Here I am... belly growing! We went on vacation last weekend to Jeff's grandparents lakehouse with the Smiths and the Daughertys. What fun! You can see Jeff getting practice with Waverley D - he's a natural! :)

Childbirth Prep

Jeff and I attended our very first Childbirth Preparation class tonight. We are totally prepared now… not. It was awesome though – our teacher was great and we enjoyed meeting the people in our class and had time to get to know some of them a little bit. They were all married couples, 12 couples total, (a huge rarity from what I’ve heard that all would be married couples). We were thankful and comforted to hear both the excitement and the fears that each couple has and to share this journey together.

I’ve really enjoyed being pregnant. I find myself constantly marveling at the wonder of being able to carry a child. Today we went to swim laps at the A.U. pool – this is such a saving grace for me. I love getting in the water and feeling my body lighten and feeling the baby’s little kicks here and there. I love thinking about the instinctual way that God made my body to endure (and enjoy) these months and to see the amazing way that the body knows what to do. I love the quiet time in the pool where I think about what it means to have the beautiful gift that God saw fit to choose us to bring life into the world.
Often times when I start thinking about the “stuff of life”, I am reminded of songs that have really hit me. For this instance, I’ll turn to the great prophet… John Mayer.

The Heart of Life
“Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
I know it won’t all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good”

I love the words and message of this song. I enjoy the idea especially relative to preparing for a new baby and thinking about how amidst the difficulties in the world and in our individual lives, love can spur new life. God’s love and our love for each other can allow something as miraculous as a precious new baby to come to be. I delight in thinking that because of love, and only love, life continues… and that is good.

Like I said, I LOVE being pregnant! Waking and falling asleep to the pitter-patter of a newborn in my belly is UH-MAZING! Knowing that I share this experience and bring this baby into the world with the man of my dreams is also a remarkable gift. Watching my belly grow (rapidly now) is pretty darn cool (and a little weird at times). It’s so astounding to survey God’s majesty as He creates.

Yo homes, smell ya’ later…
J & S & baby MCL