Just Me in My Comfy Pants (March Edition)
So… it’s been awhile.
I think pregnancy can do that to a girl.
But I miss this, I miss you, I miss writing. So, as I am
feeling quite rusty, I think I shall warm up by sitting in my comfy clothes and
just telling you a few random things that are going on in my life and things I
have been learning.
1. I am 21 weeks pregnant. Older women tell you that each
pregnancy is different, and maybe a part of you thinks they might know what
they are talking about, but this other part expects it to look the same as
before. Yeah, those women, they know what they are talking about. I have this
vague memory from my previous second trimesters where I had gobs of energy,
where my back didn’t hurt yet, where my “baby tummy” wasn’t quite so far out
yet, where false contractions didn’t happen yet… maybe I remember wrong,
because this time around: energy=0; back=I just bought a maternity girdle
because hello sciatic issues and lower abdomen pain; waistline=I look like I am
either carrying twins or am 2 months farther along; Braxton hicks= since like
16 weeks and they are strong.
2. This baby is fickle. I am
still nauseous, though it is nothing like it was the first sixteen weeks, so I
will gladly take it. I can’t eat anything acidic (oranges, lemonade, marinara,
pizza sauce). I can't keep onions down (not in salad, not diced in my meat, not carmelized... no onions). Pretty much the entirety of Asian cuisines disgust me: Cantonese,
Thai, Sushi, lumpia, rice noodles, and soy-sauced anything. I worry I might be off coffee for life. And
if you know anything about me, the Amanda prior to baby #3 lived for her
morning iced latte and deep conversations spent over a hot vanilla latte. The
Amanda currently housing baby #3 wants to get sick just talking about coffee…
so, um, how about we change the subject?
3. I complain sometimes because this pregnancy has not been a
cake-walk, but I am just so grateful. So grateful. Everything feels like a
miracle. Everything is a miracle. Each kick. Each doctor visit. Each time I
hear that beating heart. Each time the kids put their mouths to my belly and
talk to their sibling. I will take the nausea, the back aches, the insomnia,
the food adversions, and really, I promise, I take them with joy… because this.
I held on for dear life to the promise of this little one. I am not letting go of my resurrection-power miracle over temporary complaints. I am overwhelmed
by His goodness and grace... and I am clinging to it. You guys, I get to be a mom to this baby!
4. We are having….
A BOY OR A GIRL!!
(Do please pay close attention to that conjunction in there.
It’s OR not AND.)
We decided to be surprised in the delivery room. (I am
pretty sure I am going to share our reasons in a light-hearted post coming
soon, so I’ll tell you more about it then.) Everything looked great at our 20
week ultrasound. Side note: I am pretty sure I noticed a cleft in the baby’s
chin. I sort of squealed over this. It’s one of my favorite features on my husband.
5. I got to go to a local writing conference last month. It was
so refreshing. I got to spend time with a dear friend; talk metaphor,
character, style, theme with people who get just as excited about those topics
as I do; get encouragement just for writers that had gospel all through it; get
some really great wisdom on non-fiction writing and writing a book proposal.
You guys, I also won a writing scholarship that will pay my way to next year’s
conference, membership to a group that essentially provides support for
writers, and pays for an expensive writing conference where there are
acquisition editors, literary agents and classes taught by renowned authors and
experts in the Christian writing field! I feel like I pretty much got handed a
vote of confidence from seasoned writers and the tools I would need to send a
book out into the wide world. Amazing. And if you want to hear me continue
gushing, on the award it says this: “who communicated a message of grace, hope
and love in a creative work.” Could there possibly be anything better to have
said about the work of your heart or message of your life? So humbling and so
crazy exciting.
I feel like there are a ridiculous amount of things I could
tell you because it’s been months, but I need to leave off for now. I sort of
need to cook dinner. But since I was
able to get a nice camera with our tax return last week (I am SOOOOO excited
about this! It’s been on the wish list for years.), how about I leave you with
a few pictures of life around here?
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| Tummy talks in the kitchen |
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| Just a dog and her Capri Sun... wait, what? |
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| My in laws got a new puppy. This picture just makes me smile big. |
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| I planted daffodil, tulip and hyacinth bulbs last October after my last miscarriage. Here they are in full bloom while my belly is getting full big with a little life who kicks and hiccups and rolls. Spring always comes. |
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| Nope, not choking him. :) |
By Grace,
Amanda Conquers