Rebekah Warren

Four Simple Goals: The Results

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Rebekah Warren

So for November, I set four simple goals for myself. It was a good challenge, and it helped me to be more conscious of a few things. I wasn’t completely successful, but I did better than I thought, so I guess it evens out!

1. Pick up my camera and take at least one photo every day. Huge fail. I did use it a few times a week to learn it a little more before our vacation, but I definitely didn’t use it every day! The first weekend of November, the time changed, and it started getting dark before I got home from work. I know. Excuses, excuses. I did use it enough to become more familiar with it, so I guess it wasn’t a huge fail. J

2. Drink more water. Success! I started limiting myself to one caffeinated drink a day (for the most part!) when I found out I was expecting. When I made this goal, I made little daily goals to reach, like finish a bottle of water by 10:00 AM or finish two glasses of water before I leave the office. That helped so much, and I established better habits that are sticking.

3. Finish Annie’s nursery (sort of). I’d call this one a success as well. I wanted to finish all the projects I had planned that couldn’t just be purchased. I did that, and we bought most of the major things on our list. We’re both home most of this week, so we are going to knock out a few more things (BECAUSE, OH MY WORD, I’M ALMOST THIRTY WEEKS PREGNANT).

4. Read my Bible every day. Success! Again, making little daily goals helped with this. It helped to read either during my lunch break or when I got home, after feeding the dogs and before making dinner. And this sounds really dumb, but on off days with too much free time, I’d remind myself to read before catching up on blogs or getting on Pinterest. It helped to establish more of a habit, instead of just squeezing it in when I thought I had time, because, realistically, I always have the time.

So there ya go! It took me a while to get this update posted. Maybe I should set a goal of blogging more often to hold myself a little more accountable. JWe’ll see. Hope you all are having a happy holiday season!

Talimena Drive

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Rebekah Warren

Last weekend, we took a day trip down to the Talimena Scenic Drive in southeastern Oklahoma. We had planned on going for a couple of weeks, changed our minds because of rainy weather, and then decided to go again at the very last minute because the rain had stopped. I’m so glad we decided to go.

It was about a three hour drive for us. We didn’t listen to the radio. We only talked a little. We mostly enjoyed the drive. This area is the closest thing Oklahoma has to mountains that I’ve seen, and it’s breathtaking. When we were there, it was gray and drizzly, but even through the gloom it was beautiful. The drive is known for its fall colors, and we made it down there just in time to see the last of this season’s reds and oranges. Close to the highest point, there is a vista that has a panoramic view. We caught a flash of the sunset trying to break through the clouds. We stood and took in the view, not minding the cold and the wind.

We have been so busy lately (isn’t everyone, all the time?), and this trip reminded us to slow down a little. We definitely plan to return, and I hope to make it back on a sunny day next year. I have a feeling the golden hour there is pure magic.

California Dreamin’

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Rebekah Warren

Image found on Pinterest.

Lord willing, in a few short weeks, we will be in California! This will be my first time out there, so I’m really looking forward to it. We are planning to spend the first part of the week at Disneyland with some of Adam’s family, and then spend a couple of days in the San Francisco area.

We plan to hit San Franciso, Santa Cruz, and Montereyover the course of two days, so I’ve been trying to plan a manageable route and just pick a small number of things to see and do in each place. In San Francisco, we hope to see the Golden Gate Bridge, visit the Muir woods, and check out a couple of the neighborhoods before heading to Santa Cruz. In Santa Cruz, I’m mostly looking forward to visiting the boardwalk! It looks like such a fun place that’s right up my alley. We’ll stay the night there and then head to Monterey, where we’ll spend a little time on the beach and check out the aquarium if we have time.

And then, of course, DISNEYLAND. Duh. I’m so excited! We’re all going to wear Disney shirts and everything. You know, the whole nine yards. We will have two little ones with us, and I’ll be about 28 weeks pregnant, so it should be quite the adventure. Thankfully, we’ll be staying in a hotel close to the park, so if I absolutely need time to rest, it won’t be too inconvenient. If you saw the list of rides, attractions, and restaurants that Adam’s sister has prepared for us, you’d know why I’m already planning to rest. Ha! And some good news — I haven’t been sick for a couple of weeks now, so I’m hoping that it’s gone for good, just in time for vacation.

Do any of you have any tips for surviving Disneylandwhile 7 months pregnant? Or do you have any must-sees that we should add to our list in the San Franciscoarea? I’d love to hear about them!

