Did you or do you keep a pregnancy journal? Unless you count this here blog, I did not. Geralyn Broder Murray created a diary with sweet illustrations and thought starters to help you remember the agony and — in dreams with Ryan Gosling — ecstasy of pregnancy.
Because those memories fade (which is why some of us go on to have a lot more children), Geri shares her illustrations and some ideas for remembering to remember the small moments.
Here are a few ways mamas-to-be can get the most out of their pregnancy journals:
– carry the pregnancy journal in your purse – this way you can jot down a few notes very swiftly while waiting at a doctor’s appointment/car wash/check-out line.
– collect those little scraps of pregnancy memorabilia to attach inside the journal later ”“ an ultrasound pic, a stomach pic, a shower invite or kind note from a friend.
-Be candid. This journal is for you and you alone. Don’t be terrified to share what’s really happening with you and your baby; you don’t want to look back on simply a good pregnancy story ”“ you want to look back on your pregnancy story.
I have a nine-year old and a six-year old. What that indicates is that I was pregnant forever ago; before sleeping through the night and first steps and first bites and potty training and swim lessons and T-ball. It also indicates that what I remember of being pregnant ”“ those precious months ”“ are pretty much that my stomach was substantial (both times!) and that I was by turns nauseous and ravenous.
I wish, genuinely wish, that I remembered so much a lot more ”“ a lot more of what it felt like when the baby was moving, hiccupping, rib-tickling me, and what it was like to attach dreams to a little person who was still only theoretical and fully contained. I really think those nine months should have to have a sweet little chronicle of their very own.
From Pea to Pumpkin can be found at www.peatopumpkin.com and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/PeaToPumpkin