In Between Times

Our first daughter was born on December 8, 2007, and starting around her first birthday, I started having pangs of longing when cruising through the baby section of Wal*Mart. All that tiny newborn clothing!!

To hold a precious tiny infant that was mine in my arms again would be a welcome gift of new life. I couldn't wait!

We had decided to trust God with the timing of our next child. We chose not to use the birth control pill again, after our daughter's birth, as we had when we were first married. I was nursing our daughter exclusively for the first 6 months, and actually she still is nursing today, although very infrequently - only for naps and bedtime and when she first wakes up in the morning, and as a couple we decided we were confident to allow God to choose when was the best timing to grow our family. God has said that children are a blessing from him, and as such - who are we to decide whether to limit this blessing?

I had begun riding my horse again after a break of many years, in part due to a lack of someone to ride with and my young mare's skittishness and inexperience, and in part due to being pregnant with our first child. For me, getting back in the saddle was such a GOOD THING. I was regaining balance and fitness and abdominal muscles I had lost (I thought for good) with the first pregnancy, and I was having such a fun time riding - I had rediscovered my favorite hobby. I had begun training for an endurance ride (25 mile competition) and was having a great time conditioning my horse and myself.

So, as much as I was anticipating growing our family, I was also very much looking forward to riding in April (when the first Endurance race was to be held). This first week of "knowing" I have been so tired, and riding for just an hour has been taking a whole day to recover from. I hope to continue riding until our first doctor's appointment with the OB/GYN and get their opinion. On one hand, riding is great exercise for the core muscles and has a lot of health benefits, but on the other hand, the risk of falling is much greater on horseback than for other activities, and it's no longer just me I'm risking - it'd risk the baby, too. I would love to be able to complete one 25 mile ride this April. At that point I'd be 12 weeks along, and then I would stop riding, depending on what the doctors said.

It's still possible I can continue training my horse and complete a ride, but my body is telling me at this point that I won't be able to handle it. My fatigue is too great. I will be praying much for God to show me His will in this, that He be glorified through what I do. I am so thrilled to be expecting again, even typing this brings a smile to my cheeks!