...one is silver and the others gold. I remember singing this song in Girl Scouts Troop 1387 when I was younger and lately it has been on loop in my head as I have made a lot of new friends in the last year or so. With starting a weight loss program at the Y and starting graduate school I have been introduced to a lot of new people. My parents have often told me throughout the years that I am a "career friend'. What they mean (because I have asked) is that I have a full-time job just maintaining my personal relationships. Amen to that!
I have wonderful friends, I always have. Recently I have made two new "everyday" friends that have been so encouraging and life giving to me and I am blessed to have them. So blessed that I don't like that the song would call them silver!
This week I have also been reminded how loved and supported I am by some of my "old" friends. Not everyone has relationships that are rich and meaningful and I strive not to take these relationships for granted.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Marathon
Yesterday I completed my 2nd half marathon! This year my friend Elisha and I walked it, and we're both pregnant. She is 34 weeks and I am 21. It was tough, but so worth it. I love to challenge myself and to feel the sense of accomplishment, strength and even pain makes me feel more alive, like I am testing the limits or something. I think that must be why 17,000 people ran or walked in the half or full marathon yesterday.
I have several friends who ran the full 26.2 for the first time yesterday and they all finished! WOW! I was inspired in new ways by all of them. Some of them have been my partners in weight loss, and one has been a friend for over 10 years and is now a neighbor. Each of them ran the race for a different reason and all of them worked through injuries, distractions and negativity to get to the start line and then the finish line.
I find marathons to be emotional. To watch someone achieve something they had worked so hard for makes me cry. I know that kind of work and determination, and I have been changed by it. Silly as it may seem, I see God in it. He made us and made our bodies that can withstand so much, but are still so fragile. When I saw friends running across the line or in the race I was overcome. To a lot of people running that far seems stupid to say the least. What's the point? Is it worth the time, money and energy? Aren't there better things to put your time into? Yet for those of us out there that have tasted and seen the power God put within us in this way it makes sense.
26.2? Someday.
I have several friends who ran the full 26.2 for the first time yesterday and they all finished! WOW! I was inspired in new ways by all of them. Some of them have been my partners in weight loss, and one has been a friend for over 10 years and is now a neighbor. Each of them ran the race for a different reason and all of them worked through injuries, distractions and negativity to get to the start line and then the finish line.
I find marathons to be emotional. To watch someone achieve something they had worked so hard for makes me cry. I know that kind of work and determination, and I have been changed by it. Silly as it may seem, I see God in it. He made us and made our bodies that can withstand so much, but are still so fragile. When I saw friends running across the line or in the race I was overcome. To a lot of people running that far seems stupid to say the least. What's the point? Is it worth the time, money and energy? Aren't there better things to put your time into? Yet for those of us out there that have tasted and seen the power God put within us in this way it makes sense.
26.2? Someday.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Gender, part 2
We have chosen not to find out the gender of this baby. While I'm excited about the surprise of it all, I'd be lying if I said I'm 100% happy about that choice right now.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Gender
Since I became pregnant with my second child people have been asking me "what I want" in terms of gender. I too have asked people this question out of sheer curiosity and because some people definitely have a strong preference. I don't. No really, I don't. I really want...either one.
It also occurred to me this time that just because I give birth to a child of one gender that doesn't mean they are going to fit into that "role". Yes, I think we all have ideas about what it means to be masculine or feminine. Therefore just because E is a girl that does not mean she will want to wear pink dresses, play drees up and hate being dirty. Or maybe she'll love all those things, who knows. My point is that just because a child is male or female does not mean they will identify with that label/role at all.
So here's what I want...
Why I REALLY want a GIRL: I never had a sister and I akways wanted one. My mom has 3 sisters and a brother and the bond between she and her sisters is remarkable and I've always been envious of that. I would love it if my sweet Emaline had a baby sister. I realize that doesn't mean she'll always get along with her. I know plenty of sisters who don't. I also love and have loved the idea of raising up strong, confident women. There aren't enough of them. In fact I'm working on that in myself. There is also the reason that I love my daughter with such passion that I can't even imagine a boy. My husband is so precious to watch with our daughter. I get all kinds of warm fuzzies watching him interact with her so tenderly. I also have a lot of feminine clothes...
Why I REALLY want a BOY: I don't have a son, and I would love to know what a boy my lover and I created together would be like. Since I don't have a sister but am not an only child, this means I have a brother. I LOVE my brother. He is 12 months and 6 days my junior and we have not always gotten along, to say the least. However I couldn't imagine my life without my baby brother and think it would be so cool for Emaline to have that. I also want a son because David wants a son. He cares. He wants a boy. With Emaline he actually wanted a girl, but this time he wants to round out his family and see his son. I also love the idea of raising a man after God's own heart. There surely aren't enough of those. I also have a perfect name picked out for him...
I am having my ultrasound in a few days and will have the opportunity to find out. I'm on the fence about knowing, but will probably find out. Mostly because the way I have planned to learn of my baby's gender might even be cooler than checking between their legs myself once he/she is born. ;)
It also occurred to me this time that just because I give birth to a child of one gender that doesn't mean they are going to fit into that "role". Yes, I think we all have ideas about what it means to be masculine or feminine. Therefore just because E is a girl that does not mean she will want to wear pink dresses, play drees up and hate being dirty. Or maybe she'll love all those things, who knows. My point is that just because a child is male or female does not mean they will identify with that label/role at all.