Happy Campers

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Rebekah Warren

*This has been in my Drafts folder for a while & today’s warmer weather has me missing summer.*

Several weeks ago, Adam and I went camping. I am not much of an outdoorsy person, but Adam totally is, so I packed my little suitcase (you never know what you’ll need!) and went along for the ride. We didn’t go to an actual camping ground. Instead, we just drove along public land on a creek bank until we found a good spot. The good thing about that was how secluded and quiet it was. The bad thing about that was how there were no bathroom facilities. Zip. Zero. Zilch. I was about 15 weeks pregnant. Not the greatest idea! However, we were only about 30 minutes from home, so I knew that if I got really sick, we could just head on back. Things went mostly well until about halfway through the second day. It got a little hotter than we expected, which added to my nausea, so we had to cut the trip a little short. Other than that, it was a fun time! We took the kayaks out, roasted marshmallows, and were entertained by a friendly fox. With our lives so focused on preparing to bring Annie home lately, we’ve been trying to make extra effort to focus on each other and do things that will be a little harder with a baby around next year. It was so nice to be away from cell phone towers and civilization in general and spend some time together.

Four Simple Goals

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Rebekah Warren

From a couple of weeks ago: Adam and the dogs were hunting, and I tagged along for pretty photos.

Elsie of A Beautiful Mess posted about making and meeting four simple goals. She inspired her readers to do the same, so here I am! These goals are for the month of November. If you see me, you can ask how they’re going and help keep me accountable. 😉 I’ll post at the end of the month and share how things went.

1. Pick up my camera and take at least one photo every day. I bought a Canon Rebel (eek!) and I’m learning it slowly, but surely. However, we’re going to California in a few weeks, and I’d really like to know it well enough to use it by then. And of course, to take a million photos of Annie when she arrives.

2. Drink more water. This is a ridiculous one, but when I first found out I was pregnant, that’s all I drank. I’ve since eased up and allowed myself Dr. Pepper and sweet tea, too. Unfortunately, that means I’ve been slacking in the water department. I need to be better and keep this little one hydrated!

3. Finish Annie’s nursery. Sort of. 🙂 I have some pieces half-painted and some projects half-finished. I’d really like to finish the DIY-ish parts of the room this month. December will be full of vacation and holiday festivities, and January will be full of baby showers, and then it’s February and I might be the size of a cow by then. So, I may be overreacting or the nesting instinct may be taking over. Either way, I feel this sudden urge to get things accomplished!

4. Read my Bible every single day. Isn’t it funny how when you log in to Pinterest, you look up and pretty soon an hour’s gone by without even realizing it? But then you have things that need to be done, like laundry, or dishes, or reading your Bible, and you think, “Oh, I’ll have more time tomorrow.” So, though I do read the Word often, I want to be better. This one is the most important, so hopefully if I’m 1 for 4 at the end of the month, this is it.

So, there we go! These are things that are totally manageable. Wish me luck!

What are your current goals? I’d love to hear about them. 🙂

-Bekah

Dear Baby: Week 19

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Rebekah Warren

Dear Baby,

Well, a couple of weeks ago, we found out that you are a little girl!

Wow.

We had the ultrasound tech write your gender down and put it in an envelope. Daddy and I went to dinner and opened it up later that evening. Funnily enough, I was pretty certain there was a little boy in my belly. Even though I had no way of knowing, something in me said “boy,” and I was a little shocked to see “It’s a girl!” I immediately started crying happy, nervous tears.

I’m happy, because you and I are going to be best friends one day. We’ll read your favorite books. We’ll go shopping. We’ll probably drive your dad crazy sometimes. And let’s be honest here, I’m happy to pick out bows and little Mary Janes and pink things in general.

I’m nervous, because having a little girl means there are things that only I can teach you. I want to be the very best version of me that I possibly can, so that you can look up to me. I want you to want to be like me one day. That doesn’t mean you have to love Harry Potter or be an English major or paint your nails. No, I hope you are your very own person, with your own hopes and dreams and passions.

However, I do hope that I can teach you how important it is to be kind. To be brave. To be confident in yourself, your family, and your Savior. I want you to know that it’s alright to make mistakes; that teaches you humility. You’re already beautiful in our eyes, but I hope you learn that physical appearance dims in comparison to the beauty that comes from a gentle and quiet spirit.

