12 Weeks - It's Getting REALLY Real

WOW!!!  Y'all never cease to amaze us with the outpouring of love!!  We knew from our journey to find Raiden that we had a tribe and we knew we'd added SO many more friends over the last 5 years, but we NEVER expected the response of love and support we got for this announcement.  Y'all sure know how to make people feel loved!!  I think even MORE amazing than that was all the praise that God got for this surprise little miracle.  We have coveted your prayers over the years for many different things as our family has grown, and we're so thankful to give God the glory for this one too...trust me, this was ALL His idea at this point hahaha.

Ok, so sometime in the last two weeks, I FEEL pregnant.  I blessedly never got morning sickness (I think God gave me one on that one...He made me wait so long He's like "let's give her a pass on all this nonsense" lol.  Probably not what actually happened but I'm going with it).  I DID have a week of migraines, which WHO KNEW that was a thing??  Apparently that's a common first trimester thing, I had no idea.  So that was fun, but thankfully has passed.  But besides all that my belly has absolutely moved from the squishy tacos & ice cream loving belly to the salad & fruit craving hardening pregnant belly.  And that's WEIRD lol.  The first time I realized I legit could NOT suck it in to make my pants fit....well that was fun. 

But at the same time, it's been SO fun and awe-inspiring to "see" all the things changing as this baby grows.  The Baby Center app tells us as we pass a new week milestone a little bit about how the baby's growing and how my body is changing...and it just really brings a new perspective on how MUCH can truly happen in a week.  Like, LIFE CHANGING things are growing every week!!  And to try to fathom that it's taking place in my body and I can't even feel it is WILD.  And frankly, kinda weird LOL. 

 I've hesitated to take "bump photos" as much as I love them from other people.  36 years (ok probably 25) of never liking your stomach and hiding it at all costs, only to now showcase it is a BIZARRE change in mindset.  Especially at first, I was like "OMG, why take photos when it's still just all fat in there, there's no baby showing yet".  I thought "I'll start it when I'm 20-something weeks, because THEN you'll be able to tell it's baby not just me."  But then, I got these in the mail.  Thank you, Amazon, I have NO idea who sent them....feel free to claim if it was you, because you changed my heart. 

I have prayed for this (and not, at times) my ENTIRE life.  I have prayed to have these changes happening....the beautiful thing about a woman's body is no matter how thin she feels or how fat she tells her self she is, she can house this LIFE forming inside of that imperfect body...and it's PERFECT.  One thing I do NOT want to regret is missing out on the miracle that is every day of this pregnancy because I'm STILL body shaming mySELF.  

SO!  Weekly bump pictures, starting week 12 it is!!  I still have to get used to not sucking it in haha.  But it really was SO fun to take, and it's a fun thing for me & Chris to do together.  

Week 12 

Baby Brooks is the size of a lime.  

Eye muscles are starting to clench

Mouth can make sucking movements

Touch pads are developing on the fingers

Baby can start making a fist & wiggle toes & fingers

My favorite: if I poke or rub my belly, the baby can feel it and squirm in response...you better believe there is a whole lot of belly loving going on right now.

XOXO ~ Jess