{31w4d}

I expected it to feel normal by now, but I beginning to think it never will.

I'm a few days short of eight months pregnant, but my mind is still desperately trying to wrap itself around the fact that my uterus is currently occupied. Even the constant nudges and thumps coming from my tiny human deep inside aren't enough to convince me, though they do manage to take my breath away as I look down and watch the unidentified body parts roll under my skin, realizing for the first time-every time-that there is life growing inside of me.

My prayers have been answered, my dreams really have come true.

And as if simply being pregnant after all this time isn't enough of a blessing, my sister and a close friend hosted my very first baby shower this past weekend, and I was filled with such gratitude as I walked in the door and found the fabulous food:

The adorable homemade favors:

The stunning decor:

The generous gifts:

And the amazing ladies that made this surreal day that much more special:

(my mother and mother-in-law)

(my sister-in-law and mother-in-law)

(my soon to be sister-in-law, mother, grandmother and sister)

(The hostesses; my sister and my Jenny)

And believe it or not, despite the immense love I hold for this child and with being pregnant, there is still a small, vain part of me that looks at these pictures and cringes at the awkward belly poses, extra weight, a massive chest, shiny skin, messy hair, ridiculous-gift-opening-faces and surprisingly close encounters with views up my dress, and the fact that my bump was not impressive enough for the audience so I was given a couch pillow to make for more dramatic pictures:

But a much bigger part of me sees pure happiness despite the many flaws.

I still wake up every day and thank the Lord for allowing me to grow this child, in a prayer of gratitude that I hope I'll never loose sight of as long as I live. To me, this child will forever be a true miracle, proof that God is still in the business of answering prayers and that His timing is always perfect; and to be able to experience this shower was literally the icing on top of the cake.

A rich display of love, hard work, and affection from just a small part of an unbelievable group of loved ones who have waited and prayed for this tiny human with us for the past several years; watching as God managed to conform infertility into the biggest blessing of all.

And a constant reminder that God is awesome, faithful, and good.

Always.

"A few years' experience will convince us that those things which-at the time they happened-we regarded as our greatest misfortunes have proved our greatest blessings."

-George Mason