Tag Archives: God

Trimester One

(This post contains Amazon affiliate links)

My Pregnancy Starter Kit:

As I stepped into my first full week of pregnancy—week five—the reality of it all finally began to sink in. Just days before, that little positive test had changed everything. Now, with each sunrise, the excitement grew deeper and more real. I couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that God had chosen me for this miracle.

I had read that most symptoms start around week six, so I knew it was time to prepare—physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Instead of letting that make me anxious, I saw it as a chance to slow down and create a space of comfort and peace for both me and the tiny life growing inside me.

So I began gathering a few simple things—some soft new pajamas for those slower days, a couple of books to keep me company when rest called for stillness, snacks to keep on my nightstand, and yes, even a few practical items like plastic bowls and travel barf bags (because “morning sickness” rarely sticks to a schedule).

As I added each item to my cart, I found myself smiling. It wasn’t just about preparing for pregnancy symptoms—it was about preparing my heart. Every small act felt like a way of saying, “Lord, I trust You with this new chapter. Thank You for what You’re growing inside of me.”

And just like that, my Amazon “Pregnancy Starter Kit” was born—a mix of cozy comforts, practical must-haves, and a whole lot of faith. You can find all links at the end of this post.

I ordered a pair of pajamas that I quickly discovered are what I like to call the universal mom jammies. If you’re a mama, you probably know exactly the ones I’m talking about. The pants are soft and loose with a perfectly stretchy waistband, and the top buttons all the way down the front. At the time, I just thought they looked comfy—but after having my baby, I realized that those buttons were a total game-changer for breastfeeding.

I ended up getting two sets—one with a short-sleeve top and shorts for warmer nights, and another with long sleeves and pants for those cozy evenings in. I also treated myself to a nightgown, a new robe, and a comfy pair of sweatpants—because if there’s ever a time to prioritize comfort, it’s pregnancy!

Those pajamas couldn’t have arrived at a better time. They showed up right as I entered week six, and only a few days later, I started to feel… off. At first, I brushed it off as the start of typical pregnancy symptoms—after all, everyone said this was the week when things really kicked in. My nose was stuffy, I felt a little nauseous, and the exhaustion hit like a wave.

But as the days went on, it became clear that something else was going on. This wasn’t just morning sickness. By the time the weekend rolled around, I was completely bed-ridden—fever, runny nose, cough, the whole package. What I thought was just pregnancy fatigue quickly turned into a full-blown battle with my first illness while expecting.

Usually when I get sick, it’s not a big deal. I rest, take it easy, and bounce back within a few days. But this time felt different—worse, somehow. Every ache ran deeper, every breath felt heavier, and no amount of rest seemed to help. I told myself it was probably just stronger because of the pregnancy, but when the fever kept coming back night after night for over a week, I knew it was time to call the doctor.

The nurse on the phone didn’t like the sound of my symptoms and told me to come in right away. Blake drove me, and the car ride was quiet. We were both nervous—nervous for me, but even more so for our tiny, fragile baby. We prayed together on the way there and again in the waiting room, asking God to watch over us and to protect the little life growing inside me.

By the time we were called back, my body felt completely drained—both from the sickness and from growing a new life. Even walking a few steps left me breathless, and every pause between breaths felt like a small mountain to climb. Those few minutes waiting for the doctor felt like an eternity.

When she finally entered the room, she greeted us with a calm, reassuring smile. She asked about my breathing, chest pain, and every symptom I could describe before listening carefully to my lungs and throat. After a moment, she smiled and said, “Your lungs sound fabulous.” I couldn’t help but laugh and reply, “Well, they could’ve fooled me.”

Then, with a knowing sparkle in her eyes, she said something I wasn’t expecting:

“Should we take a look at that baby?”

I looked over at Blake, my heart skipping. “Yes, please!” I said, my voice a mix of nerves and pure excitement.

As she stepped out to grab the ultrasound machine, Blake and I sat there for a moment—just the two of us, hands intertwined, hearts racing. I whispered that I was nervous and told him how much I hoped everything was okay. He gave my hand a gentle squeeze, and in that quiet moment, I felt a wave of peace wash over me. Whatever came next, I knew God was right there with us.

When the doctor came back into the room rolling the ultrasound machine, my heart skipped a beat. The anticipation in that moment was almost unbearable. I could feel my pulse quicken as she prepped the monitor and placed the cool gel on my stomach. Blake squeezed my hand, and I could tell he was just as anxious as I was.

