A Mark for Every...

I used to look in the mirror and see my belly I get sad. I missed the body that I once had a few years ago. My marks will always be there. I can work as hard as I can to get back to what my pre-baby weight was, but it will never be the same. I will always have(lets just say it) that extra skin. The skin that stretched so far to hold my beautiful son. The marks that hug my sides and bellybutton will always be visible. Still after 16 months, they are dark, they haven't gotten much lighter and are very noticable. I'm telling you this because I know how some of you feel. I know its hard. It's important to have a spouse that loves you no matter what. If I get fat, bald, or marked he will still love me for who I am. That's what best friends do. I am so blessed to have someone who loves me like this.

I struggle to find beauty in it. My husband finds it the most beautiful.

Now, I look down and smile, knowing that these are a badge of my pregnancy with my son. A badge of how hard it was to cut down caffeine. A badge of no matter how tired I was working 9 hours a day on my feet, I still pressed on until I was 38 weeks. Yes, these are little things, but they were difficult for me. If you were/are pregnant, you know!

I am proud of my marks and I hope that after reading this, you will be too.

Picture copied from http://www.inpursuitofparenthood.com/2011/09/stretch-marks.html

"A mark for every breath you took, every blink, every sleepy yawn. One for every time you sucked your thumb, waved hello, closed your eyes and slept in the most perfect darkness. One for every time you had the hiccups. One for every dream you dreamed within me.

It isn't very pretty anymore. Some may even think it ugly. That's OK. It was your home. It's where I first grew to love you, where I lay my hand as I dreamed about who you were and who you would be. It held you until my arms could, and for that, I will always find something beautiful in it."

 

Love,

Jess