A pregnancy update on 33 weeks

It has been some time since my last update on the pregnancy - so what has happened since my last post back in late March? By the way, we are now 33 weeks and 2 days along.

Well, the belly grew some more, and so did the baby. Carrier, Baby and Mami are doing great. Daddies and the other kids are doing fine, too. There is some excitement in the air, especially in our family, as the kids have really gotten the message of another member joining us soon. I am very impressed on how much Peanut gets about this entire process - maybe because she is a girl and naturally seems more drawn to babies in general, or maybe because she feels spiritually connected to this baby because they both enter this world the same way - through two amazing women that selflessly were willing to give this beautiful gift.

The other day, Beth was coming to our house with her son, and Peanut 'corrected' me that Miss Beth is not only bringing her own son but also bringing the baby! Well, yes, she is right! We talk about it constantly, we pray with the kids for the baby, and we are celebrating in many ways. Not a day goes by that this baby is not mentioned. So we are really ready to welcome it into our family!

As of this weekend, the baby was over four pounds heavy, and reached the 17 inch mark (in length). The bones are getting stronger - YES, we can feel that! And it is a m-o-v-e-r! I can feel it, many times, swooshing around the belly, kicking me with hands and feet, showing off it's buttocks, and yes, it doesn't like to be poked too much. It is very active at night, so when I DO get to see Beth in the evening, it is like a party in her belly...... it's really cool to watch and to feel.

Things have been going great. We are truly able to enjoy the pregnancy together and are celebrating the whole process. We made the effort to 'make it work for us' and it has helped me heal SO much. We are taking full advantage of every aspect of this pregnancy - knowing that this is (probably) the last one for both of us. We share the ups and downs, of which there are many ups (and so few downs these days!), we go to the medical appointments together, and we take many pictures, we celebrate the many countdowns and are now on the home stretch. We are looking forward to the shared birth of this precious little one, and to a new 'normal' of our friendship that was forever changed.

I am truly treated as a mother-to-be, and it is awesome to be recognized this way - it's like being pampered without being pregnant. And I am very thankful to all our family and friends who have supported us throughout this process. I am thankful for the many people that have prayed with us, over us, and are still praying for a continuous smooth ride. I have learned alot about myself, about Beth, and about our friends around us. When I was vulnerable, I was greeted with love and understanding, with support and care. It was a learning experience for so many involved and it is awesome to see God work in all of us. It's amazing, rewarding, and God truly deserves all the glory for this.

Holidays can be tricky - at least for me, and only regarding the fact that our family is 'missing' a member. I don't want to dwell in that place, and really, I have been blessed that Christmas was the only holiday that I was not able to be around the baby. We did get to spend Thanksgiving, Easter, and now Mother's day with and around Beth and the baby. So yesterday, I could take a picture with ALL my children.....

It was a happy day, and I felt so blessed by what God has given me.

Happy Mother's Day to all moms and mommies-to-be!