Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3 NLT
Many of us have vivid memories of those early pregnancy days. Being pregnant was a time of great … well, expectation (yes, pun intended). No matter how long ago it may have been, we can still retrieve those moments during that season of our lives when things were so full of hope and unknown joy.
And then things started to get serious … like, really serious. Suddenly you found yourself a bit more moody and uncomfortable, and more discomfort accompanied the increasing moodiness. Can I get an ‘amen’ here?
Relationship with food became a love-hate sort of thing, if you know what I mean. Being hungry but not liking those familiar smells and textures and oh, my, some of the appearances … one would think we would be destined to lose more weight during pregnancy rather than gain it. How I wished that was me — all five feet of me!
"Sister, go with your gut - literally. If you're not feeling like it's going down, it probably won't. So, don't force yourself to eat and trust me your baby will still survive. Your OB/GYN has your baby covered."
With each passing week and month, our faces become fuller with radiant smiles (most of the time — okay, some of the time) as do our bellies. I’ll let you in on a secret: my second child pregnancy caused me to outgrow my maternity clothes. Oy vey! It was deemed a (moderately) high-risk pregnancy, giving me a prescription for total bedrest for the entire first trimester. Needless to say, I was ginormous. By the time I was released to return to work, not one stitch fit. I had to literally pray my way through comments like, “Oh, you’re having twins!” (at four months along) was not easy to receive. “How do you manage to drive?” Trust me, if I didn’t have to, I would have chosen not to. But I was working full-time.
My Mom had to make my maternity dresses because I couldn’t find any that would fit me - I called her “Omar, The Tent Maker.” If you think I’m kidding about how big I grew with them: we measured the day I went in to have them - I’m 5’2” and I was 48” around!! Pretty close to being a 4x4!! ~ Kathy Glor
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11a NIV
When my daughter broke the news about her pregnancy, we met up in the parking lot of our hair salon. I was exiting the building when I bumped into her and my son-in-law. My daughter gave me a strange look, pushed a bag into my hands and ran off to an unoccupied part of the parking lot. My son-in-law stood looking at me as I opened the bag. Inside was a baby onesie that had the imprint: USMC on the front.
Of course what followed was an elated holler that vibrated against all structures within a five-mile radius. Then where was my daughter? Yes, she was experiencing her first round of morning sickness.
This is a different era from ours. We didn’t have the cute outfits that y’all have, nor did the photographer find it appealing to capture our blossoming silhouette. The messy bun was not fashionable during our time — but you can sport that throughout your nine months and look gorgeous.
If you're in these trenches right now, Sweet Friend, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The journey you're on has been well worn by those who want to embrace you with loving arms and a full supply of 7-up and soda crackers. We acknowledge that you're trying so hard to look your best as you're feeling your worst on many days. And it's okay to skip some of that painstaking ritual called makeup and smell-good-bath-stuff (some of which may turn your stomach during this brief time).
"When you're pregnant, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to take frequent naps and put those feet up." ~ Jo C.
Keeping a journal may help capture those precious thoughts of yours and place them in a secure place where you can later share with your children. It will give them a window into your heart when yours beat in tandem with theirs.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
*Thank you to Kathy Glor (mother of three and grandmother to 11) and Jo C. (mother of three and grandmother to 4) for their contributions in this segment of Bite Size Morsels (of motherhood).
Titus Two 