A Body Appreciated > A Body Admired

Reflecting back on these past 9 months of pregnancy, I’ve truly never felt more confident or beautiful than I have during pregnancy. This season has completely changed the way I see myself and my body.

For so much of our lives, we’re taught to focus on how our bodies look, what size we are, the number on a scale, having the least amount of “imperfections”, the list goes on and on. But pregnancy has removed that mindset. I now realize that my body was never meant to be admired nearly as much as it was meant to be appreciated.

My body has changed over the years from growing older, from different workouts, and different seasons of life. And the changes happening now are reminders of it growing, protecting, and sustaining our son. If I can be proud of lifting a new PR or finishing a tough workout, I can be proud of the growing and stretching it’s done to house our son. After questioning when or whether this could even happen, I will never take the miracle of carrying our son for granted. This has been the greatest gift I’ve EVER received.

This season has given me such a deep appreciation for the body God gave me and not because of what it has looked like, currently looks like, or will look like, but because of its capabilities. Fearfully and wonderfully made. The strength of a woman. What a beautiful reminder of God’s goodness.

Maybe I’ll be blessed to do this again one day or maybe TJ will be our only, who knows, but what I do know is that through this pregnancy, I first, never knew I could love someone I haven’t even met with my whole, entire being,  and I never imagined  I could truly love myself this much either. And for that, I’m forever grateful.

I cannot wait to meet you, TJ. You’ve changed my life already.

It IS well,

E