And so it begins.
Again.
Eleven weeks today.
A couple of inches long, no more; perhaps the size of a small plum. But it is there--flesh and blood and beating heart. Skin still translucent. Fingers forming, and toes. My body doing this autonomous magic trick of forming, for the third time, another living being.
It's astounding, when you sit and ponder it; something I rarely do these days. Fatigue has been pressing me down for weeks now, and between the wants and needs and cries of my two fully-formed children, I do not find the time to sit and contemplate the growth and impending arrival of this newest, tiniest little one.
The conception and development and birth of new life has been called miraculous so often that it seems trite. But let's look at it anew, shall we? Two months ago, there was nothing. Potential. Two separate pieces, unjoined. Seven months from now, a complete, knitted-together, unique being will be here. Breathing, eating, looking around for the first time with blurry, still-wet eyes.
So many women ache and long for even one baby of their own and are not able to bear one; how blessed am I to have been given three new lives to shelter into this world. Two of them are here with me, this sunny afternoon, where I can see their deep brown eyes and sweet smiles. The third is still a silent presence, an unknown inside. Weeks marked off on the calendar.
But soon enough, too soon, sooner than I think I will be ready for, a newborn will be a part of our family once again.
Welcome, little one.
Eleven weeks today.
A couple of inches long, no more; perhaps the size of a small plum. But it is there--flesh and blood and beating heart. Skin still translucent. Fingers forming, and toes. My body doing this autonomous magic trick of forming, for the third time, another living being.
It's astounding, when you sit and ponder it; something I rarely do these days. Fatigue has been pressing me down for weeks now, and between the wants and needs and cries of my two fully-formed children, I do not find the time to sit and contemplate the growth and impending arrival of this newest, tiniest little one.
The conception and development and birth of new life has been called miraculous so often that it seems trite. But let's look at it anew, shall we? Two months ago, there was nothing. Potential. Two separate pieces, unjoined. Seven months from now, a complete, knitted-together, unique being will be here. Breathing, eating, looking around for the first time with blurry, still-wet eyes.
So many women ache and long for even one baby of their own and are not able to bear one; how blessed am I to have been given three new lives to shelter into this world. Two of them are here with me, this sunny afternoon, where I can see their deep brown eyes and sweet smiles. The third is still a silent presence, an unknown inside. Weeks marked off on the calendar.
But soon enough, too soon, sooner than I think I will be ready for, a newborn will be a part of our family once again.
Welcome, little one.
5 comments:
Okay, so you made me cry!! As my third is almost fully formed and could survive on her own if she were born this week, I too am amazed at the work God is doing in my body! I remember being totally enthralled with my first pregnancy, somewhat indifferent with the second, and now with the third, wondering again how on earth all that happens in just nine months, without me doing anything to help it along except eat and sleep! God truly has made a miracle inside a woman's body. Psalm 139 takes on deeper meaning the longer I am a mother (especially having a friend just lose a baby at 20 weeks, and another just born, but needing a miracle to survive). Truly God forms each day for us, in the womb and out!! May you rejoice in Him even on the days of fatigue or sickness!!
Wow! Congratulations! What a lovely post announcing such wonderful news.
Big CONGRATS!
I love your perspective in this post - how you capture the true wonder of human life.
I came to your blog after my daily post at bunchesofbananas to find a strangely familiar concept of "eleven weeks"... I did a quick double take, thinking I had just posted to your blog somehow. Weird.
Congratulations, Jen!
Congratulations! How I admire your energy and strength for round three.
Round two has me down for the count, as is.
Prayers for a healthy and happy pregnancy!
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