As the handheld device moved gently across my belly, the room fell silent except for the soft hum of the machine. Seconds felt like minutes. I watched the doctor’s face closely, searching for any hint of reassurance. When she couldn’t find anything right away, fear crept in and my heart sank—but before panic could take over, she smiled softly and said, “Don’t worry, that’s completely normal. Baby’s still so tiny.”

I took a deep breath and tried to steady my thoughts, silently whispering a prayer: Lord, please let everything be okay.

Just as my nerves were about to get the best of me, I turned toward Blake for comfort—and that’s when I heard the doctor exclaim, “Oh, there it is!”

I looked back at the screen, and for a moment, the whole world seemed to stop. There, right before my eyes, was our tiny baby—resting safely inside me, with the faintest, most perfect little heartbeat flickering on the screen. I could feel tears forming as Blake squeezed my hand, his voice soft and full of wonder: “That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”

At just shy of eight weeks, our baby didn’t look like much more than a tiny jelly bean, but to us, that jelly bean was everything. In that instant, all the sickness, worry, and exhaustion faded away. All I could feel was gratitude—pure, overwhelming gratitude that God had allowed us to glimpse this miracle so early.

Even though the scan happened because I was sick, I still count it as one of the biggest blessings. Here in Oregon, most mamas who aren’t considered high risk only get two ultrasounds during their entire pregnancy—unless they pay out of pocket for more, which can be so expensive. So to me, that unexpected scan felt like a little gift from God… a reminder that He can turn even the hardest moments into something beautiful.

After our scan, the doctor sent me down to the lab for what felt like a dozen different tests. They drew blood, swabbed my nose, and then Blake and I headed home—tired, hopeful, and anxiously waiting for the results.

Later that evening, the call came in: I had tested positive for Influenza A—apparently the worst one you can get. To my knowledge, I’d never had the flu before, and of course, I had to go and get it while pregnant! I quickly learned something that so many mamas had warned me about: during pregnancy, your immune system runs at its weakest.

What would normally be a one-week cold turned into nearly three. I practically lived in my pajamas 24/7, surviving on Campbell’s chicken noodle soup and ginger ale. Poor Blake caught it too, and our dog couldn’t understand why his humans suddenly turned into full-time couch potatoes. I felt so guilty watching him wag his tail, ready to play, while we could barely drag ourselves out of bed.

By the time week ten rolled around, I finally started to feel like myself again—thank goodness! Because those next few weeks would be some of the most eventful yet…

Tune in next time to find out our baby’s gender, how we landed on the perfect name during our Hawaiian vacation, and how my immune system continued to keep things interesting throughout pregnancy! Don’t forget to like and subscribe so you don’t miss the next post.

Amazon “Pregnancy Starter Kit” list as previously mentioned barf bags for “morning” sickness on the go https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DY4FJ3D9/?tag=mamablogger20-20 • “Universal mom Jammie’s” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B68LHXTR/?tag=mamablogger20-20 • Jammie’s short sleeves https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071RBJVTK/?tag=mamablogger20-20 • best books for bed ridden days “Hatchet” https://www.amazon.com/dp/1416925082/?tag=mamablogger20-20 • “the hunger games” https://www.amazon.com/dp/1339042657/?tag=mamablogger20-20 • Water cup cause you have to stay hydrated! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1DK279Y/?tag=mamablogger20-20 • reading pillow (great for pregnancy and postpartum!) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2X6VT48/?tag=mamablogger20-20

Tiny Miracles

Good Afternoon Readers,

This morning started like most others — with an iced coffee in hand, a quick breakfast, and a cozy snuggle session with my sweet baby girl. She turned ten weeks old yesterday, and somehow she seems to grow more alert and curious by the hour. Every smile, every coo, every new expression feels like a tiny miracle unfolding right before my eyes. It’s such an incredible honor to be her mama — to witness all of her firsts and gently introduce her to this big, beautiful world.

I’ve also found myself growing in my faith during this season of motherhood. I’ve always believed, but I’m still fairly new to truly walking with God. Growing up, my family moved often and went in and out of churches, so I never really learned how to know Him deeply or study His word the way I was meant to. But lately, I’ve been blessed by what I can only describe as a small miracle — a reminder that God’s timing is never wrong. Again and again, He’s shown me that everything unfolds exactly when it’s supposed to.

