Dreams Come True

Big Island 2012

          MOTHER

M is for all the many things she does
O is for the other things she does
T is for the things she does
H is for the happy things she does
E is for everything she does, and
R is for the rest of the things she does.

                                                                       ~author unknown

Some of my favorite overheard conversations of 2012:

• Josiah to Peter, "Do you know what my favorite food is?  Anything that starts with mommy.  Mommy yogurt, mommy syrup, mommy oatmeal, mommy bread...What else do we make here?"

• The boys were tidying up and Isaac says to them, "Mommy approved is the highest rank of cleaning."  Once they were done he stated to Josiah, "You are promoted to 'mother approved'!"

• Rachel was playing on the floor by my feet with dragons and making them sing, "There is magic everywhere, ev--ery--where--!" in a sweet vibrato voice.

Big Island 2012

Speaking of magic...

When my oldest, Isaac, was barely five years old he had a heartfelt wish to be a train.  One morning during breakfast, he was lamenting over his predicament.  He sighed and said exasperated, "Wishes just don't come true!"

I said, "Not all wishes come true, but some do."  I added, "Most of my wishes have come true."  His eyes got wide with interest and I said, "I wished for a nice, sweet boy to marry and did that come true?"

"Daddy!" he exclaimed

"Yes," I replied, "and I also wished for adorable, sweet children and did that come true?"

He shouted, "Me and Caleb!"

He looked very pleased as I said, "See, dreams can come true if they are the right kind."

I am so grateful my wish came true and that I have the opportunity to be a mother.  No where else could I spend my days with such sweetness.  

July 1, 1998

Kwajalein 2011

New Zealand 2013 

All of Me

A week ago, I had an old lady say I looked like I was about to have my baby any day.  I laughed and said, "Not hardly!  I still have 3 more months to go."  Her eyes got big and she started talking about other pregnant ladies on island and how one in particular is much smaller than me.  Feeling a little irritated, I said more lighthearted than I felt, "Well, I was a lot smaller with my first, but this is my sixth."  
That weekend I had my husband, Peter, take pictures of my belly to prove to myself that I didn't look like I was going to pop.  I still think the woman's assessment was a bit harsh, but I have to say my stomach looks much smaller from the top-view that I usually get!

As the scale creeps up and my belly expands, I have to take deep breaths and remember the amazing work my body is doing.  In remembering, I thought of a conversation I had with Rachel in 2011.
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Journal Entry
Rachel climbed in bed with me one morning and asked sweetly, "What are those?" as she touched the stretch marks on my stomach.

I answered, "They are stretch marks.  Do you like them?"

She responded, "Oh yes," and then lifted up her shirt and added disappointed, "but I don't have any."

She began tracing her finger along my stretch marks again and I said, "They are like silver rivers and I got them because I had you."

She asked, "Can I have some?"

I laughed and told her, "Yes, when you have babies and are a mommy."

She dreamily replied, "One day, I will have them and I will be like you," then she added, "and I will have a big tummy, too."  It is a nice reminder to me, who wears the badge of my love on my stomach, that it is indeed beautiful.  
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Rachel was 3 years old when she yearned for stretch marks of her own.  At five, she still adores me and I'm blessed to hear almost everyday, "When I'm a mommy I will {insert whatever I am doing}."

Recently, my young son innocently told me my "milks [breasts] are getting long" and asked why I have "so many wrinkles" on my face and I laughed.  I laugh because I feel joy knowing that my milks are long because I nourished all my babies with them and I have so many wrinkles from all the smiles and laughter.  I don't think I'll ever feel as my 2 year old does, who when she sees my belly exclaims, "Pretty!" or when she pats my bum tells me, "Fav'vite bum-bum."  However, every day my body ages a little more, means I had a gift of one more day with those I love the most.

Several months ago, early in the morning, Eva (2) was lying in bed with Peter and me.  My eyes were closed, but I was awake and Eva sweetly whispered, "I love you, Mom," as she gently stroked my face.  The love I felt was so intense it verged on pain.  Pain that time is slipping too quickly and I will not remember all the tender moments.  Still the pleasure is greater in knowing I am sharing my life with my precious family and that not only do I cherish them, but they also cherish me.

I had requests for pictures of my "baby bump", although "baby hump" might be more accurate.  I tend to share only pictures where I can crop away lots of me.  You know, ones that don't show too many wrinkles and bulges.  However, I've decided it is time to embrace all of me, because that is what my family loves--all of me.

Belly shot with legs

Face shots with wrinkles

Triple-Whammy: butt, legs, and 6 months pregnant diving

Uninvited Bed Guest

I found the baby's heartbeat today!  All the children were gathered on my bed, except for Eva (2), who couldn't be bothered to leave her toys.  Obviously, she doesn't yet get why staring at my belly could be exciting, but I give her a few months and she'll be very interested in my growing belly.  I am almost 13 weeks pregnant and have been anxiously waiting for some confirmation that all the misery I've been feeling isn't for nothing.  After two miscarriages, you don't take for granted that a pregnancy will result in a baby, but we are all ecstatic that all is going well with this one.

My wonderful Marshallese helper, Atrina, says I'm having a girl.  I found the baby's heartbeat on the lower right side with what sounded like the placenta above it and apparently according to the Marshallese, babies carried on the right side are girls.  Who knew?  She must be correct, because she was spot on with the Baby Lizard Theory.

About a month before I got pregnant, I woke up with a baby lizard on the pillow between my legs.  Needless to say, I freaked out and threw the pillow on the floor.  When I retold my tale, Rachel (4) was enchanted until I got to the throwing the pillow part.  Her mouth gaped open as she gasped, "That could hurt it!"  Yes, she is my lover of lizards and is always bringing me sweet little surprises.  My favorite has to be beginning my day with a lizard in my face.  Nothing compares to waking to a quiet, but persistent voice whispering, "Mom, look at my lizard," then opening sleepy eyes and finding one 2 inches from your face.  Delightful.

Well, back to the lizard that got in my bed without any help from a little girl.  I found out that a baby lizard in your bed is a good sign in the Marshall Islands.  Atrina told me it means that I am pregnant.  When I told her I knew I wasn't pregnant, she quickly added, "Well, you'll be pregnant soon...or someone in your family is pregnant...or will get pregnant soon."  Yes, old wive's tales must have a contingency plan.

Ebeye has an exceptionally high birth rate, which is not surprising since some of their versions of birth control are...well, I'll just share my favorite, so far, and you can judge for yourself.

Water to prevent pregnancy

I don't mean a douche, which isn't a good pregnancy preventer, either.  I mean, literally, water.  All you have to do is drink water after sex, go pee, and TA DA no baby!  I had it explained over and over again to make sure nothing was getting lost in translation.  After picking my jaw up off the floor, I gently informed her that anyone using this method may be well-hydrated and have less chance of a UTI, but there would be no protection from getting pregnant.  I couldn't resist pulling out my white board and giving an anatomy lesson and a brief overview of a woman's cycle.  No wonder a lizard in your bed points to pregnancy in your imminent future.  With this type of birth control, I'd think anything and everything could be a sign of that.

UPDATE April 2013:  

Guess who "unexpectedly" became pregnant?  That's right! The user of the water method.  My only surprise in this news is that it didn't happen sooner.

UPDATE August 2013:
Guess who had a boy and not a girl?  Me!

      

Half Dozen

Baby #6 is due August 18, 2013

I am 10 weeks pregnant...

and this is what I feel like most of the time.