I have stretch marks and my stomach sags.
My arms are bigger than I’d like and my legs tell their own story between the veins and the cellulite. A very long story about life and work and even love and sacrifice.
{a story that becomes even more intense with each day passing.}
I have more than one chin. I spend a lot of money on skin care and some days I’m not sure why.
My breasts? They are small. They are not perky. And they never will be again.
But my body? Is miraculous and has done things that I am so grateful for – because of that, it is perfection. Every saggy, stretchmark-y inch of it.
And each morning, I feel so tired, the thought of showering wears me out, I dread opening the shower door to dry off because the drying, the lotioning, the hair-drying, the makeup, it all makes me so tired, it’s difficult to breathe. But then I start to get dressed, I look in the mirror and I feel…
SO ALIVE.
and perfect in this state.
And sharing this? It is not easy. But it’s real and I love real. And mostly? I love the miracle that is that baby inside my belly.
and uh…don’t look too closely. m’kay?
As someone who suffered from an eating disorder, I am amazed that our bodies are able to sustain and create another life. After having A, I developed a new appreciation for my body and my own perceived imperfections in it. Because my perceived imperfections were perfect for growing my babies. Thank you for sharing this. You are perfect!
Beautiful!
This is beautiful. Thank you.
You are so beautiful and I love you for posting this!
xoxoxo
Your are very beautiful. Inside and out. Thank you for posting this. It was something I could definitely use today. Can’t wait to see the miracle when he arrives.
Love it all – the photos, the topic, the sentiments that many moms (like me) can relate to. Thanks so much for sharing.
You are brave and beautiful, and some day when you are 80 or so, you will look back at these photos and think, “Dang! I looked GREAT!”
I miss my pregnant body! I am so grateful God gave me the ability and the body to bring a child into this world. I am blessed everyday with their smiles and their laughter. It is enough to distract me from my imperfections. They make my life perfect.
I think you look amazing! Thanks for always being so real!
AWESOME.
I agree with the posters above. One day you will look back at these pictures and remember how you felt at this stage in life and how you overlooked lack of sleep and feeling big in your skin… you’ll remember that on this day in 2010 you felt rejuvenated and beautiful because you are
You never cease to impress me. You are beautiful inside and out and you are so wise to value this time despite all the challenges.
I can’t wait for that boy to arrive!
Aw man! You just made me cry!
I love this post for so many reasons- I think you’re beautiful inside and out. Thanks so much for the courage to teach this lesson. I think I needed to hear it.
just beautiful…I wish I had done this with any of my four kids. Our bodies are so amazing, but the pregnant body is just beyond words! Lovely!!!
Our bodies are amazing – the life they carry and nurture! I remember after my first was born and I said something to my doc at my 6 week check about stretch marks – he said to think of them as the proof of purchase. Four year later when my triplets were growing in me and the stretch marks seemed to go from just being at the bottom of my belly to my chin… I was thankful – I was “purchasing” 3 beautiful, heathy babies. You and your baby are gorgeous!
OK – so at first I thought that you were talking about ME!
What a sweet but amazingly honest post. Thanks for sharing. It’s so hard for me to be as grateful for my post baby (currently pregnant with baby #3) body… and my husband never complains… but I notice.
This is an amazing post. I won’t be so judgemental when I look in the mirror tomorrow.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Beautiful!!!
You are so beautiful. If only more women had the courage to show themselves . . . the real female body.
Btw, of late I’ve been going back and forth about seeing a dermatologist for sun and age spots. I’m 28. Ahhh!!! I needed to read this.
Stunning. Life really is beauty, isn’t it?
Beth, you are just incredible. Thank you for sharing this.
Love it……….
The pregnant body is amazing and beautiful, you look fantastic! Found you through MommyBlogs, following
i stumbled upon this blog and i can say that this was so powerful. i want to bookmark and make my daughter read it when she grows up. i wish i had done this when i was pregnant. i wish i had recorded the truth about my body and the story it tells. maybe i’ll start telling that story more often and be proud of the journey. okay, i’ll stop blathering. thank you. becky
Your honesty is so refreshing. I’m 15 weeks with my 3rd child and my body looks nothing like I think a 27 year old body should look. My 4 year old asked me recently about my stretch marks – I told him they are “love marks” because they were created while he was growing in my tummy!
As another pregnant lady (at 18 weeks) feeling the physical pull of my body, the fatigue, the awe of my body participating in this miracle–I needed to hear this. You’re great!
Bravo to you!! I love, love, love this post. Your joy is contagious as you revel in this new life. If you’ve never read Shauna Niequist’s “Cold Tangerines,” add it to your list; she has a chapter all about how her view of her body changed from struggle and disgust to utter amazement that God would partner with her to build a baby.
Awesome. What a privilege!
wow. just wow
i am so proud that you shared the beauty.
xoxo
I am so inspired by your photos. You look so beautiful and I am so impressed by your photography skills, too! But seriously, those pictures will always be there to remind you of being “with child”. It’s something that is painful, beautiful, exhilarating, exhausting, profound, and annoying sometimes, too. But like you, I felt so alive when I was pregnant. Healthy. Pure, in a sense. I’m trying to conceive right now, and those pictures really lifted my spirit. It’s not been long, but I’m just so anxious to bring another precious life into this family, this cocoon of safety that we’ve created. Making a baby with someone you love passionately and can’t live without is second to none. And carrying that expression of love is the gift to end all gifts.
You are my hero.
just adding my voice to the choir — YOU ARE GORGEOUS!!! Love that baby belly and the body that goes with it!
xo elizabeth
I love this. These pics are stunning. Makes me miss being pregnant, extra weight gain, small bladder and all!!
You are A-MAZ-ING! And you’re making me love my [im]perfect body. Thank you.
So Beautiful!!! Thank you for the reminder! Really, thank you!
You look just like a woman should!!
Sadie at heyMamas
I love that you love what your body is doing and that you appreciate the changes that are necessary for the miracle that’s about to happen. I can hardly believe it but it’s right around the corner!!! Great post! (But I’m not showing it to dad. lol)
You arr so very brave and beautiful!
Beautiful!
Love this post! It’s so real to me because I went through it not to long ago and I still have many reminders of my pregnancy body…and it is soooo worth it! Kudos Beuf!
This post made me cry. Beautiful words, and you look amazing!
You. are. amazing.
You are brave and beautiful! Bravo!
Wow! This is my first visit to your blog and I am overwhelmed. It is fantastic! I can’t wait to read more.
Wow you are so amazingly brave. You go girl.
Ohmygoodness, I love you. Beautiful.
This is awesome. Very brave…I couldn’t have done it. Boy you look great, though!
YAAAAYY!!!!!!! Rock it, Own it, Celebrate it!!!!!
I love that you posted this. You are beautiful & brave!
Gorgeous lady!!! Have you heard of theshapeofamother.com?
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
I am new to your site. This is an old blog but it brightened my day. I have 2 kids and my body is not what it used to be. Thanks for giving me perspective!