The halfway mark

It's so hard to wrap my head around what life will be like when we have two babies. Compared to how unbelievably long I felt it took to get to 20 weeks with Jacob, this pregnancy has FLOWN by so far. Baby girl is 21 weeks gestational age as of last Thursday! Where has the time gone???

While running last week it occurred to me how much this 20 week "milestone" reminds me of the half-marathon mark in a marathon. You finally feel great, you've gotten into a rhythm and you almost feel like you could do this forever. Key word being almost. Not to mention you still look pretty good too! Pictures of you taken by family and friends at the halfway mark are usually still moderately acceptable, especially when compared to shots from those last few miles (like having pics taken mid-push in the delivery room! Horrible!). You have come a long way, covered a very respectable distance, and feel content with your accomplishment thus far; yet you know deep down how much more there is left to go...and that it's really not all downhill from here (the worst is not really over), no matter what those spectators (nurses) say. After all, you still have that giant hill the race directors conveniently like to place in the last 10k (stage 2 labor, anyone?).

Whatever's ahead these next 18 and a half weeks, I pray that God grants me the grace to live it joyfully. To enjoy these last few months with Jacob as an only child, the two on one defense Jim and I have on him right now, and the only time in baby girl's life that I can offer her complete protection from the world.

Baby girl, 12 weeks, 5 days

20 weeks!