18 Week Update!

No matter what number I hit, I feel like it’s a huge milestone. A milestone we never even thought possible. A milestone we have never imagined journeying towards. Each milestone is a gift from God – a representation of His grace in our lives.

Dan has said at times, he forgets that I am pregnant as this is just so surreal. We will wake up, he sees my tummy, and we are reminded of the gift of life. We find ourselves rubbing my stomach, saying hi to our sweet little one, letting him/her know how much he/she is loved already. We have so much love for a child we never met! How is that possible? Well, those feelings of love were created when we were in the IVF process with our first 2. Those 2 actually were not physically created yet, but God had grown in our hearts, a love for those 2, that would soon become a part of our family. And honestly, now carrying this child, we still feel the love is the same. Of course the experience much greater, but the love for our children never weakens, whether here on earth or in heaven.

That is why our hearts go out to those who may not have children by what our world would call the “natural” way, but a heart that loves a child, is something that cannot be diminished or taken away. God led us down a very unique path to having children, but our love for them, is no different. Same for those who adopt. God has created places in our hearts for those children to fit right in – an empty space that God overflows with a child. It may not be the way we all grow up thinking it will be, but before time, God already knew what children would be in our lives.

How humbling to think. That God knew He would care for our first 2 with His own very hands in heaven. And now Lord-willing, we pray that God would reach through our hands, to care for our first earthly child. What a blessing of stewardship!

That is why I love eating raspberries. That is why I love eating cereal. All. The. Time. To think that our child is “eating” those things as well, makes me love eating healthy. But I unfortunately also love my salty potato chips at times and maybe sneak in a bowl of ice cream. I figure it’s dairy, right? Our child lets me know when I eat too much of something as my stomach grows to astronomical proportions! Smaller and more often is better for this girl!

I am still loving every part of wearing maternity clothes! The belly band, well, still an absolute wonder how that thing works so well, but it surely is creating more “space” in my pants! I just have to remember to cover up my undone zipper, as I am reminded of by my dear husband!

My body, well basically my stomach, is growing incredibly fast. Dan was gone for 2 days last week and he said it has grown. I would agree, as I am now in a part of the pregnancy where the baby starts to grow extremely fast. It has grown a 1/2 inch in one week, and is now the size of a bell pepper (for reference). I held one of those in the grocery store and couldn’t believe that our little one is that big already! That if we HAD an ultrasound this week, we could probably tell what it is! Although, our gender-revealing appointment isn’t until week 21 (in case you were wondering).

Still not a fan of chicken – I had turkey not too long ago, and I am thinking it’s more the consistency of it, that I maybe am not a huge fan of. Regardless, that is about the only food that I will pass on. Other things I just may not eat a lot of, but do not mind eating.

And our baby, well, he/she is a mover! I am starting to feel our child more and more – especially when I bend over or squat. I feel the baby is telling me “don’t squish me mom!” I can’t WAIT for Dan to start feeling the movement too. We are getting closer!

Dan and I are looking forward to our babymoon that is coming up in a short bit here! We decided to take one more getaway before this little one comes. We are ready for some sun, fun, and relaxation!

Did you go on a babymoon when you were pregnant? If so, where did you go?

Thanks again for walking this journey with us 🙂