So here's what I want...
Why I REALLY want a GIRL: I never had a sister and I akways wanted one. My mom has 3 sisters and a brother and the bond between she and her sisters is remarkable and I've always been envious of that. I would love it if my sweet Emaline had a baby sister. I realize that doesn't mean she'll always get along with her. I know plenty of sisters who don't. I also love and have loved the idea of raising up strong, confident women. There aren't enough of them. In fact I'm working on that in myself. There is also the reason that I love my daughter with such passion that I can't even imagine a boy. My husband is so precious to watch with our daughter. I get all kinds of warm fuzzies watching him interact with her so tenderly. I also have a lot of feminine clothes...
Why I REALLY want a BOY: I don't have a son, and I would love to know what a boy my lover and I created together would be like. Since I don't have a sister but am not an only child, this means I have a brother. I LOVE my brother. He is 12 months and 6 days my junior and we have not always gotten along, to say the least. However I couldn't imagine my life without my baby brother and think it would be so cool for Emaline to have that. I also want a son because David wants a son. He cares. He wants a boy. With Emaline he actually wanted a girl, but this time he wants to round out his family and see his son. I also love the idea of raising a man after God's own heart. There surely aren't enough of those. I also have a perfect name picked out for him...
I am having my ultrasound in a few days and will have the opportunity to find out. I'm on the fence about knowing, but will probably find out. Mostly because the way I have planned to learn of my baby's gender might even be cooler than checking between their legs myself once he/she is born. ;)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Staying home
Today has been one of "those days" where I think to myself that it would probably benefit my entire household if I went to work. What that means is, it would benefit me to be away from my sweet girl for a few hours. It's just a fleeting thought, but I thought if I wrote it down I might feel better right this minute. NO, I am not planning to go back to work anytime soon. Truth is I normaly lovelovelove staying home with her, even on bad days
Some days there is entirely too much going on and I get overwhelmed.
Today I heard from an old college friend and she said that her 8 year old daughter is experiencing kidney failure and they are waiting for a donor kidney. In the meantime this sweet little girl will be on dialysis for 8 hours a day, 3 days a week at Columbus Children's Hospital, an hour from their home. Suddenly my days with a sometimes loud, often defiant and HEALTHY toddler have been feeling like a gift. That's because they are.
Some days there is entirely too much going on and I get overwhelmed.
Today I heard from an old college friend and she said that her 8 year old daughter is experiencing kidney failure and they are waiting for a donor kidney. In the meantime this sweet little girl will be on dialysis for 8 hours a day, 3 days a week at Columbus Children's Hospital, an hour from their home. Suddenly my days with a sometimes loud, often defiant and HEALTHY toddler have been feeling like a gift. That's because they are.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
This pregnancy in contrast to the one that resulted in Emaline...
This pregnancy could not be more different, and I want to document it here.
Sickness: With Emaline I felt pretty great and never really experienced "morning sickness", but I was fatigued in a major way. This time? I threw up multiple times a day from weeks 7 to roughly 13. WORTH IT.
My health: Last time I was diagnose with GD at 10 weeks and had high BP and was taking meds twice a day. This time my sugar has been perfect and my BP has been the same. PRAISE GOD!
Movement: With Emaline all movements felt very strong and powerful, even early on. This baby seems to flutter around and just kind of peacefully stretch. It's amazing either way. I LOVE feeling my babies move in my womb.
Weight gain: With Em I lost 6 pounds the first trimester and then gained 18 after that, or 12 pounds more than pre-pregnancy weight. At 18 weeks I was up 8 pounds...and I lost none in the beginning.
Prenatal care: Last time I saw an OB and he was great, but he spent very little time with me. I also had appointments with great frequency. This time I am seeing a MW and my appointments last an hour and are so in depth.
Birth: With Emaline I was induced and after a looooong labor I had a cesarean for "failure to progress". This time I am hoping to have a water VBAC. If things keep going like they are, I'd say I have a great chance of that happening.
As long as the end result is the same, a HEALTHY baby, I will take whatever this pregnancy has to give me, just like I did last time.
Sickness: With Emaline I felt pretty great and never really experienced "morning sickness", but I was fatigued in a major way. This time? I threw up multiple times a day from weeks 7 to roughly 13. WORTH IT.
My health: Last time I was diagnose with GD at 10 weeks and had high BP and was taking meds twice a day. This time my sugar has been perfect and my BP has been the same. PRAISE GOD!
Movement: With Emaline all movements felt very strong and powerful, even early on. This baby seems to flutter around and just kind of peacefully stretch. It's amazing either way. I LOVE feeling my babies move in my womb.
Weight gain: With Em I lost 6 pounds the first trimester and then gained 18 after that, or 12 pounds more than pre-pregnancy weight. At 18 weeks I was up 8 pounds...and I lost none in the beginning.
Prenatal care: Last time I saw an OB and he was great, but he spent very little time with me. I also had appointments with great frequency. This time I am seeing a MW and my appointments last an hour and are so in depth.
Birth: With Emaline I was induced and after a looooong labor I had a cesarean for "failure to progress". This time I am hoping to have a water VBAC. If things keep going like they are, I'd say I have a great chance of that happening.
As long as the end result is the same, a HEALTHY baby, I will take whatever this pregnancy has to give me, just like I did last time.
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