Bodies...

There are some women in this world that are obsessed with their bodies.  Every inch has to be perfectly manicured and toned and tanned and beautiful.

I am certainly not one of these women.  I take pride in my body and try to treat it well, but I am far from perfect.  I have had a pooch since I was probably 7, stretch marks have been around since I can remember, and my legs have long since been athletically toned like they once were.  I would much rather watch a movie than go work out.  I would much rather give myself something to eat that I want, than deprive myself and get angry.

My mom did a great job of instilling confidence in me.  We are beautiful for who we are, not what we look like.  I have always been a fairly confident person and even though my body is no where near perfect, I've always been happy with who I am.  Along with that confidence came the ability to set my standards when choosing a husband.  I did a great job of finding a man that loves me 100% of the time and loves me for exactly who I am.  If I lose 20 pounds he is proud of me and right there if I want to keep going.  If I gain 20 pounds, he will be supportive when I'm ready to get it off, but he still tells me I'm beautiful.  There is no image to uphold and no empty promise to try to live up to.

Since my body is not perfect, being pregnant has been awesome.  I have given a purpose to my pooch.  It is now a loving cushion of protection for my little girl.  The stretch marks now have a purpose because they are proof that my belly once grew and supported a new life. 

I was happy with myself before I got pregnant, but I have never felt better.  My husband thinks I'm beautiful, I think I look great, and at the end of it all I'm going to have a new life to show for it!