Monday, March 29, 2010

13 Weeks


This week I have still been some nauseous, but starting to get better, praise the Lord! I've still been looking through lots of baby things on-line to compare prices and see what I would like. Since we are waiting to find out if we're having a boy or girl at birth, I need to plan a 'neutral' theme nursery. It is a bit of a challenge, but I think it will be worth it in the end. The nice things about having a neutral nursery is that if the next child we have is a different gender, it won't matter and I won't have to purchase new things! I've also been making some homemade things for the baby as I thought it would be more special. I've been doing some watercolour paintings of teddy bears to have framed and they match some teddy bear figurines I've been purchasing too! I think they will look so cute! I'm also wanting to paint some pictures with children's songs and nursery rhymes to hang in the nursery too. I'm loving making all these little things for my little one!


This week baby has fingerprints and their veins and organs are clearly visible through their still thin skin. Baby is about 3 inches long and weighs nearly 1oz. Their body is starting to get bigger so the head is not as big in proportion as is used to be. So amazing how all this is happening and all in the right order, at the right time. What an amazing Designer God we have!


This week I also had the opportunity to go to the True Woman '10 conference started by Nancy Leigh DeMoss who has had a minstry to women for many years called "Revive Our Hearts". The conference was amazing and I was challenged to study God's Word more and more and to be encouraged that God's plan for my life is to be a godly wife and mother before anything else. We heard the scriptures preached and challenged to be godly women and to treat our husbands with respect and love while training children in the Word of God. I truly do want to follow what God's plan is for my life and not let the secular culture define my womanhood. After all, didn't the Designer of women have a purpose and plan for our lives and shouldn't we be more concerned with what He plan is for us? A friend of mine from church attended the conference with me and we are challenged to start a woman's Bible study for our church ladies that defines true womanhood from the scripture's perspective. What a challenge and opportunity to stand for Truth in a world gone wild with relativism. I also got to sing along with Keith and Kristin Getty from Northern Ireland!! WOW! They led the music for our conference and we sang many of their modern hymns as well as some older hymns!! I turned to my friend, Michelle, and said "I'm singing with the Getty's, LIVE, and I'm hearing and seeing Nancy Leigh DeMoss in person...YAY!" These are the true hero's of the faith and it meant more to me to see them than any Hollywood 'star'. These are the men and women we should be encouraging our children to listen to, and emulate, not the world! What a blessed time of praise to our Lord!


Getting exciting about the upcoming Easter time and services. Our church is praying for ways to reach out into our neighborhoods and community with the gospel message. What a wonderful time to remember the huge sacrifice our Lord made on the cross for our sins! I don't want to EVER take that for granted or not be moved by the great love shown to me by my Lord and Saviour!

Monday, March 22, 2010

12 Weeks Along







Feeling better this week, I actually had 4 days in a row without nausea. But it didn't last as the weekend was a bit rough with the queasy feeling back again. But praising the Lord that baby is well as far as we know!

This week my cousin has been e-mailing me about some things for the baby, and she told me about a local babies and mommys re-sale called "Jack and Jill". So I went along to the re-sale and found some great bargains! I got a stroller (pushchair) and matching baby car seat for a great bargain! It was used, but very gently used. On Friday I painstakingly figured out how to get the cusion parts off the stroller and car seat frame, and put them in the wash. I then washed down the frames of both and let them all dry in the beautiful sunshine we had on Friday. My neighbor saw the items and asked if I was expecting. I was able to chat with him for a few mins and get to know them better. His wife works at a children's hospital TC Thompson, here in Chattanooga, and said if I ever needed any advise or help to just ask. I've been praying for a way to get to know my neighbors better so that was a great opportunity.
The stroller and car seat cleaned up beautifully! We are so blessed with the Lord's provision. I was also able to purchase some maternity clothes at very good prices too, so it was a very profitable day!

This week our little one is about the size of a lime, has fingernails, is developing more intestines, and is developing reflexes! It truly is amazing how God designed them to develop inside the womb! We truly are "fearfully and wonderfully made" by a great Creator designer!

I've been craving salty things and strong tastes, but I am still trying to eat as healthy as possible. Lots of fresh fruit and veg, and cheese! Stephen and I went out on a date Friday night as it was the first Friday I felt good in 3 months! I ate way too much food at the Italian restaurant, though, and suffered with stomach ache the rest of the evening...I need to watch my portions as the pregnant belly doesn't like a lot of food at one time.

I have been getting so excited about the baby coming. I've been looking at cribs (cots) and baby bedding on-line just to get an idea of what is out there and what to register for in the next couple of months. What exciting times!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Expectant Mom

Tweleve weeks ago I found out that I am going to be a Mom! What wonderful news! We were very surprised at first, but became more excited as the weeks went by. I had my first appointment with the doctor at 6 weeks and there I saw my baby for the first time on the monitor during the ultra sound and I also heard the little one's heartbeat! I became very emotional hearing the heartbeat, so very strong but little, and the realization that I truly was carrying a baby hit me. I knew it before, but seeing and hearing made it so much more real. I walked out of that visit telling Stephen that I could NOT believe that people could ever think of aborting their child! It truly is a human life inside of me, one that God has entrusted me to protect and cherish, and that is a huge but lovely responsibility. It is also amazing how God is growing my little one every day!
I have suffered with morning sickness, and the aversion to smells especially scented things like shampoo, body wash, plug in airfreshners, and perfumes. The first couple of weeks I searched for unscented everything, or at least scents I could stand! Stephen was banned from wearing cologne and had to start using my unscented deodorant. I have finally found things that work. I also have been trying to find foods that help with my morning sickness, and apples and cereal seem to be doing the trick! But now at 12 weeks I am actually starting to feel much better and I have more energy, though still not like I used too!
At my 10 week visit, the baby had developed little hands and legs and was just swinging and kicking away! Everything seems to be going well for both me and baby. I am so thankful for all the prayers and encouragement from friends and family. Stephen is so excited about becoming a dad. He kisses my belly every day, sometimes just walks by and rubs the belly, and talks to the baby!
I will try to keep this updated with baby news and how I'm progressing to share with you all! I am very blessed and so thankful for God's working in our lives!