Carrying a new little life is such a blessing! Every pregnancy, I try to find ways to celebrate the new life within. Despite morning sickness, aches and pains, and fears, it is important to me to try to find even the tiniest of ways to celebrate these amazing months I have been blessed with. Today, I want to share with you some of these the celebrations!
I’ve put together a Celebrating Pregnancy printable to print off and keep handy throughout your pregnancy. I’ve also included links and other ideas below that show these celebrations in action!
Month 1:
Learn a New Skill
Most women don’t even know they are pregnant at this point, so purposefully celebrating your pregnancy will be a tad bit difficult. However, if you are planning to become pregnant (and even if you are not!), this is a great time to celebrate by learning a new skill that has “baby inclinations”. Think quilting, diaper making, crocheting or knitting, cake decorating or scrapbooking. Craftsy.com has some great online classes you can take, or ask another crafty friend to walk you through the process!
Month 2:
Host a Freezer Meal Party
You’ve had the excitement of seeing that pregnancy test turn positive, now what? Most women deal with some sort of “slow down” in their life in the first trimester, either due to morning sickness or exhaustion or other factors. Month 2 (before you start this slow down) is a great time to have a Freezer Meal Party! These meals are not for when the baby is born, but rather for the days when you are just too tired or too sick to cook in the first trimester.
Freezer Meal Party Pinterest Board
Organizing a Freezer Meal Party with Friends
Host a Slow Cooker Freezer Meal Party
Freezer to Slow Cooker Printable Menu
Month 3:
Luxuriate
You are probably still not feeling your best, so now is the perfect time to do some at-home pampering. I enjoy long Epsom salt baths with candles and music, followed by some yummy smelling lotion. A really luxurious bath product is Philosophy Cinnamon Buns Bath Gel (don’t croak when you see the price – it is worth every penny – as long as you keep it out of the reach of little hands!). Be sure to go with smells that do not bother you. Sniff them in the store before you buy! Light the candles, slip into a nice, warm bath, and turn on your favorite music.
As for music, listen to something that relaxes you. A new feature from Amazon that I am really enjoying is Amazon Prime Music. There is a huge list of FREE albums/songs that you can listen to from your phone, tablet, or computer. I really like piano music and Enya, so I have a lot of Enya’s albums in the my list as well as The Piano Guys and George Winston. All you have to do is download the app and start searching for your favorites!
Month 4:
Enjoy Nature
Now that you are starting to feel better, it’s time to soak up some nature and take time to reflect and look forward. Think about the past several months, plan for the next several. Talk to baby. Pray. Really take the time to see the world around you. Enjoy the sunshine, the rain, the trees, the flowers, the intricate details of creation. You and your baby are a part of that amazing gift of creation. Don’t squander the time.
Month 5:
Plan Date Nights and Outings with Your Spouse
You’re feeling that 2nd Trimester awesomeness, so take advantage of it! Sit down with your spouse and plan out some fun outings and date nights. Go to places you haven’t been before. Take a day trip, or even an overnight excursion! Talk about baby plans, and relish your time!
Month 6:
Buy (or Make) Something New For You
Now is the time to indulge that ever-expanding belly with something new! If you are super-crafty, you can make something, but I prefer to purchase something instead. I typically end up purchasing maternity clothes, but whatever you choose, make it something you can use NOW. I would encourage you to buy at least one piece that is brand new and super nice because you will have it for years (and babies) to come.
My favorite purchase this time around was a Rainbow Denim Maternity Skirt from Deborah & Co. (Today through Labor Day, you can use code: LABORDAY5 to get $5 off any $50 order and orders of $100 or more receive a FREE SCARF included in their package! Scarves are one of my favorite maternity accessories! Click HERE to start shopping!)
Month 7:
Do Something Nice for Yourself
What is that one thing you would really like to do, but just don’t seem to do for yourself? Is it a new haircut? Maybe a massage? Perhaps it is a piece of jewelry to celebrate your pregnancy? This month do something fun that is just for you!
Due Date Jewelry
Coming Soon Necklace
Ring My Neck – necklace for when your ring no longer fits
Massage & Pregnancy article
Month 8:
Buy (or Make) Something New for Baby
Even if you don’t know baby’s gender, you can purchase something this month that is just for baby. This is my 9th baby, but I still feel it is super important to get something that is just for THIS baby. One thing I’ve done this time around is order several products from Mother’s Lounge. I have a coupon code that will get you these products FREE FOR SHIPPING!
RAISINGARROWS9
is the code and the products you can get include:
nursing pillow from NursingPillow.com
baby leggings from BabyLeggings.com
baby sling from SevenSlings.com
car seat cover from CarseatCanopy.com
nursing cover from UdderCovers.com
(You can use the code on each site!)
Month 9:
Host a Baby Tea or Another Freezer Meal Party
A Baby Tea isn’t like hosting your own baby shower, but more like hosting a tea party with your girlfriends. It’s not about gifts, but about swapping birth stories and encouragement and savoring those final days of pregnancy.
Sample Baby Tea Menu:
Red Raspberry Tea
Mini Baby Rattle Cupcakes (or keep it simple and just have mini cupcakes)
Onesie Sugar Cookies
Baby Bib Petite Sandwiches
Have a basket with slips of paper for everyone to write favorite labor verses and well wishes for the new baby.
Labor & Delivery Verses
Scripture Meditations for the Overdue Mama
Scriptural Encouragement for Preparing & Giving Birth
If you aren’t wanting to do a Baby Tea, then how about another Freezer Meal Party to put away meals for after baby arrives? Enjoy the time with friends and family!
DOWNLOAD CELEBRATING YOUR PREGNANCY MONTH BY MONTH PRINTABLE!
Celebrating Pregnancy
Trimester by Trimester
I also wanted to include some Trimester by Trimester ideas for you since babies are unpredictable and can often come before 9 months or well after 9 months.
1st Trimester Ideas:
Come up with a fun way to announce your pregnancy to your husband, your children, your extended family and friends.
Get a basket and keep lots of fruit on hand in the basket for easy snacks and great nutritional value. Treat yourself to some fruits you haven’t tried before.
Watch baby shows on television or online.
Make freezer meals for those days when you aren’t feeling up to cooking.
Read my Ultimate Guide to Morning Sickness – just in case 😉
Start a Pregnancy Journal.
Take long baths.
Play relaxing music.
Make a Baby Ticker to put in your emails, on your blog, or to post to social media. Here’s mine:
2nd Trimester Ideas:
Get outside and enjoy nature.
Plan some time with your spouse.
Buy some new or new-to-you maternity clothes.
Have fun trying to predict baby’s gender.
Get a massage.
Get a manicure or pedicure or both.
Play music for baby.
Talk to baby and relish this time.
Plan some fun activities to do with your other children.
3rd Trimester Ideas:
Make a Daily Final Countdown.
Make a list of things you need for baby.
Make a list of things you need to take to the hospital.
Get the baby things ready and create a precious space just for baby (no matter how small it may be).
Buy something new for baby.
Make something for baby.
Host a low-key tea party with your friends and family.
My Pregnancy & Babies board on Pinterest
Have a blessed 9 months!
Kelly says
That was a fun blog post. I am newly pregnant with baby #12 and I struggle with feeling special after so many babies. You have some great ideas. I ordered a new canopy cover for this baby with your coupon code. Thanks!