A big belly...

**Warning...ramblings ahead!!**

So one might wonder why in the world I would post pictures of me when I was pregnant with my kids on the internet for all to see - why would I want to relive that time? Well, I have no real good answer for that except I have thought about that time the last few days. Maybe it is because I will never be that "way" again, maybe it is because the people that are now my friends never got to see me that "way" and therefore I want to show them my belly, or maybe it is because my kids are both about to be a year older and therefore I am that much more removed from the infant stages of life. I was talking with a friend today about how I was that mom that did not give real food to Jack until he was 6 months to the day, or give cow's milk to the day of being a year. I quit breastfeeding Molly the day after she turned one. I nursed her the night of her birthday, laid her to sleep, and the next day she was on sippy cups full of milk. Now, I look at new moms and thinking to myself how rigid I was about those things. It makes me smile. I am sure that I will look back at this time period and think the same things. Although the things I am rigid about concern the character and moral aspect of their lives, so maybe I won't have the same feelings. I guess only time will tell.

But back to the belly pictures...some running comments on each picture.

This was about a month before Jack arrived. Notice the heavy make-up and the "fixed" hair. It is a picture that looks way to posed. I was not thrilled about having it taken, but at the same time I wanted to have proof of belly with Jack. Little did we know that he would come out 10 pounds! Also, you can see my belly button through the shirt - which was something visible from about 4 months. (Side note: I look at this picture and do not think I look like I have a 10 pound baby inside - am I crazy? Who knows maybe he grew alot that last month)

This picture was also taken about a month before Molly was born. My first reaction is look at that weight in my face. Again the make-up is done too much, and the hair - what was I thinking. This was the day of my shower, so I guess I was "done up" for the occasion. Again, we did not know that I was carrying a 10 pound baby - the doctor did not think she would be that big!One might not enjoying these pictures as much as I do now. However, it is fun for me to look at them knowing my children now. At the time of the picture, I was unaware of personality of each little one I was carrying. The way they make me smile each day. The way they make me take a deep breath and say, "Lord, give me patience!" each day. The way I could listen from the kitchen as they play with Baby Betsy in my bedroom with socks on their hands because the baby has spit up and they have to clean it up with protection due to the chemicals in the spit up. The way Molly repeats everything Jack says even when she does not know what she is saying. The way Molly has begun to hum and sing all the time. The way Jack loves to build with the most random things in his closet. I did not love being pregnant, but maybe if I could have known the amazing children we would have I would have cherished it a little more. But then again, maybe it is just as sweet to look back and cherish it in hindsight!

Thanks for letting me travel down memory lane, and thanks for indulging my thoughts of being a pregnant woman.