What is Love (for a Pregnant Woman)?

20130919-_MG_2330In honor of the much-loved – or greatly despised – Valentine’s Day, I thought I would share with my fellow moms the joys of how marital love has played out for this pregnant woman. When you’re pregnant, often times you’re hungry, moody, and emotional – all while getting bigger every day. That’s a rough combination! It’s also a really rough combination to live with. Thankfully, my sweet husband has endured our third pregnancy very well thus far.

So, what has his love for me looked like – in a practical sense – over the past seven months?

  • Going on MANY Doritos runs at 11 pm (confession time: I ate Doritos every day during the first trimester …)
  • Kindly disagreeing when people tell me how much bigger I am this time
  • Confidently reassuring me that only my belly is growing – that my arms, butt, thighs, and back look exactly the same (I’m thankful for this lie)
  • Giving me his burger and eating my salad when I order healthy at a restaurant, only to be disappointed once the food arrives
  • Graciously ignoring (or choosing not to comment) on the fact that I ate the entire jar of cookie butter in one day
  • Keeping his eyes only on me when we are out on a date, at the store … or really anywhere
  • Laughing along with me when I laugh (awkwardly hard) at the movie “Father of the Bride” during the scene when they are exercising in the living room … and then cry my eyes out at the next scene
  • Lovingly reassuring me that everything is okay with me and our baby when I anxiously Google symptoms I’m experiencing at 12 am
  • And finally, holding my hand at each ultrasound, supporting my need for a little more money in the clothing budget due to my frequent meltdowns about how NOTHING fits … and most importantly, loving me each day of this journey.
So with that, a Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours! I’d love to hear how your husband supported you during your 9+ months of craziness … if not through a Doritos craving, then likely something else! 😉
Jenn
"Jenn is a Special Education teacher turned health enthusiast. Most days she can be found chasing her three kids (4,2, and 8 months) around some park in Kansas City wearing workout clothes and sweaty hair. Jenn is an ACE Certified group fitness instructor and loves teaching group fitness classes around KC. She is also a NETA certified Wellness Coach. You can visit Jenn's wellness coaching website at http://www.jennmarasco.com .Jenn is crazy in love with her husband of seven years, Matthew. Their idea of a great date includes playing or attending some type of sporting event followed by a delicious meal from a local KC restaurant. Jenn and Matt lived in the Midtown neighborhood of KC for four years and recently moved to Overland Park."