Growing in Faith While You're Expecting - Waiting in Wonder

i just couldn't get into this book. The nearly daily activities were overwhelming for the tired first trimester. And after that i found other resources and ways to journal for baby and pray for him. A neat idea, but the devotions were shallow and the growth information is the same as all the emails one can subscribe to.

I didn't love this so much.
I still read it but don't answer the questions.
I feel it's very "church heavy" but that's to be expected. I'm just in a different spiritual journey and in a different place.
It's nice to read about the baby development with some spirituality.

It's okay. The theology is fairly conservative and literalist (a lot -- A LOT of referring to God as "He") and much of the writing is fairly simplistic. There are some nice prompts for journaling, but I keep stumbling on the narrow understanding of God, Christ, and creation. The book itself is beautiful, and nicely laid out (which is where I gave it 2 stars). If you have liberal theological training or find that wrestling with God is your mode of faith - this book is not for you and will be tough to use.

I started this journal and liked it for the first couple of months, but it just got old. She has you journal about all these deep, personal, spiritual issues - which is good to a point, but I thought it was going to be more of a keepsake for my child. I'm not sure I want my someday 21 year old reading how I was frustrated with not being able to have romantic relations with his father while I was pregnant with him. Awkward. And with the endless emotional, hormonal fluctuations that are already happening in pregnancy, I found it bringing up some anxiety - deep soul searching is exhausting work even when you aren't making another human being. Throw in some crazy pregnant lady feelings and my journal started to read a bit like a confession box transcript.
I think I would have liked something that had me record things like gas prices and ideas for names.

Having lost a daughter at 16 weeks gestation in my previous pregnancy, my current pregnancy has been high risk since the very beginning. Even with my trust and faith in God, every day has been a challenge in remaining positive instead of anxious as I have been at the doctor weekly and on and off mandatory rest. A friend of mine sent me Mrs. Larson's book a week ago. Beginning each morning with a devotional that walks you through scripture, and the joys and blessings of pregnancy has given me a renewed sense of strength. Even in the first few devotions, God already spoke through Mrs. Larson's words to me, and the specific emotions I have been struggling with. It has ministered to me and blessed me. I highly recommend this book not only to any expectant mother you may know, but also to an expectant mother who may be experiencing issues through a high risk pregnancy.

I LOOOVE this devotional. I received this as a prenatal gift from my best friend. The book serves as a prayer journal and a pregnancy developmental tracker! It helped me focus on God and my baby to be, which kept my pregnancy nervousness at bay. I sent a copy to my sister as a gift, and she really likes it as well. This will be my new go-to gift for expectant mothers!

At forst this book was really helpful, but as a single mom it was discouraging (at weeks 20 and on) to constantly be reminded of the father that is not here for my son. Its gpt some gpod faithbuilding material and its probably awesome if you are with your partner. But, single moms... theres your warning if the absent father is a sensitive subject.

A big thank you to Thomas Nelson for sending me this book for review!

Where, oh where was this book when I was expecting my kiddos? This is the sweetest, neatest devotional book I've ever seen for expecting mothers! It is not just a devotional, but also a journal where you can record your thoughts and feelings about your pregnancy. For each week (starting at week 5), there are several paragraphs about what is happening developmentally with the baby and the mother's body. Then there is a list of specific areas to pray about and praise God for. Following the list is a Memory verse. There are 4-5 devotions for each week, with questions to prompt journaling.

I just think this is a beautiful book and the perfect gift for any expecting mother. I really wish I had had something like this - it would be so nice to look back on what I was thinking during those special times in my life. And what a precious gift it would be to hand the completed journal to the child when THEY were expecting their first baby - what a wonderful connection between mother and child!

I received this book as a gift 1/2 way through my pregnancy, and I wish I had known about it from the beginning of my pregnancy. There is a weekly memory verse and the devotionals are short and sweet times to reflect on life that is ever changing! I would recommend to anyone who is expecting or knows someone who is - it makes a great gift!

How do I describe this book other than if you are expecting and wish to share your experience with God and the child He will be gifting to you, this devotional journal will go from week one of until you hold your precious gift from God.

This journey will give you devotionals and scriptures to meditate on while also explaining the stages along with a peak into the growth of your child titled The Wonder Within. It even provides a place to write down your thoughts and interpretation of the devotional and scripture, not only to God but to your child. The verses are provided as memory verse in each devotional.

I was impressed at the way the book is set up and wish I had this book when I was expecting. I have five daughters and I am pretty sure they will not be blessing me with anymore than the already fifteen grandchildren. This year four of my granddaughters with be turning seventeen so I will definitely be recommending this book for their hope chest. I am sure they will not be needing this book for at least five or more years yet.

My favorite excerpt is page 162, Patient Partners, Patient Parents, and the verse provided:

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
1 Corinthians 13:4

This is a wonderful Keepsake, shower gift and more.

