Well, there she is. Look at that bump in all it’s bumpy, preggo glory. Thirty weeks is no joke. This week was a doozy at work (understatement x10) and between that + lacking energy in every sense of the word = a very DONE lady when it came to this weekend. All I wanted to do was just be home and accomplish things around here (after multiple naps). Thankfully I’m feeling much better and I’m looking forward to this week. I have a few goals I want to accomplish and that always puts me in a better mood. I’m a big cross-off-the-list kind of gal. Goal 1: getting enough sleep and getting in bed by 10:30pm at the latest each night. Goal 2: Reading something for ME each day even if it is only a few pages of a book and I fall asleep in the process. I think it will be good.

Biggest realization this week: the relationship I am already starting with this little girl. I recently read this article, about how babies are known for “ruining bodies” and how negative our culture can be toward pregnancy in general. Saturday I found my first little stretch marks from this pregnancy. I’m definitely no stranger to the infamous white lines but in the past these marks have been the result of massive growth spurts (hello, 9th grade) or overindulgent weight gain (hello, cookie shop after school job in high school). Never have they been because of something so important.

I’m helping create a life.

This little girl inside of me, kicking, squirming, already waking me up in the middle of the night… I’m giving her life right now. Providing her with nutrients she needs to live and a safe space to grow and move (although the kicks to the bladder…those could calm down a bit).

I had a good idea going into this pregnancy knowing how my body would change. I knew stretchmarks were a possible if not probable part of the deal. But never did I think I would be so happy to find three little jagged lines on my side while putting on moisturizer. Normally, this discovery would have ended up in a meltdown of tears and self deprecating thoughts…not this time. These little marks made me feel like I was the most important person in the world, and I know they will serve as a reminder that what I’m doing, what’s happening with my body right now – while I may be uncomfortable and at times self conscious – it’s the most important thing that I could be doing and I’m so happy to be doing it.

Hopefully ten weeks until we meet this girl. I can’t wait!