Other People's Babies

I feel like I know 100 people who are pregnant right now. It's less than that but not by much! Ha! I've decided to write it all out for fun. How many pregnant women do you know????

~I knew five people who had babies in March.
~three out of five of the march babies were girls.
~I know 3 women who had babies last week.
~one of them was my cousin! (Welcome Baby Rubie Brooklyn!)
~All three of those babies were girls.
~Today, I know of two women who are past their due dates and scheduling their inductions.
~3 more women are due within the next two weeks.
~All three of those babies are boys.
~I know five more babies due in June and two due in July.
~two of the babies due in June are Twin Boys.
~My other cousin, due in September, finds out her baby's gender TOMORROW! (I'm so excited about this!)
~Speaking of September, I know three women due in September.
~I am due October 17th along with another friend of mine due a week ahead of me.
~My sister and two more women are due in November!
~The women on this list who are pregnant with BOYS have done the most complaining/commenting on how unconfortable they are via facebook, blogging and/or in person.
~All but three of these women found out what they were having before baby was born.
~ Of the babies' genders that are known, 9 out of 17 have announced the name before the baby was born.
~3 of these births were/are scheduled C-sections.
~5 of these births were/are natural childbirths, either at a birth center or at home(including mine).

That's all for my interesting Other People's Baby facts. I lost track, I think it's 27 babies? It really feels like a lot more though. Many of these women attend Mars Hill Church and we did a series on Song of Solomon in the Fall. Do you think that has anything to do with all the babies? Hmmmm. A lot of these women got pregnant before the series started though.

If you are one of my pregnant or new mama friends, Congratulations! If this is your first, hang in there, it doesn't really get easier, you just get stronger. If you are a third or fourth time mama, you are my inspiration. If you are still in the yucky morning sickness part, I hope it's over soon for you. If you are waiting to discover the gender, I'm excited with you. If you are in your last days or weeks of pregnancy, I pray patience and perseverance for you and a birth experience that empowers you. And if you are holding your sweet sleeping (or crying or hungry or pooping)newborn, just absorb everything about them and love the magical moment you are in and kiss their little nose 17 or 1700 times.

(And if you are a woman who has lost a baby or is still waiting for a baby, I know who you are and I pray for you often that God will give you grace and his peace in the meantime and bless you with a child soon.)

Children are a gift from the Lord! Psalm 127:3

Belated Bachelorette Party!!!

Okay, so five years ago when Jeff and I got married, I didn't have a bachelorette party. No reason, really, it just kind of got skipped. This week, my sisters totally surprised me with my very own Bachelorette party-five years late! I was shocked when Marilee and Laura showed up with two of my very dear friends, Heather and Rachael and announced it was officially my "Last Night Out"! They really went all out to make me feel honored and loved. I am still reflecting on the signifigance of a bachelorette party as a married woman with two kids.

The theme of the night was five. Five girls, five stops, five years of marriage celebrated. Everything was planned to the "t" and I was blindfolded between stops. Each of my friends gave me a sweet card telling five things they appreciate about me and some "unmentionables" just like a real bachelorette. (What am I talking about? This was MY real bachelorette!) At each stop they also presented me with a gift and card from my Groom. Yes, Jeff was in on it too. We might have had a drink at each stop too-it was a bachelorette party after all! Our final stop was the Melting Pot with wine and cheese and chocolate fondue. So delicious! I could have stayed there forever licking the dark chocolate fodue out of the pot except that I couldn't wait to get home to Jeff!

The amazing thing about the night was feeling like my girlfriends were holding up my marriage with me. I felt so supported and encouraged. It's hard to be married and it's hard to be a respectful, loving, helpmate to Jeff. But God has blessed me with wonderful friends that pray for me and Jeff, encourage me as a wife and point me back to dependence on Christ alone.

Jeff was incredible too. He wrote beautiful cards to me about five things he loves about me. I can't explain how much it meant to me to read what he wrote. He also got me cool gifts that went with each category. The categories were Friend, Mother, Homemaker, Helper and Lover.

I am still at a loss for words about how much this night meant to me. Thank you Marilee, Laura, Heather and Rachael for loving me and uplifting me with this party. I felt so honored. Thank you Jeff for the thoughtful, meaningful gifts, the notes and for being my amazing husband for five years. I love you.