Maternity Pictures

Husband's sister is crazy talented and beyond generous to us, and we have taken full advantage of that. We are forever in her debt. She started by supplying the majority of my maternity wardrobe, gave us so many wonderful baby hand-me-downs, and to boot she's an amazing photographer.

We took advantage of her photography skills when I was right around 37 weeks' pregnant and got some awesome shots that I'd like to share before we get too far into posts about the baby being born and thriving. Plus, it's fun for me to see how much my body has already rebounded. :) I got pretty ginormous, but it was worth it for our sweet girl.

 

Week One

Dear child of mine,

You are a week old today, and momma is starting to feel a little more like herself every day, so I thought I would take the opportunity of this peaceful morning to record some of your wonderfulness. Our week has been full of healing, sleeplessness, sweet prayer time, and cuddling while you eat.

You're eating like a champ, and praise God that he designed the two of us to work so well together. There seems to be plenty of food for you and we're learning together how to make sure your tummy stays full and momma stays comfortable.

Your daddy is amazing with you, just like I predicted he would be, and your LaLa has been such a blessing to us, helping to keep us fed, in clean clothes, and taking turns so that we're all decently rested. 

It amazes me how our awesome creator designed my body to be able to support so much exhaustion and still have so much love for you and overwhelming joy at how good you are. You've been taking it so easy on us, but I have to occasionally remind myself in our less-than-peaceful moments (which only last for moments) that you're still so new and figuring all this out. It's no secret that your momma loves her sleep, but I have been sustained by loving support and God's grace to see so many blessings every day since you graced us with your presence.

I don't want to forget how I sang Jesus Loves Me to you, the way Daddy prayed for us all in the hospital, how I'm slowly memorizing your face,

how you immediately latched on after birth, or your first adorable gas smile. I'm trying to be in the moment and soak it all in because I know you're growing so fast, but I'm sure there are so many sweet memories yet to be made.

I want to record how you arrived at some point, but for now I think I should get back to resting before I let Daddy sleep some more.

I love you, sweet girl, more than words can possibly say.

-your adoring Momma

Due Date

June 5, 2014

Dear child of mine,

We made it to the day when the doctor predicted you would be completely done developing inside of me. You and me have been in this together so far (with lots of loving support from Daddy and friends/family), but I'm ready for you to be on the outside now.

I think I will miss your reassuring taps and kicks, but sometimes when your knee (yes, I can positively identify your knee) jabs out of my belly, it's uncomfortable. And I was pretty happy with my weight and shape nine months ago. The two of us together make for quite a ponderous figure.

Also, I want to move into the next phase of our mother-daughter relationship: the phase where I cuddle you and feed you and hold your precious hands instead of feeling them prod me from within. 

I'm working on perspective and patience, and I have been so blessed to have a mostly healthy, comfortable pregnancy. I have enjoyed carrying you around with me, sweet girl, and you are a gift from God. He has formed you perfectly, and now it's time for us to see your face and let Daddy snuggle you. He is oh-so-ready to start bonding with you, and he is such a good Daddy. I can tell already.

We spent the morning drinking Starbucks, walking around the Galleria, running errands, and eating Mexican food, all of which were designed to both distract us and encourage you to be born.

You're a good size and have a steady heart rate, and the doctors and nurses keep reminding me that we're both healthy and you look good. So I'm counting my many blessings as I yearn and pray for your entrance into the world. It's pretty great out here. I think you'll like the space we've created for you, and there are tons of people just waiting to "like" pictures of you and tell us you're adorable even if you start out a bit rough-looking. :)

You'll always be my baby, and I love you already.

With so much love and anticipation,

Momma

P.S. We're still waiting.