks