A Beginners Guide to Parenting // A Journey Through Pregnancy
I still remember so vividly the day I found out I was pregnant with Roman. The moment I saw a positive pregnancy test in the bathroom as I was getting ready for work. The tears and prayers on my commute that morning. The anticipation I felt all day of sharing the news with Ryan. Giving him an early birthday present of a onesie and the dreamy conversation we had that night on our walk.
Finding out you're expecting a child is one of the most pivotal moments in anyone's life, regardless of what end of the emotional spectrum you're on. And that moment is only the beginning--the start of an emotional roller coaster that will last the rest of your life as you journey through pregnancy and parenthood.
It's quite possible at times you'll feel like you're alone in your feelings. Know you're not. You might feel as if something hard you're going through will never end, Know it will. The journey you are on will be challenging at times but it will also bring along with it some of the most wonderful memories.
Feeling the baby kick for the first time. Holding your child when they enter the world. Seeing your spouse lock eyes with your little one. These are all moments you'll cherish forever.
This series will touch on many aspects of pregnancy, labor, and becoming a new parent in order to encourage you and give you practical tools for the journey. Today I'd like to share with you a few of the practical tools and some fun ideas for the pregnancy journey.
The first is a reading plan I wrote for YouVersion called "A Journey Through Pregnancy." It's a 7-day guide to walk through many of the experiences expecting parents face and is a must read for anyone navigating pregnancy.
I'm excited to share some fun ideas you can implement on pregnancy as well!
Pregnancy Journal - I found the cutest pregnancy journal that allowed me to track the journey. I was able to add baby bump pictures, write down what I was experiencing each week, and share fun memories. It's something I'll be able to give Roman one day and he'll be able to see how his father and mother enjoyed the journey with him. Here's the one I purchased on Amazon.
Email Account for the Child - Perhaps my favorite thing we did is create an email account for our son. The idea is that when he turns 18 years old, we'll turn over the account to him and he'll have years of emails from Ryan and me. Emails with pictures, videos, and thoughts from us. It will be a treasure chest of thoughts and memories he can have for a lifetime.
Baby Bump Pictures - A fun idea is to take a baby bump picture each month of the pregnancy to track your growth and some fun facts. Here are mine, although I was far too tired at 36 weeks to be creative, haha!
Gender Reveal Party - A popular event for expecting parents, a gender reveal party is a fun way to celebrate your little one with family and friends. There are so many themes out there to fit your personality and I honestly had such a blast at mine! We went with a Bows & Arrows theme that had a tribal, Native American feel to it. Loved it! Check out Pinterest and Etsy for all your party planning needs. Here's a few pictures of mine:
I hope these suggestions are of value and helpful to your journey. Feel free to share your own ideas in the comments! Next week I'll be sharing 7 things a pregnant mama wants you to know, so come back!
