We are expecting a baby in June! A baby we’ve hoped and cried and prayed for many, many times.
Chase cannot wait to be a big brother. (Once again our sweet Sadie is clueless.) We do not know the sex of the baby and are not planning to find out but Chase is 100 percent convinced this baby is a boy. And, according to Chase, the baby’s name will be Thomas the Train. Choo choo!
I am currently 19 weeks pregnant and while I would’ve loved to have shared our news weeks ago, I’ve felt incredibly scared, apprehensive, protective and anxious throughout this pregnancy. After a wonderful 18-week appointment last week, I felt myself exhale for the first time after what’s felt like a four month rollercoaster of emotions ranging from intense hope, joy and elation to fear and overwhelming anxiety.
But now, at four months pregnant, we’ve seen our baby many times. Heard its strong heartbeat many times. Seen our baby kicking, punching and dancing up a storm many times. I still find myself wondering when this pregnancy will feel 100 percent real. Perhaps it won’t feel real until the very moment I’ve hoped and prayed for: The moment when I get to hold this precious baby in my arms.
As I share this news, my heart is so full and so incredibly grateful. It’s filled with all the joy that comes along with expecting a baby – a baby we’ve deeply longed and prayed intently for – but it’s also so acutely aware that the baby we’ve seen dancing around during our ultrasounds wouldn’t be growing in my belly right now if we had the two babies we lost and loved with all of our hearts.
I cannot wait to wrap this little one up in my arms in June and fall even more in love with the incredible life growing in my belly right now.
Thank you so much for all of the love, support and prayers you’ve sent our way. We’ve felt all of them and we are so incredibly grateful.
***
There is a huge part of my heart that shares this news that is so incredibly aware of how it likely affects those of you who may be struggling with infertility, a recent loss and an ache and longing for a baby that is currently unfulfilled. Every pregnancy or birth announcement I read following our two miscarriages over the past year – especially those that overlapped our due dates or came after our due dates – felt like such a poignant reminder of what I was missing, what I lost and what I wanted so strongly deep within my heart. I know firsthand there’s nothing anyone can say to take away the ache you feel, your sadness and your desire for a child, whether its your first or your fifth, but I just want to recognize you, send you whatever kind of comfort and love I possibly can and tell you that my heart is with you.
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Congratulations!! So happy for you to hear of your little miracle!!!
JULIE! Congratulations! My heart is bursting for you <3
Congratulations!!!!! Had a feeling at Halloween you were and have been waiting for announcement! And I think girl!!!! So happy for you Julie!!!!!
YAY!!! I am so very excited and happy for you and your beautiful growing family! We do not know each other…but I sure feel as though I know you, and when I saw the title of today’s post, tears of joy filled my eyes! Congratulations to the Fagan Family!
God is good all of the time!
Hey Julie, I’m a long time lurker and rarely comment – but oh my goodness I am over the moon for you! From all that pain has come something so beautiful. xx
So very happy for you. Praying for a happy, healthy, bouncing baby! Think Thomas is a perfect name (or Thomasina!)
Congratulations! For some reason I had a hunch you were expecting. Have been thinking of you and hoping for this news even though I don’t know you!
Hooray and congratulations!!! Wishing you a healthy and happy duration of your pregnancy!
Oh Julie I’m so happy for you! I’ve been reading your blog for so long that it feels like a daily chat with a friend at this point. I’m pregnant with my first, due in July, so I feel like I’m pregnant with a buddy! Wishing you a healthy, happy, and worry/stress-free pregnancy!
Yay Julie!!! I was SO happy to see this on your page! I am so excited for you, Ryan, Chase, Sadie & your entire extended family! Cannot wait to follow you along on this journey. God is good!!!
Congratulations!!! I’ve been wondering and waiting for you to make this announcement! Will you still do some first trimester recaps?? I’m early in my pregnancy (with my first) and would love to hear how the past months have been for you! So happy for you!
SO very excited for you and your family!!! Wonderful news!
Congratulations, Julie! I have been hoping that this announcement would be coming sometime soon, and I am so thrilled for you and the family (as are so many of your readers!). I hope you are feeling well; I imagine it must have been an especially nerve-wracking first trimester.
By the way, my husband and I chose not to learn the genders of our babies, and it was SO MUCH FUN! I loved getting to hear my husband announce, “It’s a boy!” two times!
Hi Julie, Your post made my day! I am so incredibly happy for you!!!! Thank you for sharing the not perfect parts of your life with us. Your posts gave me so much comfort when I went through my first pregnancy, which ended in miscarriage. I am pregnant again and can completely relate to your feeling of anxiousness and unease. Almost immediately with our first pregnancy we told our family and friends, and this time around so far have told only those family that were there for us during our first loss. Blessings to you and your family! This baby is so blessed to have you as a mother!
I am so excited for you guys! I have been so anxiously waiting for this announcement. Congratulations! Also wow on your resolve to not find out if it’s a girl or boy!
So happy for you and Ryan and your families. I have prayed that you would be comforted in your grief and now I rejoice with you!!! What a blessing and miracle. Thank you for sharing this news with us. Blessings to you both! (And your sweet little Chase too!)
I am SO happy for your family!!! Can’t wait to watch you grow into a family of FOUR!
Congratulations!! I’m so happy for you!
Congrats to you and your family!!! It’s crazy how moved you can be by a stranger’s story but I cried so much when I read your last blog about the baby. I have a 9 month old and I just can’t imagine the heartbreak, though I have had many people in my experience it. I am so happy for you and so relieved for you! Congrats! I love your blog.
