I wrote this post three years ago, in the waning hours of my twin pregnancy. I still visit it from time to time, to remind myself of the grateful state of mind I was in.

I’m sitting on our couch right now, cuddling with Chloe, who I’m pretty sure knows something is going on. It’s Wednesday night, I’m listening to the “spa” station on Pandora, Bryan is at soccer, and my girls will be here in less than 36 hours.

As I pet Chloe’s soft ears and snuggle with her, I imagine our little ones playing with her down the road – pulling on her tail, sharing the same toys, trying to ride her like a horse. I can’t help but flash forward three or four years and just picture them all playing together.

But I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I want to breathe in deep and remember each and every moment right now. Because it will never happen again. I’m truly in the last moments of my pregnancy – which has been a glorious, reflective, exciting time. I’ve been blessed with an amazing pregnancy, especially a twin pregnancy. I’ve tried to enjoy every moment and laugh when I really wanted to cry. (Though, of course, there have been times when crying was really the only thing I could do.)

As this incredible time in my life winds down, I realize that I’ve learned certain things over the last nine months that I hope I can keep with me during this next phase of my life.

• Listen to my body.

This was one piece of advice people kept telling me, over and over again, during my pregnancy. I learned to listen to what my body was saying. Was I thirsty? Should I really say ‘no’ to that invitation out? Did I need to go to sleep early? Was I really hungry enough to eat everything on my plate? I think listening to my body’s signals helped me work up until 35 weeks, keep my weight gain within the recommended range for a twin pregnancy, and keep the girls inside me for as long as I have. I hope that I can take those lessons learned forward.

• Respect my body.

My body is accomplishing amazing, amazing things right now. It’s really given me pause about all the times I’ve beaten myself up because of certain attributes I wasn’t crazy about – thick arms, round belly, muscular thighs, or 1.5 chins. Who cares about that when my blood pressure is good, my heart is healthy, my skin is soft, my muscles work, and my neurons are firing? Who cares when I can easily move, exercise, do yoga, pick up a book, (try to) crochet, hug my amazing family, walk my dog, and kiss my incredible husband? And who cares when, above all else, my body is able to grow two humans? These are the things I appreciate about my body now, more than I ever have before. I am fully in debt to my body for its ability to help me live my life to the fullest. I hope that I can remember this – the primary purpose of my body is to keep me functioning, healthy and alive, not to look like a supermodel.

• Minimize.

There’s something to be said for having a finite number of clothes that you really like. It was easier to get ready in the morning when I didn’t have a million options to choose from – a couple nice work pants, a few tops, and a few dresses for work, and a small selection of clothes for working out and weekends. It was so liberating to feel confident in anything in my closet, since everything fit well and made me feel pretty. I think there’s something empowering about that, and it’s definitely something I want to explore once the maternity clothes are out of my closet. And I think there’s something to be said for minimizing other areas of my life as well.

• Be kind to others.

Pregnancy makes you be on the receiving end of so much: advice on how to care for your unborn babies, nosy remarks about what you should name your twins, similarly unbelievable questions about how they were conceived. You hear how your favorite maternity dress won’t fit next week. You’re told terrifying stories of women being on complete bedrest for months and months or a friend of a friend’s labor that lasted four days. And of course, you’re on the receiving end of countless comments about the size of your body and your belly, from family, coworkers, friends and strangers alike. And yet – you’re also on the receiving end of so much generosity and love. Friends hosting showers or organizing meal trains, casual acquaintances buying gifts for the babies, and unbelievable support from those closest to you. While a thick skin helped me cope with some of the unwanted comments throughout my pregnancy, nothing could have prepared me for how much kindness and how many well wishes have come my way these past 38 weeks. So much love – and my goal going forward is to be the kindest person possible. I want to pay it forward, to support and encourage, to choose my words carefully, to be the kind of person who makes it better.

• Enjoy this adventure called life.

Over the course of my pregnancy, friends have gotten engaged, friends have gotten married. People close to me have faced tremendous health obstacles. Family members have passed away. I realize that no one knows what’s around the corner – and that’s why it’s so important to cherish every. single. moment. Good or bad, we don’t know what’s next for us. So we should live every moment to its fullest and do our part to make life easier, better, happier for those around us. And, as the saying goes, let it begin with me. I want to spread this joy, this living-in-the-moment-ness and this appreciation for the miraculous adventure called life.

Baby girls, I hope I can live up to these hopes.

I’m sure I won’t.

But the last realization of my pregnancy is that I will do everything I can to be the mom you deserve and to give you the best possible life, ever.

See you soon, sweet babies. Your mama loves you.