For the past month or so, there’s been something that I’ve been biting my tongue to share but needed to wait until the right time. Fortunately, now I can finally share it:
I’m pregnant!
There’s a child in there! It blows my mind.
Today is the last day of week 12, so the end of our first trimester. We currently have a projected due date of February 23. We’ve known for about a month and a half now and have had the joy of getting to hear the baby’s heartbeat twice now, see it on the ultrasound, as well as watch it grow slowly and steadily with my belly!
This has been something we’ve been praying about and awaiting for more than a year. As with so many good gifts that the Lord has given me—whether it was for a husband, a steady income or now a baby-on-the-way—those answered prayers have not come without persistent prayer and plenty of patience as we waited on God to provide an answer. And this time, it’s one that I’ve looked forward to for years, having always known that when I grew up, I wanted to be a mother. I’m blessed to think that I’ll finally get to experience that!
I won’t go into all the specifics of how it came about just yet (I’d like to wait until after I’ve wrapped up the Our Love Story series), but suffice it to say that it has been such a wonderful and encouraging and sweet story of the Lord at work in our lives—yet again.
(By the way, I know those photos don't really "show off" the bump. Sorry about that; honestly, it's still pretty small. Although, the flowy shirt probably doesn't help either, but it's part of what has become my bump-friendly wardrobe. In due time!)
Anyway, I hope to keep monthly updates going on here through my pregnancy. (There’s no way I think I could commit to weekly ones. Monthly seems a lot more do-able.) And, like I mentioned before, I’ll share the story behind this baby in a few weeks, which hopefully will be yet another testimony to the incredible “blessons” God has gifted me.
In the meantime, if you have any pregnancy or pre-baby tips to pass along, feel free to send them my way!
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Oh my goodness! Congratulations! I'm so excited that I get to be pregnant at the same time as yet another one of my favorite bloggers. How are you feeling? If you've made it this far and are still shopping two grocery stores a week, I guess you're doing pretty well!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks so much! I thought the same thing when you mentioned you were pregnant, too :)! I've been feeling MUCH better the past couple of weeks, pretty much back to normal--and managing a couple of grocery stores each week :) But, I don't have to juggle that with a full-time job so I think that takes most of the credit!
DeleteI am so so so excited for you!!! Hopefully we'll both be home for Christmas and I'll get to see the mega bump!
ReplyDeleteBrandy
Thanks, Brandy! We probably won't be able to make it up to Cincinnati for Christmas because that's getting too close to the don't-travel-long-distances (in case you go into labor) time period. We're planning on going up there around Thanksgiving, though, so maybe that would work??
DeleteYAY! Congratulations!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteHurray!! Congrats on the new little one. Babies are such a joy, and they turn your world upside down in very very good ways :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I am looking forward to that, knowing fully well that it's going to be both better and sweeter and harder than I can even imagine. But I'm up for the challenge :)
DeleteCONGRATULATIONS! This is wonderful news!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! Babies make the world such a wonderful place! Wishing the best for you during your pregnancy!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! We're 20 weeks along with our first little one. It's a crazy wonderful time, I can't wait to see more posts from you!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness Carmen, how wonderful!! Congratulations to you and your husband. I can't wait to hear about how the Lord is moving in this blessed event.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!! I saw your blog title & I KNEW. So Happy for you!!! And can't wait to hear more, see more, etc.
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny! Whenever I called any of my friends to tell them the news, they all said the same exact thing: As soon as their phone started ringing, they knew it was going to mean I was pregnant. Funny how that happens! Thanks so much for the well wishes; I appreciate that so much!
Deleteyay! congratulations!! God bless you both!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations - I'm looking forward to hearing about it - as someone who has a 25 year old and a 22 year old, it is fun to hear/read about many of the bloggers I follow as they start down the road. It's got its ups and downs to be sure, but it is the most amazing thing you will ever do.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynne! I imagine there are some things that will never change and in other ways be so different. Anyway, I'm enjoying the process so far! Feel free to chime in at any point and share any of your tried-and-true wisdom :) I'm all ears!!
DeleteSo exciting!!!! I am almost at the twelve week mark with our first baby (due March 5). I can identify with spending a lot of time praying and waiting for both my husband, and now this baby. God is teaching me that his timing is perfect. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteOh congrats on your baby-in-the-making, too! Sounds like you're just a week or so behind me, so we'll be walking on this journey together!! That's exciting and I'll be curious to hear how it's treating you, as well. Fun to get to have others to walk along with in all of this!
