The worried stages of pregnancy...hidden in the terms and conditions we never read.

 

We see the plus sign...the two lines...the positive.

Immediately our female minds begin to twirl and swirl...

Shock.

Excitement.

How should we tell our husbands.

Baby names.

Baby clothes.

We are in love with this little one already.

We share our news..we are sooooo happy...and then.

....and THEN! ...we feel a pinch. see some blood. have a cramp.

The worry sets in...and the questions begin?

Is the baby okay? Am I going to miscarry? Was it the unheated lunchmeat? Was it last night's "adventure" in bed? Did I walk too fast? Did I walk to slow? OH my goodness... cue the panic and tears!!!!

What? You're saying Yes! Yes! Yes! to yourself as you read this?

Of course you are...becaaaaaause ...this is NORMAL!

We can't see what is happening inside of our bodies...and we have trouble handling the unknown.

Our only choice is to.... wait ...and pray and wait and trust and pray and wait...

...so badly we want to get to the magical week of 12, 16, 20..whatever it may be.

Then..phew.. we feel safe.

UNTIL....

We hear a story of a baby in the NICU born at 25 weeks and hooked up to life support.

A whole new worry sets in. 

Oh...It doesn't stop there. 

Let's talk about the 3 worrisome phases of pregnancy.

Phase 1. 

Am I going to miscarry? Can I eat this? Did I kill my baby with a second cup of coffee? Can I run? Can I stretch? Can I lay on my back? Is the sun dangerous? 

Phase 2. 

Is my baby okay? Will he/she be born early? Are they growing enough? Do I get this blood test? Am I diabetic? What is an RH factor for?

Phase 3. 

Why isn't the baby moving? Is this a stretch mark? Is my bladder going to fall out when I push out the baby? Am I going to die in childbirth..it still happens you know! What about my husband? Will he remarry...will she be a good mom to my unborn baby? Will my husband love her more? Who will take care of the other children? Will they wrap the antique Christmas ornaments properly? Will they remember to feed my sourdough starter? The new wife better sleep on the couch...Grrr. She better not touch my husband! He's mine! She's there only for companionship and to cook dinner!!! Will she cook healthy? Ahhhhhhhh.......

These thoughts are very real to us, aren't they? I'll be honest here....

I'm writing from phase 3...practically on death's doorstep thinking this could be my last Fall season. 

Here it is ladies.....we need to RELAX!!! WE are not in control. God is.

...and if we trust Him..then whatever He has in store is what we need to be okay with.

This doesn't mean we won't have heartache...because we will.

However...worrying doesn't change anything.

In fact..while worrying...we lose the joy of the process. We lose any hope of peace God offers. 

Aaaaaalll this to say....

You are not alone with these thoughts. 

Most women have them....I'm even going to go out on a limb and say all women have them.

It's in our nature to worry about the precious life growing inside of us. 

Most likely..you are going to be fine!!! If you're struggling...message me and I'll walk you off the ledge. Haha.... ;) 

Join us next time when we discuss...

How to worry after your baby is born and then toddler worries and then new driver anxiety and then college and moving out and ladies, ladies, ladies....FYI...it never stops!!! We don't realize what we signed up for! It must have been hidden somewhere in the terms and conditions we never read.  

Dear God...please give peace to all of us moms worrying about our precious offspring. 

XxOo

Sometimes thoughts from a foggy, autumn afternoon...

Sometimes life can be difficult.

Sometimes we have to search for the good that's right in front of us.

Sometimes we take that good for granted. 

Sometimes we make moments of regret...be as intentional as you can be each day.

Sometimes {actually..all of the time} we have to be careful with our words...verbal messes are hard to clean up.

Sometimes we forget how big and good and gracious and loving our God is.

Sometimes we refuse the peace that God is pretty much shoving into our faces!!! 

Sometimes it's okay to eat five chocolate chip cookies straight out of the oven.

Sometimes it's okay to ask your husband to pick up a pizza on his way home from work.

Sometimes it's okay to go to bed at 8:00 and watch Gilmore Girls reruns.

Sometimes we need to tell a friend it will all work out..and sometimes a friend needs to tell us the same.

Sometimes we need to take responsibility.

Sometimes we need to not be so harsh.

Sometimes we wives have to stop being nit-picky and remember how amazing our husbands are.

Sometimes it's okay to not be okay...but it's not okay to live not okay all of the time..okay? 

 

XxOo

{Photos taken by my Sophia and Frankie with my camera they stole from me as they were leaving

on a walk that I ended up NOT going on! They're getting creative, aren't they?}

Firewood..one of my {300} love languages.

After days and days of rain and chilly temps...we've been tossed back into late summer this week.

The weather is warm..which brought back the bugs..so many that we can barely go outside without being bit by a "lady bug" battle thing or those super tiny, black bugs...they hurt! .

..and let's not get started on the bees.

It's 73 and sunny outside and we are IN THE HOUSE!!! 

The garden, for the most part, has finished...there are some herbs left to dry, beets left to pull and actually! ..some tomatoes and sweet peppers are ripening! It was a lovely surprise when I found them.

Firewood is one of my {300} love languages...and Jeff is awesome at this!

Our old wood stove is my favorite part of winter. {and Fall and early spring}

This past weekend we stocked up on wood..and more will arrive Saturday. 

This was not a chopping wood year, but a buying wood year.

It's easier, faster and doesn't cost nearly as much as running our heat!

Not to mention...our house stays SO much warmer! Have I mentioned how much I love the wood stove?

Having teenagers living in the house makes decorating for the seasons a lot more fun.

I am not the only one bringing home pumpkins and mums and fancy, fluffy, tall grasses for containers.

...and candles! I was gifted a pumpkin, caramel, drizzle candle that smells amazing when it burns.

Daughters are great. ..and sons too...he brought the mums home. Haha!

I love that my kids love Fall as much as I do.

XxOo