I highly recommend this book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This review is my honest opinion.

This book has been such a blessing as I've been going through my first pregnancy. The devotionals are so timely, linking baby's development to great prayer ideas and scripture. Not only do the devotionals focus on baby, but mom and important relationships like significant other, grandparents, and in-laws. When I first found out I was pregnant, I have no idea what to pray about and this book has aided me in spending daily time with God about my little one and preparing my heart and mind for our little boy. I will gift this book to any friend I find out is pregnant. Now, I need the author to write a devotional for the new mom!

Catherine is the kind of person, has that writer's voice, who makes you want to go along wherever she is going. In this book she's going to the delivery room and she makes her readers' journeys there much more relaxed and enjoyable. She mines gems from her own journals of previous pregnancy. She searches Scripture. She does the scientific research on baby's development, Mom's changing physiology, pediatric care and delivers it all, not as the detached expert, but a winsome felow-traveller. Like the 5-star tour guide who seamlessly explains the Colonial architecture, the history of pirates and brothels, local agriculture, and the best place to get fresh-ground coffee she mixes her scientific data with deep reflection, surprising insights and weaves a story of the nine-month journey that you don't just read about, but experience together.

Written during during her real time 9-month journey to deliver her second child, she guides you into writing your own story as well. So when you are done you have your own collection of prayers, discoveries, laments and celebrations of bringing a new, eternal little person into the world. A great gift for yourself or others.

This was a great book that takes you week by week through your pregnancy and allows you to not only prepare yourself mentally and physically, but differently than many books spiritually as well. The book provides the reader with a great ability to delve deeper into scripture and explore their own thoughts about parenthood and what God wants from them as a parent. There is room in the book to journal which was nice and the author does a great job at helping the reader to pull their thoughts together in a time of excitement and anticipation!

*I received a copy of this book for review - all opinions are my own*

This book is so beautifully written. She relates each week of pregnancy so well to scripture and really helps to guide your heart into a better understanding of the word and God's desire for mothers. I really felt like the last trimester devotionals were just phenomenal. A lot of times they completely stopped me in my tracks for the day and really awakened my spirit. I personally didn't start mine until about mid-way through the 2nd trimester and it was still totally worth it, so don't let this deter you that it starts at week 5.

I am pregnant with my first and have been given multiple copies of this book :o) I am so thankful that I have copies to save and copies to pass along as its been such a blessing each morning as part of my time with The Lord. Larson offers practical insight and wisdom, as well as wonderful guidelines for praying for your child and yourself throughout your pregnancy and throughout the rest of your life. I would highly recommend this book to expectant mothers and to anyone looking to give a mom-to-be a special gift.

I wish I'd had a book like this for every pregnancy! More than many baby gift items that might never get used or quickly outgrown, this book has lasting and deeper value. What better way to prepare for a baby than by preparing your heart? Since I was expecting my third child while reading this, I didn't feel like I had lots of time to spend and was glad that it allowed for such a rich time of reflection and prayer in a short devotion. It was a pleasure to be led to pray for my baby and for myself in specific, meaningful ways. I'm eager to read more by this author. Any chance her next project is a devotional for moms parenting through the challenging early years?! :)

This is my second pregnancy, and I have been going through this book the last few weeks. I have enjoyed relearning what is happening with both my baby and myself during each week of pregnancy. It hasn't been that long since my first pregnancy, but it is amazing how soon you forget! It's exciting for each new week to begin and to find out the new tidbits about the child that is forming in your body.

I really appreciate how the biological information is tied into Scripture. It reminds you as an expectant mama that there is something much bigger than just physical development occurring with you and your baby. Sometimes that can be easily forgotten when you're dealing with pregnancy's little woes. The verses, spiritual insight, and journal entries help bring back the big picture: that a child made in God's image is growing and getting ready not only to meet you but also to be guided by your example.

From a longer review found at [...]
A reflection of the writer and her deep desire to glorify God in her writing and particularly, in this case, to draw expecting mothers into a deeper relationship with their Creator as they await the arrival of the life He's forming within them.

This beautiful devotional journal takes expecting mothers through a most precious journey. While the fun biological aspects are covered and easily understood, more importantly, women are guided through the Bible, prayer, and reflection. I love that it helps prepare women for the changes ahead for themselves, with their husbands, and life as she knows it now. I also enjoyed that the journal questions covered so many aspects including how did you tell people you were pregnant, ironing out personal pride issues, and writing letters to your precious growing baby. I cannot wait to share this gift with family and friends. It will be my go to gift whenever a pregnancy is announced!

Catherine Claire Larson has done a wonderful job of creating a devotional for each step of an expectant mother's journey. The ability to journal about each stage and write messages to your child along with biblical devotionals is a precious combination. A wonderful gift for expectant mothers!