Thursday, March 24, 2011

Eight more weeks - REALLY?


This has pretty much been the state of affairs lately. The head is cut off because I'm not quite sure I'm smiling in this picture. I think I have one every-day maternity shirt that still covers the entire belly. This is obviously not one of them, even though I thought it was one of my longer ones at the start of this pregnancy. My belly is measuring about two and a half weeks larger than my current week, but nothing the doctor is concerned about. It's just a change for me since with Charlotte I was always measuring about three weeks smaller than my current week. Maybe this one will actually come on time!

It's amazing to me how much more quickly this pregnancy has gone by. For the longest time there, I kept bumping into things (tables when sitting down for dinner, walls when turning corners, Peter, when trading places in the bathroom while brushing our teeth) because I didn't think my belly was big enough already to have become my own personal obstacle. That's how fast time has flown this time around. I don't even think I had a second trimester. But, with all that said, it's amazing to me how the Lord has still used each moment to prepare me for this next stage of our lives. He's shown me such growth and maturity in Charlotte these past couple months, which has greatly eased my mind about having a newborn and an 18-month old at the same time. He's given me great encouragement regarding my many fears of how on earth I'll manage now keeping two children alive, let alone being there to teach, lead, and love them by his grace. He's also given me the support and compassion of an understanding husband who does everything he can to show me daily how much he loves me. Not to mention his role as founder and president of the Victoria Maintenance Program, with daily hip and back rubs before bed. I don't know how my back would survive this pregnancy without him! There were definitely many freak-out moments at the start of this pregnancy with sobbing cries of "how am I going to do this?!?", but God's amazing grace has turned those moments into waves of peace, trusting he's always pulled me through, and he's not about to stop now. I am so grateful to be serving such a remarkable God! James 1:2-4 has been on my heart lately, and a great encouragement to me during this time.

I decided to leave you with a smiling top-half!


1 comment:

  1. Hey my very pregnant friend. You are in the same situation I was in a few weeks ago. MISERABLE and BIG. I know exactly how you feel. Each of my babies has stretched me in new ways. ;-) And I'll never be the same (that has so many different meanings)

    I had a lot of fluid plus a big baby, so maybe that's what is going on with you too. My babies never slow down moving because they feel free to swim laps in their Olympic size utero swimming pool.

    And let me tell you that I don't know who can be the mom that she needs to be without HELP. I know I would be a failure. God is going to give you the strength, conviction, and imagination to raise those precious children. Whatever you need "magically" appears just at the right time.

    I am so excited for your little family. Eight weeks....

    I pray it go quickly so that you can get relief, but just slow enough to savor the sweet moments with Charlotte and Peter.

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