Hello Friends,
My husband and I have a special announcement that we are excited to FINALLY share with all of you…
We are expecting our first baby! ♥
We found out about our sweet little one in early June and we are beyond thrilled. He/she is due to arrive in early February, 2020! Our hearts are overjoyed and we are thanking God for His precious gift!
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Psalm 127:3
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17
Sharing the News…
Several people have asked me how I shared the news with Adam. Not being one to keep a secret – I told him the very day I found out! While it may have been fun to surprise him with a special announcement, we talk so much and so often it would have have been nearly impossible to keep it a secret for too long. We simply sat down one evening and I shared the news that he was going to be a daddy! ♥
We didn’t waste much time and had fun sharing the news with both of our parents right around Father’s Day. Even though it was early, it felt like the perfect time to share the exciting news!
Our family, friends, and church family have already showed so much love and excitement about this coming little one. The love and support means so much to us! ♥
Hearing the Heartbeat…
One of the best moments thus far has been seeing and hearing our little one’s heartbeat. ♥ At just 7 weeks we could already hear the quick little heartbeat of our baby. It was just confirmation to me that every baby is a life from the moment of conception and every child is a complete miracle from God!
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:13-14
How I’m Feeling…
When family and friends heard the news of our little one, the next question was usually “how are you feeling?”
To be honest, I have been feeling very, very well. As soon as we found out we were expecting, we began praying that I would stay healthy and free of morning sickness. God has certainly answered that prayer! In spite of some mild nausea in the early weeks, I have (so far) been spared of any major morning sickness. It has been a blessing since we had to travel out of state in July.
Today officially marks 13 weeks and my energy and motivation is coming back in a wonderful way!
Food Changes, Baby Apps, and Upcoming Plans…
Finding out we were expecting sent me in a bit of a tailspin to research and prepare for our little one’s arrival. Here are some things I’ve started doing to help prepare for baby and make my pregnancy go a little bit smoother:
- Food Changes: Being pregnant means my body is craving and needing different foods! For several years, I was almost completely dairy free due to skin sensitivities. Now, my body can’t seem to get enough diary and craves it often. Fresh, full-fat milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter have become my best friends. Foods high in protein – like meat, eggs, and peanut-butter end up on my plate a lot too! The Weston A. Price Foundation has been one of my favorite resources for diet and nutrition info during this time.
- The What To Expect App: Using this app has been so much fun – and helpful! Each week, it updates me on baby’s size, growth, and changes happening to both me and baby. There are informational articles and videos to read and watch as well.
- Chatting with Other Moms: It’s been very helpful and encouraging to chat with other moms who have “been there, done that”. It’s nice to turn to others with more experience to ask questions and seek advice. It’s also been fun to have a couple of my friends expecting little ones as well.
- Slowly Starting a Registry: Amazon welcomes new mamas with a special welcome box full of baby items. All you need to do is begin a registry and make a small purchase off your registry. I’ve had fun adding a couple things to my registry… it’s very small for now, but I’ll add to it once we know whether we’re having a boy or a girl!
- The Mama Natural Week-By-Week Pregnancy Guide: Being an avid reader, I was excited to dig into some pregnancy books. This one has quickly become my favorite and is just about the ONLY pregnancy book that’s actually getting read. There’s a chapter for each of the 40 weeks of pregnancy – it’s filled with SO much helpful information, tips, and tricks. I highly recommend it!
- Planning to Move: My husband and I are hoping to make a move before baby arrives. With our goal to plant a church next year, moving has been on our radar for awhile. We still aren’t sure when we’ll actually move, but we are keeping an eye on houses in the area. In preparation I’ve been purging and de-cluttering the house so that when it’s time to pack, the work will have been simplified.
We Covet Your Prayers…
My husband and I appreciate your prayers as we continue deputation, search for a house, and prepare to welcome a little one into our family! It’s an exciting time in our lives, but we realize how much we need the Lord’s wisdom, grace, and guidance!
