30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 6-14

30 Days of Thankfulness

Day 6: A Warm Home

Today, I am thankful for a warm home to abide in.  When I was a sophomore and junior in college, I participated in weekly early morning prayer walks on campus. One bitterly cold January morning, I was overwhelmed with compassion for the homeless - for those who have no warm shelter in which to take refuge. On cold winter days, I often remember that moment and I am grateful for my home, for its warmth, for the blessing that I have never had to worry about where I will sleep and how I will stay warm and safe.

Day 7: Full Kitchen Cupboards

Today, like yesterday, I am increasingly thankful for how the Lord provides and has always provided.  I do not take for granted that I have food to eat.  Thank you, Father God, for providing for your humble children.

Day 8: Healthy Cravings & the Lord provides!

I neglected to have my regular glass if orange juice this morning, but when I got to work there was a bag of tangerines waiting for me to devour! The Lord provides!! Pregnant girl's best friend! Simple pleasures. Thankful for a pregnancy void of much morning sickness and for healthy cravings!  

Day 9: Sleep

I am thankful for a few more weeks of good sleep! I instinctively woke up at 6:00am this morning, remembered today is Saturday, and rolled over and slept until 10:00am! Probably won't be ANY mornings like that after Baby Girl arrives.

Day 10: Memories with my Cambodian family

Today, we are feeling sad that we could not attend our brother Chamrang's wedding in Cambodia, but I am feeling very thankful for the memories that we have already shared together.  I cherish the memories that we have already made together - family meals, watching the nephews play, going to the market for groceries, and family vacation at the beach - and I look forward to the many memories to be made together in the future! 

Day 11: Safety

Today, I'm thankful for a safe (albeit LONG) trip home from a meeting in Indianapolis. I got stuck behind either an accident or a breakdown and either way, I'm just thankful that the Lord was watching over me. God is so good to me! Creator, Sustainer, Protector, and Provider!

 

Day 12: Baby Girl Gifts

Today, I am thankful for all the ways that friends and family are already blessing us and Baby Girl with baby clothes and baby wipes and baby wash and baby elephant toys and so much more!

Day 13: Schooling

Today, I am thankful for the wisdom, strength, and determination that the Lord has given my husband to go back to school. Titus got a 98.8% in his first class and is in week two of his second class. REALLY proud of him!! Also, very thankful to the Lord for blessing us with Titus' FREE TUITION!

Day 14: The Lord's Promises

This morning, I woke up very heavy-hearted - burdened by the thought of Thanksgiving without Grandmom and burdened by all the devastation in the Philippines. Today, I am thankful for the Lord's promises.

*I will never leave you nor forsake you! (Deuteronomy 31:6)

*I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart... (John 14:27)

*I am with you always! (Matthew 28:29)

Thankful,
Jewel

Twenty-Five Weeks

Baby Baby Girl is at 25.5 weeks developed now and is clearly evident outside my skin - there's no hiding her now!  Strangers have began to notice and many feel comfortable starting a conversation about my belly!  I've had to do a 2nd "weeding-out" of clothes that don't fit are not long enough to cover my entire belly!

Slowly, baby things have begun appearing around our small apartment - little reminders that our lives are going to change (and already have in some ways)!!  I often catch myself dreaming about our first few weeks together... wishing that maternity leave could last forever!!

Momma:

*feels very good most days!! Some back pains, but no real complaints!  I have really been blessed with a very easy pregnancy!  (Praying the third trimester, delivery, and early stages of motherhood are as easy!)

*feels like I cannot drink another ounce of water!  I have a 59oz. jug that I try to finish twice each day.
*is OVERWHELMED!  There is still so much to be done and Baby is due to arrive in less than 15 weeks! :O
*wants to have another ultrasound!!  I'm starting to doubt that Baby Girl is a baby girl and not a baby boy!  (Is this normal??)
*is hot pretty much all the time.
*finally gained weight before the last doctor's appointment!
*finally finished Baby's registry (Target and Wal-Mart) - a huge accomplishment in my book!
*has been enjoying using a fetal doppler to hear Baby's heartbeat at home!
*sees Baby moving more than feels Baby moving.  Neither happens regularly and its always very special when it does!
*has more goals and dreams than energy!

Baby Girl:

*is approximately 13.5 inches long and weights about 1.5 pounds
*has hair!  (I wonder if it's a head full of dark hair...)
*is already very well-loved and admired by many!

Daddy:

*is very careful to monitor momma's activities and feedings, ensuring the best for Baby.
*does not want to talk about baby names.
*will be an awesome stay-at-home dad when momma goes back to work!

Loving Baby,
Jewel

My Sweet Baby Girl

We had our gender-revealing ultrasound on September 4th and....

It was... surprising news, but we are very excited!  A little girl!  It's so good to finally know that I have a daughter living and growing inside me!  It's so fun to finally be able to pin little girl nursery ideas, register for dolls, dresses, and purple* things, and dream about all things princess!  For five months I have been so anxious to get my mind and my hands busy planning and preparing for our little one - son or daughter - and now that we know she'll be a princess, I can finally start dreaming and getting things done!

(Contrary to the picture above, I'm actually dreaming of all things purple NOT PINK!)

I'm 22 weeks now and feel like there is still so much left to do in only 18 more weeks! Eighteen more weekends including the busyness that is holidays!  I inherited a dresser from my grandmom's estate, so Baby Girl now has a place to keep her things as well as a changing table!

I decided long ago - boy or girl - to have an elephant nursery and thankfully, husband consented.  I found the nursery set below but... sad sad SAD, this design is discontinued!  The search continues and I haven't been happy with anything else that I have found... but I will find it!

Dreaming,
Jewel

Much needed update and big announcement!!!

Months of big life happenings have become Romdenh family history since I last blogged.
I'll try to catch you up on all of these happenings in the next few weeks, but it's going to be a challenge to rekindle this old habbit (as with any.)  My personal goal is to post two blogs each week! :)  I don't just blog for you, although you inspire me the most, but for myself too, and maybe even for my children and grandchildren to come!  I have laughed, cried, and smiled as I have read through old journal entries on this blog, and I really want to keep that going!!

Today's big announcement is pictured below, and my goal is to have another before the end of the week!

Onesie reads: "Cambodian American"

 

 

Onesie reads: "Made in America with Cambodian parts"

We are very excited and I am feeling very blessed to have a pretty easy pregnancy so far!  Three or four weeks were pretty rough with morning sickness, but I'm now at 141/2 weeks and feeling great! 

Statistics:
Progress: 14.5 weeks! Second trimester!
Craving: Orange juice!!
Avoiding: Garlic and coffee!!
Baby is: 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce. Baby has fingerprints and gender is becoming aparent!
Mom is: Excited! Praying for a health baby and easy pregnancy and delivery! Anxious for the next ultrasound! Energized! Trying to re-organize the house! Planning an elephant-themed nursery!
Dad is: Excited! Wants a boy!!!!!!! Anxious for the next ultrasound! Very protective of Mom! Praying for a healthy baby!

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."

1 Samuel 1:27,28 ♥ ♥ ♥

Already loving Baby,
Jewel