A few months ago, when I first discovered I was pregnant, I was browsing Pinterest and came across a pin titled “Things About Pregnancy That Nobody Tells You.” Of course I was interested, I wanted to know every little thing about what I’d be experiencing the next 9 months of my life. I quickly realized that this article obviously intended to scare the living crap out of any woman thinking of becoming pregnant. I didn’t learn a single thing. I’ll spare you the somewhat gory details of how she described the weeks leading up to labor, the actual labor, and the recovery afterwards. For me these things were pretty obvious. Like duh, I’m probably not going to feel like hitting the town in my bikini in the days following giving birth. I know it’s going to be more hard and emotional than I can imagine, but I believe it will be absolutely worth it for the life I’m bringing into the world.

Needless to say the article wasn’t useful and put a really negative spin on pregnancy and having kids in general. I know there are many things about pregnancy that are rough. My aching hips, knees, back, neck, jaw, (did I mention back?), and shoulder can attest to that. But I never want to take for granted the ability and wonderful gift I have been given by God to carry our sweet daughter and hopefully our future children. I know too many couples that struggle with the heartbreak of infertility and I imagine that it’d be hard to listen to a woman complain about pregnancy.

If you are pregnant or plan to be someday, please don’t let scary articles written by Negative Nelly deter you. I’ve still got a ways to go in my pregnancy, but here are some things that are awesome about it so far:

Seeing two positive lines on a pregnancy test (scary, but awesome)

Telling your husband

Telling your mom, dad, sisters, brothers, grandparents, friends, etc.

Announcing it to the world!

Waking up one day with a baby bump all of sudden (seriously, one day it just popped out)

Showing off your growing belly, also buying maternity clothes

Listening to the heart beat for the first time (bring tissues)

Feeling the first flutters of your baby moving

Staring at your belly and finally being able to see a strong kick that makes you break down in tears of joy

Having your baby dance around in your belly every time you sit still or lay down for bed

Putting your husbands hand on your belly and letting him feel her kick for the first time

Being able to justify having fourths for dinner

Justifying any mistake by saying “pregnancy brain” (but really, it exists)

Going to bed at 9 p.m.

Seeing your baby grow from a little blob to a beautiful human on ultrasounds

Thinking of names and finding the perfect one that feels right

Getting AMAZING foot rubs from your husband

Baths. Every day.

Feeling a new kind of love (and worry) that you’ve never felt before

Okay I didn’t mean to go on for that long, but I couldn’t help it. This is only a lesson to myself – to love, respect, and appreciate the gift I have.

Yours Sincerely,

A blessed woman.