We also hope and pray that our little one will continue to grow and stay healthy both now and in the months to come. So far, it’s been a smooth pregnancy and we are so grateful for that! Most of all, we hope and pray our little one will trust Christ at a young age and go on to serve Him with their life. It’s a sobering thing to realize we’ve been entrusted with a life to mold and train for the Lord! What an wonderful, frightening, and awesome responsibility the Lord has given us! ♥
A Special Thank You…
We want to give a big shout-out to Adam’s cousin, Gwen, who took the time to snap these photos for us! In just 10-15 minutes she took quite a few pictures – and they are just perfect. Thank you, Gwen! ♥
Final Thoughts…
Even with the coming baby, I hope to keep up with my current blogging schedule (about 1-2 posts per week) as I’m able. There will be more posts coming soon! Thank you all for your support and for following along as I blog and share about the happenings in our lives! I’m so grateful for this little community! ♥
With Love,
Congratulations!!!!
Thank you! ♥
Congratulations!!! That’s so exciting!!!! Boy or girl????
We will find out in September! 🙂
AHHH! Praying for all three of you! Me and my mom were going nuts over the pictures! So happy for y’all! Praying for a healthy little one (and Mama too ;)). God bless you all!
Thank you so much, Ryana! ♥ We appreciate the prayers so much!
My mom is expecting a girl in October. We’re so excited!!! Congratulations!!!😊♥️♥️♥️♥️ This is our third child.
How exciting! My birthday month is October! 😉 And thank you!
Rebekah,
This is very exciting! Congratulations! 🎉 You will make such a wonderful mother! I’ll be praying for a smooth next few months. ❤️ Congrats again!
Thank you so much, Annie! ❤️ I appreciate the prayers!
Okay, random side note-I’ve seen in multiple pictures you always have such a fresh looking French manicure! 😉 Do you do that yourself, and if so, how? 😂 (Very random!)
Yes, I do it myself! It does take time so I actually don’t do it very often (maybe every few months?!?). If you follow the natural curve of your nail and go slow, it is pretty simple. If your nails are long enough to have a white-ish tip, just follow that line with your brush! It takes practice and lots of touch-ups but it’s totally do-able! I’m sure there are helpful tutorials online 👍
I’m glad you’ve been feeling so well! That was one of my first thoughts, wondering how your traveling went while pregnant!
Yes, praise the Lord I had very little nausea – and only in the very beginning (like 6-8 weeks). Traveling went pretty well, I just took plenty of naps in the car 😉
I’m so excited for you! ❤️
Thank you! ❤️
Oh my goodness, this is so exciting, Rebekah! Congratulations! I’ve been expecting this from you for a while just based upon some books you’ve read recently. 😉 But I am so excited for you! And wow, you’re already almost into the second trimester there! I can’t wait to follow along with you during this new stage of your life. 🙂 I’ll definitely be praying for you and Adam!
Thank you, Aria! ❤️ Yes, I’ve definitely been reading up on some baby/parenting info! I’ll definitely be sharing more about this new adventure… Thanks so much for the prayers – it means so much! ❤️
I am excited to see your blog posts! A couple other things I forgot to mention: the Weston A. Price Foundation is GREAT! Lots of wonderful resources there. And I just looked at your baby registry and you have the Sophie Giraffe on there! Literally the BEST baby toy ever. Our family has given those as gifts for over ten years now!
Yes, I have been learning so much from the Weston A. Price Foundation – I especially love listening to their podcast, Wise Traditions. About Sophie… after being a nanny for several infants, Sophie was a definitely a favorite toy with baby. It’s especially great for teething! I’ve given Sophie as a gift too and love all the Sophie products including the books!
Congratulations, Rebekah! I’m so happy for you and Adam. And I know you’re going to be a fantastic, godly mom. Can’t wait to see Baby Shedal! <3
love in Christ,
Claudine
https://whatdinnywore.com
Thank you, Claudine! That’s so sweet of you to say. We can’t wait to see our baby either! ❤️
Oh my word so exciting!! So excited for you as you begin this new journey! Congrats! I will be praying for everything. <3 (I think I squealed when I read your first paragraph haha!)
