Creation Up Close and Personal

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

I'm a believer in the bible and have been since I was very little. As a result I have been to many Sunday school classes and vacation bible schools. This means something other than the fact that I have eaten my share of Kool-Aid and stale cookies. It means I have heard certain bible stories over and over again. One of those stories is the creation story. It is the first story in the children's bible you receive for Christmas and it goes something like this: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, then the land and the sea, then the birds and the fish, then the mammals and then for his masterpiece he created a man from the dust and his wife from the man's rib. The older you get the more amazing you realize the story really is.

Then one day you conceive a child. Suddenly everyday is an encounter with the Lord as the Creator. I have come to know God as my friend, father, king and I have pondered him as the Creator but it's never been like this. The science of today allows us to know the developments of gestation on an almost daily basis and since we live in the information age we have access to it at our very own, thoughtfully created fingertips. I get email updates everyday telling me about another thrilling feature or ability being woven into the baby developing in my body. Or I flip through one of my pregnancy books to see what God is working on with my little one that week or day and it is as if I am standing right there with him at the creation of the heavens and the earth. It is equally monumental and mysterious to me.

The God who created the galaxies, oceans, plains, mountains and every grand creature that crawls, flies or swims the surface of the Earth also creates my child. The Almighty that makes all of nature's components work together in a complex but smooth process is finalizing an organization of bodily systems that will support my child's existance his or her whole life.

He looks at each of us as important enough to create as beautifully and wonderfully as he made the stars, the oceans and great heroes that came before us. This pregnancy and the parenthood that waits on the other side is a picture of the love God pours out on me...on all of us.

I love my pregnant body...today.

I have written before about how I was getting fatter and wasn't sure how I felt about it. I have decided once and for all (for today) that I'm very okay with it. Maybe it is the ease of being out of the first trimester that has me in such a good and accepting mood, but I'm enjoying my pregnant body for reasons other than my expanding "northern regions". Here are a few...

I'm Privileged to Do It Only about half of the population even has the theoretical chance to be pregnant and of the 50% of us that do, not everyone who wants to gets to. Not only am I pregnant which I have dreamed about since I was a little girl making everyone pretend I was the 'mom' and shoving throw pillows up my shirt, but it was easy for us to conceive. I'm not allowed to whine.

I Got This I'm no dummy. I can keep from gaining 100 pounds that won't ever come off. I know what to eat and what not to. And I exercise. If I keep the Pop Tarts out of the house and get out and move my body, I have nothing to worry about. Maybe I will tie a Pop Tart to a string just out of reach while I jog (eh, em...walk) on a treadmill. I've got this under control.

It Won't Last Forever When this nine months is up (less than 6 now!) I will have a beautiful baby and a little weight to lose. But to be honest, I am looking so forward to being unrestricted after the baby is born and working up a real sweat. I might horseback ride, jump on a trampoline and play tackle football all in one day for exercise! Not to mention that hungry little person that will help me burn a good 500-1000 calories a day. I'm pumped--pun totally intended.  I'm also going to eat as much sushi as I possibly can. That has nothing to do with losing baby weight but I really miss sushi in addition to tackle football.

I know full well that tomorrow I could wake up and burst into tears while I dress because, "I don't have anything to wear," but I will look back on this rational blog entry to remind myself of my excitement today over my changing body and know that my fears come from once being 305 pounds and then losing 130. I will make an intentional decision to relish in my expanding belly and the miraculous things going on inside it.

How about you? Did you enjoy your body during your pregnancy or did you waffle back and forth like I have? Mmmm....waffles.

Nothing but Fear Itself

I believe it was President Roosevelt who said, "...We have nothing to fear but fear itself." That is very wise but clearly, Mr. Roosevelt had never been pregnant.

Blog Name Change

I realized there was already a Mama Mandy online, so I changed the name of my blog from "Mama Mandy" to "Mrs. G Plus One."  Hopefully this isn't too upsetting for my nearly one quarter of a dozen followers!

Sincerely,
Mrs. G

Growing Belly, Liquid Garbage and Feeling Good!

I am now 13 weeks along and now in my second trimester. Other than reaching the milestone itself, there isn't anything all that interesting going on, (to outsiders anyway). Like I mentioned in my last post, we heard the heartbeat for the first time and we are still listening to the recording all the time. I can't wait to go to the doctor, (who is actually a midwife, but who says 'go to the midwife'?) in 3 weeks and hear it again. But I think as far as really exciting things go, it will be a few weeks before anything happens.

In the meantime I am getting my kicks from the little things about pregnancy in the second trimester. For instance I feel pretty good. In the past week or so I have not been queasy at all. I might be feeling better due to the iron supplements I have been taking. Believe me, they are no picnic to take but let me tell you; I take them like a freaking champ! I have to take liquid supplements because my body doesn't process tablets normally because of my gastric bypass surgery from five years ago. There are no words to describe the disgusting factor of these vitamins...literally. There is no smell or taste I have ever experienced before to compare them to. It is the color and consistency of mud, has floating chunks in it and if I had to try to describe the taste I would imagine it is like boiling dumpter garbage and then drinking the left over water. But every morning I get up, pour my medicine cup with a dash of OJ, hold my nose, lean over the sink (in case I throw up, of course), and toss it down the hatch. I give a big shiver and gulp my glass of orange juice down.

Secondly, my belly is getting a little bigger. Some days this is a bummer but most days it is a happy reminder that my baby is getting bigger. Most people looking at me might just think I have a spare tire around my mid-section but I know it's my little bambino growing, growing, growing! I am so looking forward to being obviously pregnant. Today the non-maternity jeans I bought a few weeks ago to "grow into" have been grown into. I also took all my "skinny" underwear and bras and put them in a box in my closet to be temporarily replaced with some large and in charge undergarments!

I feel like just a week ago I took my pregnancy test. The time is flying by and before I know it I will be holding my baby in my arms! So these little the things are keeping me amazed on a day by day basis.