Small Beans

Tomorrow I reach my 21st week of pregnancy! Woohoo! I'm over halfway to the finish line. (Phew!) Baby is currently rejoicing within the womb. I feel her doing some sort of twisty, flippy, swimmy thing in there. I don't have to second guess whether or not her movements are just my imagination anymore. She's made it very clear that she's a pro at kicking and prodding mommy from within. Oh yes, and SHE'S a BABY GIRL! haha. Almost forgot to mention that important factor! We're having a baby girl and I personally couldn't be any happier.

Jon wasn't able to go to the BIG "gender reveal" ultrasound with me. (He couldn't get the day off.) When I walked through the door of our apartment, after the appointment, his words were: "Look at your face! You look like you just won an award!" Indeed, I did win an award. God's award to me is this little one that's doing flippies in my tummy as I type. She is SO loved, and we haven't even met her yet.

<--- Proud Mom & Dad!

As of late, my pregnancy symptoms include heartburn (I doubt it'll go away anytime soon), some sleeplessness, increased sensitivity to heat (I used to be able to tolerate high temperatures pretty well, but now I can't stand feeling hot!), stuffy nose, aching in the lower half of my body, fatigue, MAJOR increase in appetite, etc.

Pregnancy is a trip! It turns your world upside down. It does feel overwhelming some days, but I have God (Who keeps me levelheaded,) my husband (who is very loving and understanding when he notices I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed) and my family and friends. Some days are much more tough than others, but I feel ultra blessed to be in the position I'm in, and I know that every single ache, pain, and frustration will be small beans when compared to holding my baby girl in my arms.

Pain & Smiles

My throat is burning as I sit here and type. (Thank you, dearest heartburn. I truly love your effects on my body.) I have a brand new bottle of Tums sitting in our bathroom cabinet, yet I remain the obstinate Becky that i've always been. When it comes to any type of medication or pain killers I almost always just choose to suffer. I hate the thought of digesting foreign substances. Don't get me wrong now, when the pain becomes unbearable, I don't hesitate to pop them pills! However, I can tolerate this heartburn. I will conquer this burning sensation, I will!

Sidenote: Yes, I am all about getting an epidural during labor. No, I am not concerned with whether or not so and so chose the epidural. And no, I do not care if you gave natural childbirth without any pain meds. I am not you and I want the drugs, NOW! =)

I think it's funny how random strangers will ask me whether or not I'm gonna go the all natural route and reject the pain medication when it's time to give birth. When I tell them yes, I do plan on easing my pain in any way possible, they actually have the nerve to tell me I shouldn't. I really, truly would like to know who's gonna be pushing my child out. . . ME or THEM? Ha! People these days.

On a lighter note (trust me, I'm not a big fan of talking about labor, especially since i'm gonna be the one cramping, crying, and pushing in a few months) earlier today I discovered this sweet picture of Jon and I and baby in belly. A friend (named Ben) snapped this shot of us at our friend's wedding over the weekend. I love it because the look on my face speaks volumes. I look happy. . . almost too happy.  And that's exactly how I feel.

"The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."  -Psalm 19:8

Blooming Love

 Spring has sprung and life is sweeter! I've never been a big fan of winter, so I'm especially grateful for the easy breezy springtime weather.

The old pregnancy symtpoms are long gone: toodles, nausea & (please excuse the frank talk) diarrhea! 

The new symptoms are much more tolerable: heartburn (nothin' tea, milk, or tums can't fix), itching (thanks to the extra weight giving my skin a little stretchy poo), and tears. Many many tears. All kinds of tears too! Tears of joy, tears of sadness, tears of frustration, tears of confusion, tears of anger. You get the point. I'm just your typical emotionally disturbed pregnant woman is all. =)

I'm at about 18 weeks and I truly have no complaints at this point. There are days when I feel very unpretty, but when I get dolled up I feel EXTRA beautiful. So, it balances out pretty well. 

I lovelovelove my growing belly. I've been able to distinguish the baby's kicks between my normal stomach growls, and it's been fascinating. It's such a delight to be the only one who can feel the baby's movements right now. It makes me feel an extra special closeness with the baby, and it's something I'm treasuring. 

The bigger I get, the more I feel like posing for the camera! I'm fascinated by how the body works. I could never envision myself pregnant, just because I didn't think my stomach could stretch very far... I still don't understand how my body is making room for this growing child, but it's just another reason to be fascinated by God's gift of pregnancy. 

{A special thank you to my photographer/husband for capturing these moments.}

Something else I love: watching Jon have a one-way conversation with the baby via "the mic" a.k.a my belly button (which, by the way is beginning to pop!) Studies have shown (and I totally believe) that the baby will come to recognize daddy's voice before it's even born. So we'll be setting aside a daily minute or two for Dad to communicate with his unborn child. It's a pleasure for me to watch and hear the love in Jon's voice. We are both in love with this baby. 

Oh! And before I forget, I must give myself a public pat on the back for wearing 4 inch heels for five hours straight this weekend. Jon was a groomsman in his friend's wedding, and I'm all about a nice pair of heels when going out. I had no idea whether or not I'd be able to survive wearing them, but I wore them anyway. (I brought flats with me as a safety precaution.) I was very proud of myself when I walked back into our hotel room at the end of the night, still wearing those heels. Yay for pregnancy glamour!