~Hadassah
Aww thank you, Hadassah! It’s so nice to know that others are rejoicing with us! Thank you for the prayers! ❤️
Can’t wait to meet the New baby!😀😀😁😁
Congratulations Rebekah! So excited for you Adam. Will be praying for you. Derek and I are expecting a baby boy in December. We also plan on moving before baby arrives 🙂
Briana Banks
Thank you, Briana! ❤️ And congratulations to you and Derek – that is so exciting! Hope all goes well for you. Best wishes with the move!
Rebekah
Congrats Rebekah. Me and my husband Drew are expecting a girl in November. This is our first child. Please pray for a healthy pregnancy for me and I will do the same for you. We just moved in last month so we are trying to settle in our new house. Congratulations again! God bless!!! 😊♥️
Congratulations to you! ❤️ How exciting. Yes, I will pray for you and baby – I hope all goes well. Enjoy getting settled into your new home and preparing for baby. You just have a few more months to go!
Rebekah
Congrats!!! So happy for yall! Was it hard not to share the news when people would ask if y’all wanted kids on your Instagram stories?
Thank you, Gracie! Yes, a little bit – but it was also an easy answer because “yes, we do want kids!”. I just couldn’t say we were already expecting! 😉 But now the news it out and it’s so much fun to be able to share it. Everyone has been so sweet and supportive! ❤️
Congratulations on you little blessing! Parenting changes your life in so many ways, and God definitely uses it to refine us. But it is SUCH fun and a blessing.
Thank you, Anna! Yes, it’s definitely a sobering responsibility but we are excited nonetheless! ❤️
Congratulations! So happy for you and your family! Look forward to following along this part of your journey!
Thank you, Hannah! ❤️
AAHH!! That’s so exciting!! Congratulations! I will be praying. <3
Thank you, Leona! ♥
You’re welcome!
Also, one book that my mom usually recommends to expecting mothers is On Becoming Baby Wise, by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam. It is very helpful!
Ohh yes, this book has been recommended to me by several people. I actually found a copy at a thrift shop and plan to read it before baby is born. Thanks for sharing! ♥
Wow, this is so exciting!! I was so happy when I saw this in my email this morning!! I’ll definitely be praying for y’all!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth! We are excited too 😉 and we appreciate the prayers! ♥
Congratulations Rebekah!!! We are expecting our fifth child. I am 8 weeks pregnant today. We find out the gender of our baby in October. The baby is due March 17, 2020. We are so excited. Please pray for a healthy pregnancy for me. I have had bad morning sickness.♥️
Thank you! And congratulations to you as well! Sorry to hear that you haven’t been feeling well – I hope the morning sickness soon subsides for you. Please take care! ♥
Thank you!♥️
Congratulations! How exciting!! I’m so happy for you!
Aww, thank you Heidi! ♥ Hope you are doing well!
Congratulations to you both! <3
Thank you! ❤️
Congrats! My mom is expecting a baby in January. We will find out the gender on the 29 th of this month. Please pray that it’s a boy because I have 2 sisters. She is pregnant with our fourth child.😊♥️♥️
How fun and exciting! Hope all goes well. Have fun finding out the gender!
Oh my goodness congrats!! ❤
Thank you! ❤️
Congratulations. Prayers for you and the baby for a safe delivery ,pregnancy and a healthy baby. God Bless.
Joan, Marion and Marilyn
Thank you so much! We appreciate the prayers! ❤️
Rebekah! Congratulations!!! 🙌😁 I am so excited for you and Adam!! 👶🏻😍💙💖 Will be praying for a safe and healthy pregnancy and baby, and for wisdom, strength, and grace for you and your husband in this incredible new parenting season. What a dear, happy announcement! LOVE the photos and your dress! 😍 So thrilled for you!💞 ~Alyssa
Thank you so much, Alyssa! ❤️ We appreciate the prayers. We are very excited for this new season and it means so much to be receiving so much love and support! ❤️
Ever since I started following your blog, I’ve been praying that God would send you a little one! Another prayer answered! 🙂 Now I’ll be praying for a safe pregnancy and delivery. (And for a quick, easy move into a nice house.) I’m glad to hear you’ve been feeling well.
Two of my friends got married at the beginning of this year, and they are both expecting!
