Friday, November 16, 2012

Letter to Baby | 3.14 & 3.15




We're officially into the second trimester and rounding out week 15.
My trip to Austin didn't work out and the past few weeks have {honestly} been a blur of  tears and yelling and sleepless nights and looking for help. You are growing so fabulously, hearing your heartbeat at our midwife appointments just brings so much joy to my heart. Physically we are doing great. We need to go see Dr. Hickey to go get us tested for allergies so you don't end up Itchy Baby #2, but we really are doing well. Emotionally, I'm ready for all of these ups and downs to even out so this pregnancy isn't the one I remember as "the one I was too hormonal to function" but we will get there. Daddy is in Oklahoma for the end of week 15 and I hope he comes back refreshed and ready to start changing course for your arrival!

All my love,
Mama

Little Talks

When I first heard this very catchy song earlier this year, the girls were napping on the way home from the grocery store.

After the first chorus I began praying "please, please, please don't let it be back"
While I saw the {nonsense} video for the first time today, I heard the words immediately and it stirred something up I've been ignoring for a long time.

Then when we found out I was pregnant, I felt God tell me I was entering a season of peace.
I clung to that promise. Ignored what was going on, latched on to the hope of change that presented itself with growing a new baby. Squelched my instincts. Until I lost them.

I am not the same person I was four months ago, and the longer I ignore it, the longer I fight it, the more dangerous it's become for my marriage, my motherhood, and my sanity.

As much as it irritates and angers me to write this, I am suffering from depression. Again.
It's...different than any other time I've experienced it and earlier this week we began tackling it.
While it's annoying to put out for the whole world to see, "HEY! There's something wrong with me! : D" and to walk into a room full of people who give you that "OH honey :( Come here, gimme a hug, lets talk about everything in the whole wide world so I can feel like a better person for hearing all of your junk" look nearly everywhere I go. I've got to get over it. You need to know I'm not okay, I don't want to talk about it, but I need to, because I can't do this by myself.

Someone {I really didn't like in the first place} told me I was distrusting and shut off from the world. LET ME TELL YOU, I've never unfriended someone faster than I did just then. ME?! Who can talk about all the icky stuff in my past?! Me who can admit to being a liar for most of my life, admit to carving up my arm, admit to being a virgin before getting married but still REALLY pushed the boundaries?! Open and honest me?!

Yep. Me.

And when I secretly tried to open myself up and deepen my relationships, I got hurt.
It's much easier to push people away than let them in to all of *this*. Or realize that not everyone is *okay* with all of this. Rejection hurts, and I avoid it like the plague.

"Though the truth may vary, this ship will carry our bodies safe to shore"


I don't know what Of Monster's and Men's "truth" is, and I don't know where they are finding their refuge to stay afloat. But I do know that at this point in my life where my truth is shaky and my life seems like a raging sea at times, I am still clinging to God's promise to me that I will be entering a season of peace, that He will calm the seas, that He will keep me safe and dry and that I will be on dry land soon.

I am getting professional help, and we're just beginning. I need the body, I need renewed trust, I need strength, and I need safety. If you want to help, pray for or be one of those things for me :] I know my testimony is important for the kingdom (though I often doubt it) and that's why I am sharing this here. I will try and keep you updated, but know that this will not become my place to vent, but hopefully a place of progress, Truth, and occasional cute outfits with an ever growing bump.

All my love,
Mae

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Letter to Baby | 3.13



We just finished our 13th week and are safely in the second tri!! WOO HOO!

Here's a little bit of what went on this week:
Mama got no sleep. Norah Jean has decided to snuggle with us every night and I'm letting her-for now. Soon you're the only babe I'll be able to hold in my arms and we'll cuddle uninterrupted. But for now, we share ;]
You started fluttering up a storm this week. There was one day where I hardly felt you at all. I ate a super spicy chili for dinner and when I laid down to (try to) go to sleep I felt you do little flips every time my stomach made noises. It was adorable.
I let myself (again) eat "normal" foods and find myself much more morning sickness prone than a few weeks ago. So (for real!) back to my boring, restrictive diet. We'll find out in a few weeks at our next midwife appointment how happy all this sugar and cheese and eggs makes our midwife too ;]

Baby,
We went to a baby shower this week for your friend Ivy Burke (no relation, but you will be total bffs) and it reminded me of the long chains of celebrations we'll be having before we meet you. As your sister has kept me up at night with her never ending scratching, I'm still fervently praying for no allergies and no skin issues for you-for both of our sakes. I've picked out a few names for you if you are a girl, and Daddy is totally in charge if you are a boy...which is scary ;] I love you and can't wait to go on our little trip together, just me and you this coming week <3 br="br">
All my love,
Mama