When I found out I was pregnant, one of the thoughts that weighed on my heart the most was how deeply I wanted to raise our baby to know God. The only problem was… I wasn’t sure I truly knew Him myself. I believed in Him, of course, but I knew I wasn’t living like someone who had a real, personal relationship with Him.

Blake and I started talking about how we could change that — how we could become more intentional with our faith, not just for ourselves, but for our little one and any future children we might be blessed with. We made a plan to start small but steady: reading our Bibles together every day, beginning with the New Testament. Each evening, we’d pray before we opened the pages, and afterward, we’d talk or journal about what we’d read. For a while, it felt like everything was falling into place — I felt lighter, more grounded, and more at peace in my heart.

But as my due date grew closer, life started to blur. We began missing a day here and there… then a few days, then weeks. Before long, we’d slipped back into old rhythms. The guilt crept in, and it was heavy — but the distractions of preparing for a new baby were heavier still.

Shortly after our daughter was born, Blake brought up the idea of starting our Bible readings again, and we agreed to pick up right where we’d left off. But this time, it felt different. I was newly postpartum — exhausted, emotional, and overwhelmed in every possible way. My mind was racing, my anxieties were high, and I barely recognized myself. Whenever Blake would gently ask if I wanted to read, I found myself irritated and resistant, even though deep down, I did want to.

Looking back, I realize now that I was fighting a spiritual battle within myself. I longed to reconnect with God, but the motivation just wasn’t there. As the days turned into weeks, my frustration grew — not only with myself but with everyone around me. One afternoon, it all came to a breaking point. I sat on the edge of my bed, tears streaming down my face, and cried out to God in desperation:

“Please, Lord… help me. Help me find motivation again. Help me understand.”

I wish I could say He answered right away — but He didn’t. Still, I prayed every day, even when my faith felt small and my energy was gone. Deep down, I knew that even the smallest prayer was a step in the right direction. What I didn’t realize then was that God already had an answer waiting for me — one that would come much sooner than I expected.

Blake’s dad, Matt, and his girlfriend, Mandy, started a sweet family tradition — Sunday dinners at their home every week. It quickly became something we all looked forward to. Mandy’s brother, Larry, and his wife, Dawn, would join us too, making it a cozy little family gathering full of laughter, good food, and easy conversation.

Blake and I had already missed the last two dinners because we’d been under the weather, and when this Sunday rolled around, Blake wasn’t sure he felt up for going. But I was determined — we’d already skipped twice, and there was really no reason not to go. I told him it would be good for us to get out, see everyone, and spend some time together. So, off we went!

I’ve never been much of a social butterfly. At family gatherings, you’ll usually find me curled up on the couch, chatting with whoever happens to sit nearby — which, more often than not, is my sister-in-law. That Sunday was no different. We were deep in conversation, planning a trip to take the kids to the pumpkin patch, when a few words from across the room suddenly caught my attention: “Thursday” and “Bible study.”

I looked up and saw that Mandy was the one speaking. Curious, I asked her what she was talking about, and she nodded toward Dawn. It turned out she’d been asking Dawn about her women’s Bible study group — and that she planned to go with her for the first time that week. Without even thinking, I blurted out, “I’d like to go to a women’s Bible study! Would it be okay if I joined you guys?”

Dawn’s face lit up immediately. “Of course!” she said with a smile. She explained that their group had just started studying the book of Galatians and offered to order me my own study guide so it would be ready for Thursday. Up until that moment, I hadn’t realized that Dawn and her husband were people of faith, and hearing that instantly made me feel even more excited — and a little curious about what God might be doing.

When she mentioned Galatians, I told her how perfect that was because I was almost certain Blake and I had recently read it together. I pulled out my phone and went into the Bible app to check where we’d left off — and that’s when I knew, without a doubt, that God was answering my prayers. Right there at the top of the page, it read “Galatians 2.” Which was exactly where their study would be starting on Thursday. I just sat there in awe — it felt like God had reached right into my week and whispered, “See? I’ve been here all along.”

“I sought the Lord, and he heard and he answered me” – Psalm 34:4

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to be notified and see how this miracle has continued to grow and lead me down the path God has for me.

Question Of The Blog:

When was a time in your life that Gods timing was proved to you? Where everything you had been through seemed to just fall right in to place?