I always get SO excited when I hear a pregnancy announcement! God has certainly blessed you and Adam. And He has blessed my day, too, with this announcement.
The pictures are lovely. You and Adam both look so happy. I love your coordinated outfits. Your hair is so beautiful. Is it naturally like that or do you have to style it?
Also, have you been considering any names for the baby?
Love and Blessings!
Natalie
Aww, thank you, Natalie! You are so sweet! And we greatly appreciate your prayers for us! ❤️
Congratulations to your two friends, how exciting!
Thank you for the kind words and compliments. For these photos, I curled my hair with a curling wand. I wish it was naturally this way 😉 but it’s somewhere between wavy and straight!
Yes, we have names picked out already! I’m sure I will share them on the blog in a few months 😉
Congratulations!! What amazing news ❤️ I’ll be praying for you!
Weird question, but are you “RadiantBaby” on What to Expect? I’m in the February2020 group as well and when I saw that user name I instantly thought of you!
Didn’t mean for this first one to post 🙈😂
Oh my goodness, yes, I am! It helps me remember my usernames if I use some form of the word “radiant”. How fun that you guessed it! Are you also expecting in February?
Yes we are! My husband and I are expecting our first. I think I’m exactly a week behind you, I will be 13 weeks this Thursday!!
I completely agree with what you said in your post, seeing and hearing that little heartbeat was the most amazing experience. Realizing that God has blessed us with a little growing life is so wonderful ❤️
Yes, you’re right. I’ll be 14 weeks on Thursday! 😊 How have you been feeling?
Oh yes, that first ultrasound was so special. I thought I might cry… But I was so relieved to hear a healthy heartbeat I just couldn’t stop smiling! 😊
I’m starting to feel much better praise the Lord. I’ve honestly been very blessed not to have morning sickness as bad as I hear some people get it. I have only had a mild, all-day nausea (worse when I’m hungry), but absolutely no vomiting. I think the slight nausea and extreme exhaustion have been two of my biggest symptoms.
I’ve also noticed that as I start to draw closer to 13 weeks, symptoms are fading. But to tell you the truth, before the ultrasound, and even after it, I’ve been grateful for the slight symptoms I do have as it’s reassuring to know that things are progressing and baby is still growing.
It’s also nice to be at peace knowing that everything is in the Lord’s hands and that He is ultimately in control of all.
Girl, when we heard that heart beat, I actually got tears in my eyes! It was so sweet. I smiled for hours afterwards! My husband also filmed the monitor, so we have the heartbeat recorded which was special to share with a few close family members and friends. 😊
Are you excited to be officially out of the first trimester?
Oh good, glad to hear that you haven’t been too sick and that you’ve been feeling better!! I had so few symptoms I am also grateful for the symptoms I DO have – even if they are uncomfortable. It’s just further proof that there’s a little life growing inside of me! (Oh, I also noticed that the slight nausea I had definitely got worse on an empty stomach. For awhile I felt like I was eating ALL the time just to avoid it!).
That was such a good idea – to record the monitor. I can’t wait for my next appointment just to hear the heartbeat again! ♥
Yes, definitely! Most say they enjoyed the 2nd trimester the best. It’s also nice to have (most) of my energy and motivation coming back. I can also eat veggies again – which were super unappetizing just a few weeks ago! You’ll be at your 2nd trimester soon too! 😉
I’m 2 weeks behind you. I’ll be 12 weeks on Friday. I’m pregnant with my second child. Congrats!♥️😊 I’m due in February 2020 too.
How fun! Congratulations! ❤️ Hope you’re feeling well.
I’ll be 9 weeks pregnant on Friday. I wish I was in my 2nd trimester . Still very nauseous.😥😥
Sorry to hear that… Hope it goes away for you soon!
My oldest child Sophia has been such a big help to me while being pregnant and having morning sickness. I’m grateful for that. How are you feeling?
I’m sure she’s been a wonderful help and blessing to you! I have been feeling very well – most of my 1st trimester symptoms are gone! They were pretty mild to begin with.
YAY!!!! That’s sooooooooooooooo exciting!!!!! I’m sooooo happy for you two! Congrats!!!!!
Thank you, Lydia! ♥