DeleteCongratulations!! A friend introduced me to your blog several months ago because reading it 'always made her think of me.' I feel like we would be great friends in real life. :) I'm so happy for you and your husband. My hubby and I are expecting our first little one soon - the due date is 11 days away!! This has been such an exciting time. It's hard to believe sometimes that God has given us this gift to nurture and care for and I just pray that we can raise him/her to know the Him. We have been showered with love from people we have known throughout our lives, some whom I haven't seen in 15 years! I hope that your pregnancy is as easygoing and filled with blessings as mine has been.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's so sweet, Rebekah! I'm so glad you've been enjoying reading along and can relate to my posts/what's going on in my life. I'm flattered that my blog reminded your friend of you!
DeleteCongrats on your baby! That's got to be so, so exciting to be so close to the end to finally getting to meet this child you've been loving for the past 9 months. I can't wait to hear how it goes. Hope the birth is a beautiful experience for you and the babe!
Just wanted to stop back by and say, It's a Girl! Elissa Joy was born Sunday night at home in the water. I Awww attended by my two wonderful midwives, my amazing husband, my partner, my team mate, and our dog Hazel, who slept through almost all 23 hours of labor, but as soon as she heard that first cry she was right there to investigate. I had a few playlists lined up on itunes and started with the relaxation one a couple times. Then the music went off for a while, I think the tv was turned on, but at some point, just when I needed it most, my husband turned on my labor worship playlist and I was able to refocus, worship, and pray this baby girl out. It was an awesome experience. I'm still in awe that we have this baby girl! I hope and pray that you have a happy and healthy nine months, that you and your hubby may use this time to bond even closer, and that you may discover a whole new closeness to our Creator. Pregnancy was an amazing journey for me and the joy and journey of parenthood is just beginning. God bless you and your family.
DeleteCongrats!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh that's so exciting! Congrats :) I'm a childbirth educator and about to be mom of 3, so if there's ever any pregnancy/labor/baby question you have feel free to drop by my blog and ask :)
ReplyDeleteOh, awesome! Thanks for the head's up/offer, Megan. I appreciate that!!
DeleteCarmen, my heart is just bursting with joy at this wonderful news! Congratulations to the both of you. God is so good! I cannot wait to read more.
ReplyDelete~Iradis
hooray!!!! congratulations. in my opinion and from my recent experience, this is the best journey you'll embark upon. Enjoy the 2nd trimester, it only gets better. :)
ReplyDeletethis is the best news!! Congratulations! As a mother of three my best suggestion is to sleep when the baby sleeps!
ReplyDeleteawwww.congrats.....GOD sometimes says not right now...its your time :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats! God bless all of you with a happy healthy pregnancy and birth!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Carmen! Another little cousin for the family. Exercise! Seriously I wish I had done it more and its hurting me since I ended up having a c-section.
ReplyDeleteCarmen,
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you and pray that you will enjoy every moment of this pregnancy. I've been following your blog for several months now and LOVE it. I'm a homeschooling mom to four sweet and very rowdy boys. I have been very blessed by your faith and encouragement here as you share your life and heart for Jesus.
Looking forward to your monthly prego updates. Congratulations to you and your husband.
Blessings to you,
Megan
Thanks so much for the kind words, Megan! I am so glad you've enjoyed reading my blog, especially with what sounds like a full house!
DeleteCongratulations Carmen, to you, your husband and family! Such great news! Glory to God!
ReplyDeleteMy greatest and favourite Mommy tip? Prayer. Anyway, I am sure you know this already. It will see you through every stage (Stormie Omartian's Power of a Praying Mom is a must have!.......oh and yes, just know that no matter how much you think you love this baby right now, NOTHING is going to prepare you for THAT moment, that very first moment when you hold him/her to your chest.......
I can't wait for "THAT" moment, either. That's one of the things I've always looked forward to most about getting to become a mother--and discovering that kind of immediate, larger-than-life love for someone even when you know absolutely nothing about them. I can't wait for my heart to explode like that!
DeleteOH MY WORD!!! CONGRATULATIONS! I always get SO excited when people are having babies, which is probably why they ask me to watch all of them after they're born :) And their dogs too :( Anyhoo, I have 5 other siblings, and I'm not a mother, but my mom has a habit (my dad too) of getting up each morning and praying for each of us, that we would know Jesus, and that He would bless us! That should have something to do with her still having her sanity.
ReplyDeleteOh, and organic baby food. :)
Congratulations, Carmen!!! To you and your husband. You've brought me to tears. I feel like I KNOW you from following your blog and I couldn't be happier for you. Praying for both you and baby <3
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Carmen to both you and your husband!! So excited to see what God has in store for your family :)
ReplyDeleteI've been without consistent internet since late August and totally missed this! Congratulations!! I am so happy for you! :)
ReplyDelete