Had you told me a year ago that I would be attending baby shower after baby shower, googling things on breastfeeding and epidurals, or freaking out about how fast 34 days can go, I would have never believed you. But here we are. Reading up on all things baby, finalizing a nursery that is full to the brim of all things little girl, writing Thank You notes to gracious family and friends, and prepping freezer meals for those days we can only function long enough to turn a crock pot dial to low.
I'm going to go on a side bar here. My husband is such a hero. He stood cutting ten pounds of onions and 6 green peppers last night...starting with a pair of safety glasses but eventually ditching them when he realized the tears were flowing anyway. We prepped:
- 4 bags teriyaki pork chops
- 3 bags apple bbq pork
- 1 bag beef stroganoff
- 3 bags bbq chicken
- 5 bags honey bourbon chicken
- 2 bags pork carnitas
- 2 bags southwest chicken chili
Other things going on in the realm of pregnancy? Heartburn. From what I hear, it's just the name of the game. Fortunately I haven't had the horror stories of some women (which ends with vomiting due to the amount of stomach acid they are producing). I also have a fun crampy thing going on under my growing belly. Apparently it's uterine ligament stretching, which just makes it uncomfortable after long bouts of standing or walking. Our recent trip to Boston had me huffing and puffing and holding my belly while we found places to eat and shop. (Just for the record, the only places we bought non-meals were CVS for two liter bottles of root beer and Lindt truffles. Yeah...Travis is in love with this pregnancy thing too).
Other than that, I'm really feeling well. Sleeping has become a bit uncomfortable, but I've bought a body pillow which helps things a bit. I call it my boyfriend since it is usually squished between Travis and me, making me joke that it feels like a third body in the bed. Fortunately, I've noticed Travis cuddling up against it also. My mom was also impressed that I was able to handle raw meat last night without any terrible side effects. I know she couldn't endure any cooking meat during her pregnancies.
Anyway, during this time of Thanksgiving, I am overwhelmed by the number of blessings that are a part of my life. Travis celebrated 34 years on Monday, our two puppies turned one year old yesterday, and now we have a 34 day countdown for our next little family member. I have a job with so many caring and fun colleagues. Travis has a job : ) We have a great support network of parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...plus a church family that goes the extra mile. Plus we have so many material things...a home to live in, food on our table, vehicles to drive, clothes to wear. The list is endless. God's presence and grace are certainly tangible as a part of our lives.
I have had some crazy dreams lately, but there was one where my mother was swearing like a sailor about something. When I woke up, I started thinking about how different my life would have been had my parents not found their hope in Jesus. Where would I be today? I can tell you that their legacy has certainly changed my life...and this is probably the most important thanks I can give this season. All else may not have been in place if it wasn't for that significant step in each of their lives. Thanks Mom and Dad!
Happy Thanksgiving!
