Monday, February 07, 2011

Hello, Darlin'









I love seeing these early pictures of our baby. It's an appointment that never ceases to amaze me each time it rolls around.

On the other hand, the magic of the gestational diabetes testing wore off after the very first time. Funny how that works.

When you are on your sixth baby, there is a little danger in becoming too complacent. If I had a dime for every time I've heard, "Oh well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you anything. You're an old pro!," I'd have the beginnings of a nice little college fund for baby.

I know people mean it as a compliment of sorts, but I think every parent knows that there is no such thing as a parenting expert. Sure, I've learned things in my turns around this block, but each baby is its own miracle. Its own little package of uncertainty.

I don't ever take it for granted that I can have children, or that this little one seems to be developing normally, as far as modern medicine can determine. There are no absolutes in pregnancy, so I choose to celebrate each little baby milestone as if it was my first time to the rodeo.

I just finished reading unPlanned, by Abby Johnson**, and, boy, is that a hard read when you are pregnant. (Although I'm pretty sure that it is not a comfortable read at any point.)

As Abby talked about what she saw and experienced as the director of an abortion clinic, I could feel this little boy or girl stretching and tumbling around inside.

And then I thought about my ultrasound and how the tech kept pointing the screen, referring to the picture, saying "oh there's the baby's . . . " Never once was the picture a "pregnancy" or "tissue" or even a "fetus." It was called a baby because it IS a baby. Words matter.

And as I laid there in the dark and smiled at my baby sucking his or her thumb or flexing that skinny foot that looks just like Francie's, I was thinking. I was thinking that the only thing that separates me from keeping this baby or walking into a nearby clinic and killing this baby is that I want it. And I have people in my life who want it and who will help me.

But just because I want this baby does not make it a baby. Conversely, not wanting the baby does not make it less than human or less than what it is . There is a person with a soul in there. Small, but totally and completely human.

And that's something about which I'll never be complacent, no matter how many times I'm tapped for the job of growing one.

**Although I recommend it, I was not asked for a review of "unPlanned", and I was not compensated in any way for my thoughts.


7 comments:

  1. I love the picture of the sweet little baby hand. Even more though, I love your words! Great post!

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  2. So glad all is going well. It is truly stunning to witness the awesome work of our Creator in the womb. Seriously--there is a real baby growing in there! It is so wild.

    I'm still working on the book. I have to take it in small doses because I get angry or sad. I am hopeful that people are waking up to the reality of what abortion is and what it does to our society though.

    Beautiful post Aimee!

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  3. A unique miracle every time! So glad that baby is growing just as he or she should be :) I will be looking into that book- a hard read but still worthwhile. Love these little glimpses of your baby :)

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  4. I just bought that book to read!

    I want to go rub your belly and say hi to that little one, how precious!

    Do you always pass the diabetes test? I've had to go for the second one twice which is awful. And with Maggie I was borderline diabetic, so I had to stop eating sweets. Can you believe telling a pregnant mom not to eat dessert?!?!? The upside was I only gained 20 pounds :) I'm already trying to curtail my sweets with this baby so I don't fail again - geesh!

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  5. I've heard that she's speaking nearby (NE or maybe IA). I hadn't heard of her until yesterday, so was surprised to stop by and see you talk about her! I don't think that I could read any book, see any film, about abortion while pregnant. It's hard enough normally. But I would go pray at the local abortion facility while pregnant with my children, big belly sticking out, and it would ruin my day. Every Friday was ruined because it began with prayer at the abortion facility. Here I stood (next to my very own doctor who is adamantly pro-life), overflowing with pregnancy, saying a rosary at 7:30 in the morning, and watching women come in to abort their own unborn children. I ache just thinking about it.

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  6. Very sweet pictures! I love the 1st pictures. That foot gave me baby pangs ;)
    I haven't read the book yet. I'm not ready to tackle it. I've read a lot about it and I've read that it's really good. I've got to steel myself for it.
    Hope you and baby are feeling fantastic :)

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  7. LOVE the pictures! I have never even heard of this book, might need to check it out!

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