I HAVE been feeling a little "fat" or "whale"-like lately. I think that we, as women, can have a hard time gaining pregnancy weight. Although it's super healthy to gain a certain amount of weight (dependent on you, your body and your baby), it can still feel strange after being ingrained by society that to be beautiful means to be skinny (not that this is a good message either or that it has any truth to it...). So last night, my husband made me promise 'no more whale' talk. In a nutshell, he told me he was sad he was missing out on this whole pregnancy and seeing me get rounder with his baby - he says there are many different kinds of beautiful and that this is just another kind of beautiful. I can't recall his exact words, nor do I need to share the exact conversation, but I was touched by this. It meant a lot to me that he called me out on the 'whale'-type talk. I may have gotten tears in my eyes. I guess I needed to be reminded that being pregnant IS beautiful and that my husband loves me NO matter what.

This not only touched me, but it also reminded me of the extreme joy it is to carry a baby. I know that there are some women who can't carry babies or who have a hard time getting pregnant, and I am sure that to read a post like this would make them shake their heads and wonder how I could ever forget that it is a joy to carry a baby in my belly. But sometimes I do. We all forget important things, I think. And I needed to be reminded what a privilege it is to be pregnant, to be entrusted with a little human being that will be brought into this world, that we will raise. I have a little being in my belly right now! Isn't that cool?! I think so! He has little arms and legs and eyeballs and nostrils and a tongue! Sweet! And in a few more weeks (ok, like 8...), I will get to meet him face-to-face. But until then, I get to carry him inside of me, keeping him safe and warm while he gets bigger and stronger, until he can experience all that this world has to offer him.

So no more taking being pregnant for granted or forgetting what a joy it is. Even when I am tired and my back hurts or I have to use the bathroom forty-five times at night, I will rejoice that God has blessed us with another little one, and that I get to carry him in my belly until God calls him out to meet us. I will do my best to choose joy and to see the extreme beauty in what the Lord has blessed us with.

So, no more whale-ing for me! Thank you Maxwell.