Advancing

A common question I get, as a representative of the AMAA (Advanced Maternal Age Association), is "Do you notice pregnancy being harder as an older mom?" This question makes me giggle (Are older moms allowed to giggle?). Am I more achy in the bones this time around? Am I more tired? Is my bladder less reliable?

 See the thing is I don't feel any older than I did last time, and I don't think past generations of child-bearing women would consider my 37-year-old uterus as past expiration date. Especially Grandma Josie, Blake's paternal grandmother, who, at 40, had a distinct vision of three boys yet to join their family. Sure enough all three boys came, Blake's dad among them. She was an amazing woman of Advance Spiritual Age.

 So for those wondering what it's like to be of advanced maternal age, I will tell you. I'm WAY more appreciative of the miracle of growing a human. I think I took it for granted when in my prime child-bearing twenties. I'm constantly amazed at the kicks and bumps and each one is treasured. I am more respectful of my body's ability to adapt to pregnancy and just know what to do.

 And because of my appreciation of this miracle, I'm willing to subject myself to a photo shoot, something I have never done in any of my other pregnancies. Here are a some of the shots my friend took for me, right off the camera that will be edited later. I was just excited to share a few. Thank you, Tiffany, for doing this for me! I am not modelly in any way and felt like a dork the whole time, but we still got some good ones!

Two weeks til go time!