Overdue

The 14th May has officially come and gone and this baby still has yet to show his little face. Instead of moaning about it, I've decided to take a few moments to write about a few sweet things I want to make sure I remember in the days to come:


1.)  An 'easy' pregnancy- Before getting pregnancy I heard plenty of stories and read enough 'what to expect during pregnancy' articles/books to have been sufficiently convinced that pregnancy would be a miserable affair. Sure, there have been moments of real discomfort, but really I've been blessed with what others might term an 'easy' pregnancy. I have not endured morning sickness, skin problems, serious exhaustion, anemia, varicose veins, sciatica, leaking breasts, etc.... In fact, the list of pregnancy niggles and symptoms that I haven't experienced is long and scary compared to what I have actually encountered. During the first 20 weeks the fact I was feeling physically healthy/normal made me wonder if I was actually pregnant and I'd worry that there must be something wrong. (How could I be pregnant and not feel terrible?) It turns out that feeling healthy and having energy is not something to worry about and it has allowed me to stay active throughout pregnancy, which I'm hoping will be helpful when it comes time for labor and recovering from birth. (Maybe I'll be blessed with an 'easy' delivery too... maybe?) Now, at the end of this pregnancy, I finally feel confident enough in the truth that every pregnancy is different to not worry. I hope I remember this in future when I feel the urge to blether on about my experiences to some other first time mom, who will inevitably not experience what I did.

2.) Wiggles- I realised for the first time this week that soon my belly will be empty again and those reassuring wiggles and kicks that I look for throughout the day will be gone. At this stage of pregnancy, many of the Tiny One's movements have become uncomfortable, but there is still nothing better to calm the worries of a first time mom than feeling those wiggly signs of life. I can't wait to get to see this little one, but at the same time, I don't want to forget the specialness of getting to carry this little life around inside me and those moments I've been stopped in my tracks, in awe of the amazing God who created us. Ross and I can only speculate about his appearance, personality and health, but there is nothing more stunning than to remember that this little boy is already perfectly and wholly known and loved by his Heavenly Father. We worry about our precious child, but this baby is even more precious to the One who created him- what a sweet and wonderful truth!

3.) Joy- You hear plenty of horror stories about having children and the struggles of parenting. Ross and I are under no illusions that being parents will be easy. However, in amongst the realities of diapers, temper tantrums and a lack of sleep, I want us to remember the joy we have now just thinking and dreaming about our baby boy. Once he arrives it might be easy to forget how much we want this 'Honey Bunn' and how eager we are just to see his little face in these final days of waiting, but I want to hold on to the joy we feel about becoming parents in this moment in time- when feeling him wiggle and kick in my belly is enough to light up our faces and when we feel amazingly blessed to have been entrusted with the gift of this little life.

4.) I love my husband- In many ways pregnancy is the lone task of women and yet going through all the physical, emotional and practical changes of pregnancy were made that much sweeter because of the man I've had by my side. Together we giggled in disbelief at the positive pregnancy test and starred in silent awe at the tiny wiggling figure on the scan monitor. Together we have prayed and planned, worried and dreamed about this new addition to our family. I may be the one carrying this baby, but in many ways Ross has spent a significant part of the last 9 months carrying me- calming me when I've worried, massaging my aching back and feet, making sure I've eaten and rested enough, indulging my cravings for citrus fruit and peanut M&M's, taking on extra chores to give me a rest, praying for me and our little one, and holding, encouraging and enduring me during these last couple months of depression. I have absolutely loved the laughter and joy we share, snuggled close in our bed, thinking up crazy names for baby, speculating who he will look like and anticipating the madness we have before us. Soon 'Just the Two of us' will be a thing of the past, but I can't wait to see the Boy finally in his new role as Dad.

5.) Psalm 30:5- 'Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.' After two months in the dumps of pre-natal depression, I have enjoyed being back to my normal self the last couple weeks. Thankfully things were never as bad as they could have been, but I am still really thankful to be out from under that cloud and am enjoying being able to spend these last days of waiting in genuine excitement, looking forward with joy to welcoming our son into the world. 

Come as soon as you're ready, Tiny One. We can't wait to meet you!