I feel a bit overwhelmed at the level of concern and love that has been shown to us in the past 48 hours. Thank you all so much for your kind comments and emails and words of encouragement. I know I haven't responded to you all, but know that I have read them all and feel such an immense amount of love.
Last night my aunts threw me a baby shower. It was a triple shower for me, my sister in law, and my cousin- we are all due with our firsts within a month. (Mormon style- three in one!) Each almost mom to be was asked to share what the most surprising thing about pregnancy had been. To be honest, pregnancy hasn't surprised me too much. It has pretty much been what everyone always said it was going to be. Back aches, tummy flutters, growing bellies, weird relationship with food.
What has surprised me the most is the way other people to react. I first felt this when I announced my pregnancy. The response on my blog was overwhelmingly kind and encouraging. My family was beside themselves with excitement. My students wanted to have a say in names. I guess I thought it wouldn't really be too big a deal to most people that Greg and I had decided to start a family. But it was. I think there is something abotu bringing life to this world and welcoming such an innocent, little thing that really brings people together. My dad always loved the idea of "gathering" people- I have been surprised by how many people this soon to be living and breathing baby has gathered to me. Total strangers stop to ask when I'm due and if we know the gender. People who wouldn't look twice at me offer to help me in the grocery store. This week a lady came up to me at the pool, "Oh girl, I feel you. I was pregnant in the summer last year and it was rough. Popsicles and swimming pools are your survival key!"
And that's not to mention the people that do know me and care about me. Friends and family called and texted yesterday, seeing if there was any way they could help me get ready. People I know from college, from work, from a camp I helped host four years ago. My friend in California told me she'd drive ten hours to be here if I needed and that, "you know I really would too." Yep. I know she really would.
So thank you! Thank you for showing me that the most surprising thing about being pregnant is how totally nice people are. That it brings out the best in people- the kindness and gentleness. Thank you all for the kindness that has been shown to me and my little family. We will take it with us, hoard it, keep it close this next week, and then do our darndest to send it back out in the world.
Last night my aunts threw me a baby shower. It was a triple shower for me, my sister in law, and my cousin- we are all due with our firsts within a month. (Mormon style- three in one!) Each almost mom to be was asked to share what the most surprising thing about pregnancy had been. To be honest, pregnancy hasn't surprised me too much. It has pretty much been what everyone always said it was going to be. Back aches, tummy flutters, growing bellies, weird relationship with food.
What has surprised me the most is the way other people to react. I first felt this when I announced my pregnancy. The response on my blog was overwhelmingly kind and encouraging. My family was beside themselves with excitement. My students wanted to have a say in names. I guess I thought it wouldn't really be too big a deal to most people that Greg and I had decided to start a family. But it was. I think there is something abotu bringing life to this world and welcoming such an innocent, little thing that really brings people together. My dad always loved the idea of "gathering" people- I have been surprised by how many people this soon to be living and breathing baby has gathered to me. Total strangers stop to ask when I'm due and if we know the gender. People who wouldn't look twice at me offer to help me in the grocery store. This week a lady came up to me at the pool, "Oh girl, I feel you. I was pregnant in the summer last year and it was rough. Popsicles and swimming pools are your survival key!"
And that's not to mention the people that do know me and care about me. Friends and family called and texted yesterday, seeing if there was any way they could help me get ready. People I know from college, from work, from a camp I helped host four years ago. My friend in California told me she'd drive ten hours to be here if I needed and that, "you know I really would too." Yep. I know she really would.
So thank you! Thank you for showing me that the most surprising thing about being pregnant is how totally nice people are. That it brings out the best in people- the kindness and gentleness. Thank you all for the kindness that has been shown to me and my little family. We will take it with us, hoard it, keep it close this next week, and then do our darndest to send it back out in the world.
What is wrong with me and why did this make me cry!?
ReplyDeleteAw this is so sweet! I'm a new reader and I have a couple more years until we are ready for a baby, but I'm definitely looking forward to some baby posts!
ReplyDeleteJen
witsicle - a life & style blog
Good luck with everything, and know that no matter when you think the baby is coming, even if it's a scheduled c-section(!), you will never be READY for the baby, however your heart and mind and body will know what to do when it's time ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you! And I'm rooting for you that everything goes well. It's a beautiful thing to see how people rally around pregnant women. One month before Axel was born (and I was the opposite of you, measuring extra LARGE) a woman came up to me at a restaurant. I was with my sister-in-law's who are both a size 0 and feeling so whale like. This woman said, "You are just so beautiful, and you might not feel like it, but I want to tell you that you are" and that phrase carried me.
ReplyDeleteI want to drop my whole life to come and fold clothes for you and help you decorate your baby's new room!!! But I feel like that would be weird, so I'll just watch from the blog :)
Sending prayers that all will go well! So excited for that little girl to make an appearance!
ReplyDeleteI am super excited for you Bonnie! &while I am sure it is overwhelming, excited she is coming sooner rather than later :) Can't wait to see the adorable baby pics!
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I saw when I saw that photo (the one on the last post, where you are in the orange shirt) was "Holy cow that baby has dropped!" It's funny how suddenly the baby seems to move downward. Do you feel it?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, good luck with the adventure. It's hard to ever be ready for a baby, next week, next month, or next year! You will do great. Can't wait to see your cute little bug!
Oh Bonnie we all love you, and we're all praying for you! This made me cry! I hope everything goes well for you- don't stress too much! Everything will work out the exact way it's supposed to! Can't wait to see your sweet baby girl!
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely! We are too often shown the worst side of people. It's great to see the best for a change.
ReplyDeletei am so sorry that you don't have enough time that you thought you would! you must be so stressed!! but you can do it!! onward, warrior!!
ReplyDelete<3 :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and can't wait to see baby pictures!
ReplyDeleteI get this we often don't think about how things like being pregnant will make so many people happy not just the expecting couple. I know I was happy when I found out you were expecting and hell I have never met you outside of blogging but still it felt like a good friend was having her first child and I was so happy for you
ReplyDeleteDarn being busy. I've missed reading your blog! I've been thinking about you and wondering if baby is coming soon. Woohoo! Babies are cool and it only gets better as they get bigger. Well, as far as I know. My oldest is almost three. So far it's been a blast. I know you'll have as much fun. Except the first week-but you'll forget about that. ;)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing baby. Congrats again.
I think when you step back and just take a moment, you realise that there is so so much good in this world. And when you are a good person who loves a lot, that love comes back at you ten fold and it's at times like this when it comes in to play. I know it will all be ok for you... cant wait to see photo's of the little one when she arrives x
ReplyDeleteYou are just such a sweet and loving person so the fact that you are going to be a mother just makes me so happy. You are such an honest person and I can't wait to hear about motherhood from your perspective. I'm just so excited for your family. Having a baby changes your insides forever so it is neat knowing that you are forever going to change very soon. Oh and I can't wait to hear that baby's name and see her beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteWhat a completely sweet post. So happy for you and your husband and the new edition!
ReplyDelete