The Glow

There have been many times I have joked that if Adam wants anymore kids, he’s going to have to learn how to get pregnant and birth these children without me! There’s no doubt that I have whined my way through each and every pregnancy. But today, in the spirit once again of Thanksgiving, I am thankful that I have been able to be pregnant three times.

I am huge. It’s hard to imagine that I could possibly get any bigger. I am so grateful for all the people that nicely tell me that I’m small but I’m on to you! Either your vision is failing you, you are unfamiliar with how I look not pregnant or you are just humoring me because you remember what it feels like to be 34 weeks pregnant. Picking up a dropped sippy cup is a squat that is harder than my total conditioning class. Walking up the stairs while carrying my two year old is similar to running a marathon. Sleeping is as much a luxury as a punishment – luxury when I reach slumber, punishment when I’m up in the middle of the night. The list goes on and on.

The truth is though, I would never trade it. I’m so grateful to be able to feel this little being kick inside me, even if they are bouncing off my hip and rib cage simultaneously. Knowing that I am providing this being with nourishment while in my body, as well as out of my body, is a heart warming feeling even if it means I can’t take any good heart burn medicine. Making a human being from scratch is a concept that is so huge I cannot even come close to wrapping my head around. I am so thankful that I am a participant through the process.

There are two human beings that are currently walking the earth with my DNA. They would not exist if it weren’t for Adam and me. They rented space out in my body for some time, came into this world and have allowed me to sit front row as they continue to blossom into individuals. And as much as I may have bigger hips as a result, I wouldn’t trade the ability to have this experience for all the toned abs in the world.

So in addition to being unbelievably grateful for my children, I am also so very thankful that I have been able to experience it all. And someone feel free to remind me of this blog when I am in labor 🙂