SpeakLIFE139

I am twenty-four. Twenty-four weeks old. I am experimenting with every single facial muscle. It’s a game I play to pass the time.

What if you only had 20 weeks to live? How hard would you fight for 30 or 40?

I am twenty. Twenty weeks old. We made it halfway, Mom!

I am twenty-three. Twenty-three weeks old. My heart is growing strong and I have another goal! In the next four weeks I will double my weight.

What compels us to procreate? An irrational desire to spend sleepless nights for the next year or two? The craving to juggle five times the laundry, trip over baby paraphernalia and learn how to eat standing up?

I am twenty-two. Twenty-two weeks old. There is so much going on! I should make a list. Oh, wait—I can’t write yet.

I am twenty-one. I’m so glad to be twenty-one weeks old! I’m bigger than my placenta which feels like it’s going to stay where it belongs now.

I am nineteen. Nineteen weeks old. If you haven’t felt me moving around before—you will now!

I am eighteen. Eighteen weeks old. My eyes can move all around now and my eyebrows have grown in. Do you remember the surprise I started working on in week eight?

A heartbeat. The world can change in a heartbeat. Life can change in a heartbeat. Life can end in a heartbeat.

I am seventeen. Seventeen weeks old. You know the phrase, “There’s a ‘bun’ in the oven?” Well, there’s a potato in your oven, Mom.

I am sixteen. Sixteen weeks old. We have reached the second trimester. Yeah, Mom! You and me. I know, let’s celebrate with snacks!

I am fifteen. Fifteen weeks old. This is an exciting week! My eyelids cannot open yet, but I can see it’s getting brighter in here.

I am fourteen. Fourteen weeks old. My daily workouts are finally showing results.

What can we do when life hands us a lemon? The saying goes, “make lemonade.”

I am thirteen. Thirteen weeks old. My fingerprint is developing lines and creases unique to me.

I am twelve. Twelve weeks old. Things are on the move in here; my eyes are getting closer to each other and I am practicing nursing with my mouth.

What about when life takes unexpected turns? Change can be exciting or terrifying. Life is full of challenges. What defines our lives is how we step into opportunities or stand and face our fears.

I am eleven. Eleven weeks old. My many body systems are developing at the same time. My finer details like veins and arteries are forming—like a beautiful picture coming into focus—making me look more like “me.”

I am ten. Ten weeks old. I made it to double digits!

I am nine. Nine weeks old. Guess what? Now you can hear my heartbeat with a special instrument: a gentle pitter-patter pumping blood to my developing organs.

Our life stories begin in our mother’s womb. Some lives unfold idyllically, others are fraught with trauma. Regardless, life is a gift.

I am seven. Seven weeks old. I have been busy. I am now 10,000 times bigger than when I was conceived.

I am six. Six weeks old. You might not have noticed me yet because I am only as big as a grain of rice.