So, if I want you to be and know all those things, I have some work to do on my own character. I’ll try hard to teach you the right things. But don’t be too hard on me. If I fail you, and I’m sure I will one day, remember that I’m trying my best and just want you to do the same.

Your name, sweet girl, is Annabelle Jane. You’re named after my grandmother and Daddy’s mother: two strong and beautiful women. We’ll call you Annie. I hope you like it.

Can’t wait to meet you, lovie.

Love,

Mama

The Horror That is the First Trimester

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Rebekah Warren

So, I’m seventeen weeks pregnant (!!!). Now that I’m far enough removed from the first trimester, I can look back on it with fondness and nostalgia. You know, the “wherever has the time gone?” sort of thing.

This was not always the case.

Let’s get real here (hashtag realtalk). The first trimester was not a beautiful thing, like so many claim that pregnancy is. Yes, I was starting to grow a new life. Yes, I was already falling in love with my child. But I couldn’t feel that child. I only knew I was pregnant because I was either throwing up or trying not to throw up all day, er’yday. And that’s not normal, non-preggo behavior, y’all.

It hit when I was about seven weeks, which is also when I found out I was pregnant. I’d been hoping for that sickness to come for months, so at first I was happy. So very naive. Don’t get me wrong; we have been completely and totally thrilled since we realized we were expecting (please see my first Dear, Baby post).

But then one day, Adam asked if I wanted mayonnaise, which I normally love, on my sandwich. I lost it. I barely made it to the toilet, which I then hugged tightly during a violent lose-my-guts sesh. I walked shakily back to the kitchen, where Adam was waiting. We exchanged a what-are-we-even-doing look, and then we burst out laughing. We’re on our way to becoming parents. It’s scary. And exciting.

So the nausea was ugly, but I learned to manage it. Sometimes, I’d still have a moment when I would lose my lunch, but I learned that if I could just keep something in my stomach, it was better. And now, I’m sick, but not violent sick. There is now a light at the end of the tunnel.

And then, there was the fatigue. You associate being sick with pregnancy. I wasn’t expecting the fatigue! I would barely make it through work, come home and fall asleep, maybe make it up for dinner, and then go back to bed. Poor Adam. I barely saw him in the waking hours, and I definitely wasn’t cooking. Raw meat? Are you joking? How about Cheez-It’s for dinner? Yes, again. He handled my tired phase like a complete champ. It’s not like when you don’t get enough sleep. It’s like you haven’t slept in three years but you’re also sleeping all the time and you just don’t even care because you still feel like you haven’t slept in three years. It’s a vicious cycle. And it’s gone now (super duper thankful) but I’m definitely still sneaking naps in whenever possible.

So, yeah. We’ve come a long way in a few short weeks. I’m not constantly puking. I can get by without multiple naps a day. We’ve been able to see our baby several times. Seeing those little hands and feet and nose makes every bit of the above horror worth it, a million times over. I’m incredibly thankful I was chosen to carry this child, and if I have to be sick and tired for a few weeks, I’m still getting the better end of this deal.

Dear Baby: Week Fifteen

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Rebekah Warren

Dear baby,

Hi, little one. We are about fifteen weeks into this journey, and Daddy and I are still just over-the-moon excited. According to our pregnancy books, last week you were supposedly about the size of a peach, so we’ve started calling you Peaches until we know your forever name. Very silly, I know. But we’re silly. I hope you’ll love that about us and that it won’t embarrass you too much when you’re a teenager. But if it does, I think that’s normal, too.

I’m feeling so much better than I have been the last few weeks – thank you for letting me eat regular food again! And I have more energy, so I’m so excited to start some real planning for your little space at home. We can’t wait to meet you, but we are also really enjoying this time to plan for you and anticipate your arrival. It’s so special. Our family and friends, soon to be your family and friends, already love you. Gigi and Papa Jeff have been telling everyone they know, and they’re already planning a million ways to spoil you rotten.

A couple of weeks ago, we got to see your little hands, and feet, and nose. You were kicking your tiny feet around, and oh! Those teensy toes! You’re perfect already.

We hope that you stay healthy and that I can do everything possible to provide a good place for you to grow over the next few months. I want you to be good and strong when we meet, because Daddy will probably try to take you hunting right away! Or if you want to stay home with Mama and read a good book, we can do that, too. Can’t wait, little one.

Love,

Mama