Three Quarters and Counting...

Thirty weeks.

3-0.

210 days.

Meaning we have, presumably, 10 weeks left. 70 days. 

And tomorrow? 9 weeks and 6 days. That's single digit weeks.

How unbelievable and yet wildly believable all at the same time.

I don't remember much of what it was like to have a mind not geared towards the bundle of energy and life growing inside of me. I hope I don't forget, once she's here, how precious this time was - despite sickness, aches and pains, and more. I have truly, truly enjoyed being pregnant. I remember, even when I was sick, wanting to never seem as though my feelings were a complaint because I was just grateful to be carrying her. And now, as she is growing more and more and my bones and muscles (predominately in my back) are feeling the brunt of that growth, it is very much the same.

Yes, I have been tired.

Yes, I have been sick.

Yes, I have been emotional (to a new degree).

Yes, I have been sore.

Yes, I have stretch marks.

BUT.

I have also been... 

complimented beyond comprehension.

loved so well.

taken care of like crazy.

feeling the steadily increasing movement of a new life.

awed by every milestone, every discovery, every everything.

growing in a deep respect for my body.

drawn closer to the heart of God.

And to that same token, I'm praying to prepare my heart now to not let what will happen ten weeks - or however many weeks it ends up being - from now be a list of woes. Because nothing about this warrants pity - sympathy and empathy, yes please, I'll take your care for me any day of the week - but also your celebration with us of all the GOOD there is in this being - both now and when she arrives.

Logistically, it's all coming together. The hospital registration, every two week OB appointments, upcoming childbirth classes. The furniture delivering, building, and setting up - along with curtain and rug hunting. The early preparations for accessorizing the nursery - crafts, prints, books, and more. The purchasing of non-registry items like cloth diapers and carriers and diaper bags. The showers happening or preparing to happen in the coming week. Even the non-baby related things around the house and in our personal-life and my work-life are getting knocked off lists.

All those things undoubtedly matter to me, but what matters more is the state of my inner life and our marriage life and what that's going to mean for our family life... and I hope that every day of these next ten weeks that becomes truer and truer of what consumes my thoughts and my prayers and my hopes. To that end, I don't think we'd mind your prayers for us along the way :)