I’m so incredibly happy for you all! God is so faithful!! I’ve been waiting on this post from you! I don’t know if you remember my initial comment on one of your miscarriage posts but I had lost my precious 4 year old son Sam in July and then went on to have three more miscarriages after that. It amazes me the strength we have when we don’t have any other choice but to be strong. I’m so happy you have found your joy and that your night is over and the sun has risen on this new season for your family!
Congratulations! I’m a long time reader and have been referring back to your pregnancy posts from Chase! I’m due with my first in April and they have been so great to read! I keep checking back waiting for an announcement on another baby and was so happy to see this today! Glad you are doing well…god bless!
Ahh! Chills all over. So, so happy for you and your family! Wishing you all the best for the rest of your pregnancy! You deserve it!
I am so so soooo happy for you! I am a long time daily reader (like from long before you were married) but have never commented. We have struggled with infertility and have been trying to have a baby through all your heartbreaks with your miscarriages. We are now due in July with our little miracle IVF baby. I am so excited to go through this journey with you my virtual friend since none of my friends are in the baby making phase of their lives right now ?
Congratulations, Julie! So excited for you. Prayers for a continued healthy pregnancy for you!
Oh I am so ridiculously happy for you!! You and I were pregnant together before lol. My daughter is one day older than Chase…glad to be riding this ride with you again (although I’m due this August). I sent some prayers your way and I’m so happy for your family!!!!?
Congratulations! Such wonderful news for all of you.
Julie – you seem to be such a genuine person. I am so proud for you and am rooting for you! Try to enjoy the journey.
I am extremely happy for you and your family. I wish you all the best as this miracle continues to grow. You are truly blessed.
I am a long time reader and I smiled so big for you when I read this! Congrats!!! All the love! <3
I may have squealed and scared my boyfriend when this post popped up on my screen! Congratulations!
This news made my day:). Also loved your thoughtful note at the end of your post. So happy for you all!
Sooo happy for you and your family!! As I was reading yesterday’s post, I actually was hoping you’d have a celebratory post soon!! I’m due with our first in March 🙂
yay, this is such exciting news!! i was hoping to see this soon. i have a 2 1/2 yr old boy and am expecting in early july so i feel ya. hoping you’re feeling healthy and well. congrats!!!
Congratulations Julie!! Take a deep breath, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
Yay! I’m so happy for you. You’ll see how much fun Chase will have with his new sibling! My oldest always wanted boys, and he got his wish- 2 other brothers. I pray that you continue to have a healthy pregnancy and for many happy moments in the future!
I am so happy for you! I read your blog every day and have for years. I was so sad about your losses and hoped that you would have some wonderful news after such tough times. And you do!!
I have an 18 month old son and am 20 weeks pregnant with my second, a girl. I love that you’re waiting to find out the gender, but I’m SLIGHTLY hoping it’s a girl, too. Actually I’m just hoping we both have healthy babies, it’s all that matters.
Thinking of you and so so happy for your great news.
so incredibly happy for you. as a new mother at times i feel like i can comprehend the amount of love we have for our children, and yet the next second i can’t possibly explain it or make it tangible in any imaginable way. very happy for your family to be feeling this after your losses.
Congrats!!!!! Reading this just made my night, I am so happy for your little family!
Congratulations! I pray for a healthy rest of your pregnancy, that you become less anxious and able to enjoy the pregnancy, for an easy and quick delivery and for a healthy baby.
So happy for you and your family Julie! Congratulations!
Congratulations Julie, So happy for you I know you’ve been thru a lot . Many Blessings to you and your Family.
Congrats, Julie! This brought a huge smile to my face 🙂 you are a wonderful mama.
Congratulations!! I know how much you’ve been praying for this and I’m so happy for your family. It will also be such a great age difference between Chase and the new bambino. Cheers to a healthy, happy, wonderful pregnancy and another beautiful birth and a healthy baby. 🙂
I am a long time reader and I am so happy for you!!! Congratulations!!
Julie, Ryan, Chase, and Sadie,
Just elated to read this post! This is wonderful news and I am so excited to read your future pregnancy updates. Congratulations!!
Oh my goodness !!! Congratulations to all of you. This is wonderful news. Brought tears to my eyes. I’ve got 1 daughter out of years (and years) of many fertility options, we did them all, multiple IVF, the whole shebang (and nothing tested wrong with either one of us??). Although 1 is all I’ll ever have, I know first hand how much sadness and heartache women endure for these little miracle beings. I hope you let those nerves settle and enjoy the rest of the pregnancy. Cannot wait to see him or her. Chase is such a cutie. And my I add, I absolutely love Sadie. Such an adorable snuggle dog. Wishing you all the best from now til June for a smooth sailing pregnancy and delivery.
Oh my goodness I’m so happy for you and your family! Knowing all that you’ve gone through must make this little one all the more treasured and smothered in love. What a blessing and congratulations!!
Congratulations, Julie!! I’m currently 20 weeks and due June 8 with another baby girl! I have a 2 year old, too. I’ve read your blog since the Orlando days, so it’s been so fun to read about Chase who is just a few months older than my daughter. I can’t wait to read about your experience with the next baby–I’ll be right there in the newborn w/ a toddler trenches with you! <3
Congratulations on your new addition! Happy to see your rainbow will be joining the family.
Julie
I am so happy for you and your family. I have followed your blog for many years and feel like you are family. It brought tears of happiness. Wishing you the best. On another note, my good friend and co-worker just got a puppy, the same bred as Sadie, His name is Finley, Fin for short and he is such a cutie….
Congrats – I am so happy for you and your family. Thank you for always sharing your ups and downs – it is so nice to be able to read a blog that I can relate to. I’m praying for you and your baby!