I am Amber. I just turned 24 years old. I have been pregnant, and given birth three times. I had a midwife with all three pregnancies. I Now have three little boys. Gabriel, Isaac and Levi -ages (a few days away from) 5, 3 1/2 and just turned 2. That makes me 25 months PP. The first two were natural home births, but Levi, I delivered in a hospital because my water broke before I was in labor. They induced labor and I delivered him naturally. He was two weeks early and weighed 7 lbs even. Gabriel, my oldest was born a day before his due date and weighed 8 lbs 7oz. Isaac was two days before his due date and weighed 8lbs 4oz.
I am married to a wonderful man. He is a true blessing to me! I met him through family connections when I was nearly 18. (He was 24) We got married only 6 weeks after we met, one month before my 18th birthday. I got pregnant about 5 months later. My first child was born shortly after my 19th birthday. The second, 14 months later. 22 months after my second, came my third. Yes I am busy.
My family wasn’t planned. Really more a result of non-planning. I wasn’t against having children. I always knew I would be a mother. But I was rather passive about the whole thing and honestly, was in a mindset of “letting God decide” what He wanted my family to look like. That seems ridiculous to me now. I am on birth control now. -I have no regrets. Please don’t hear me saying that! God made me fertile. He is not going to be sitting there blocking my husbands semen because we can’t afford another kid and I am overwhelmed. If I have unprotected sex with my husband I AM deciding to have another baby… Not God! I am so grateful for my husband and I, blindly stepping into marriage, and foolishly reproducing because I love my family dearly. Although it was just that: blind and foolish, God was looking out for us, while we were making the decisions. I can’t blame God that it is hard. I don’t really know what I am doing in a lot of ways, but I do trust Him. And I trust that God can use all things together for good for those who love him. I am incalculably blessed with supportive family and friends, a loving husband who is a loving father to our children, Healthy children, and so much more. I wouldn’t trade it, BUT I wouldn’t exactly recommend following my example, either.
I had amazing “easy” pregnancies. I don’t like to talk about it much because of the hate filled glares I receive when I mention things like, “no morning sickness” or “30 lb weight gain during pregnancy with 20 of that gone after childbirth” or “4 hour labor, with 3 pushes” but I am grateful! Don’t worry, I pay for it now with three wild toddlers. And I guess I’m okay with the stretch marks. Of course, I was hoping I’d be in the 50 percent who didn’t get them. (My mother had 5 and doesn’t have a single mark.) But, its really not the most important thing in the world to have a smooth, youthful, tight stomach. My husband still thinks I’m hot.
Your husband ought to think you’re hot. You are a really beautiful woman! I’m glad you had such easy pregnancies and births – perhaps God knew that having three young boys would be the hard part instead? :) Thanks for sharing your story. You have a wonderful attitude. I think your stretch marks are pretty. :)
You look beautiful! Thank you so much for putting up your pictures, and for your story and perspective.
I sometimes find it difficult to watch women have pregnancy after pregnancy, even when it’s clearly too much for them to handle, because they’re “letting God decide”. God made us fertile, but God also endowed us with the power to make wise choices for ourselves and our families. It can be really damaging for women who feel as though they have to choose between trusting in God’s plan for them, and using birth control to plan their families in a way that’s manageable. I wish people would talk about this issue more. You can trust in God’s goodness and use family planning at the same time!!
Thanks again.
Seriously, it is so refreshing to not hear someone gloss over the difficulties of parenting. I am not one to complain about my children because they are a gift and love them desperately. But, it can be a hard road, especially when they are close together. You are lovely!
You are still hot; and you have a winning attitude towards life AND your body. This is lovely to hear from someone in their early 20’s. ;)
Thank you so much for sharing!
You beautiful woman! Your post made me beam! You have a lovely attitude and your husband is right; you ARE hot! Definitely! :)
You are hot! Your story is very encouraging also. I too am a believer. I did feel we should honor God with our lives and have two children but rational I can only handle two. I have no help from family or friends. My husband works alot and I mostly care for my kids alone. We have everything we need ans are truly blessed. Thanks for sharing your awesome story. We also made the conscious decision to do natural family planning have been doing this for three yrs. Our son is 5 & daughter is 3.
You’re inspirational to me and I would love to end up with a body like yours after I work out after the delivery of this next little one. xoxo