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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I was hoping to see this soon! Congratulations and what a lucky baby. I’ve been doing your nap time workout lately during my 6 month old’s naps and sending you happy thoughts!
I am so excited for all of you!!! Congratulations!!! I know why you waited to say anything.
This was so exciting to open and see.
So happy for you and your family!!
Congratulations!! Thank you for sharing such special news with us. You’ve written so beautifully about your experiences so far, and I’ll look forward to reading about however much of the pregnancy details you choose to share! I went back and read your pregnancy posts when I was pregnant last year (and your monthly Chase updates)- I loved having those to refer to.
So excited for you and your fam! I have been following your blog for a few years and remembered you documented your first pregnancy and it has been so nice to be able to look back at it now as I progress through pregnancy:) Keep on doing a great job growing that healthy babe!
CONGRATULATIONS JULIE!!!! ??? I am so so happy and excited for you!! I’ve been reading your blog avidly since I was in high school in 2011, and I truly feel that I am rooting for you in life – I am so happy for you and your family, and I wish you the best!! Truly exciting! ❤️
I’m so so happy for you and your family!! Congratulations!
I have been praying for you and your family that you might have another baby. You guys remain in my prayers. Thank you for sharing you experiences with us.
So so happy for you and your beautiful family! Sending you all love! Congratulations!!! xoxo
CONGRATS!!! So happy for you and your family. I have been praying for you and hoping to see this in the near future 🙂 I will continue to pray for you all as well. I have been a longtime reader, and I must say how much I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog. It’s the first thing I do when I get to work and drink my coffee 😉 I appreciate your honesty and love your posts about everyday life. I have 2 young kiddos (a 3 year old girl and a 16 month old boy), so I can relate how it is with young ones! I admire you for sharing your journey thus far, and I am excited to see your family grow. Again, congrats and a huge hug from a California reader!
I came to your blog today just knowing that you were going to announce you were pregnant. I just had a feeling! Congrats!
Congratulations! I am so happy for you and your growing family – what a blessing! Can’t wait to follow along your journey (as I have done for the past 7 years as a regular reader). 🙂 Thoughts and prayers for a safe, healthy and happy pregnancy.
So so happy for you 4!!! What a praise!
Congratulations! So happy to hear your good news 🙂 I’ve been following you for years now, and I love your blog – I’ve enjoyed many of your pinterest-able workouts. I’m expecting my first baby in March, so in an irrational, pregnant way this news makes me feel extra connected! I’ve saved a few of your advice posts related to new baby things/experiences, and they’ve definitely been helpful so far at least making me feel semi-prepared. Congrats again!!!
Congratulations, wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy!!!!
So so happy for you all! Chase will be a great big brother!
Praise God!
I’ve literally been checking intermittently, hoping and praying for you. Congrats!
So so very excited for you!!!
Congratulations! Very happy for you!
This announcement is beautiful – to include all your babies gives me all the feels. Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy! Cannot believe you are half way there!
Congratulations! I’m so so very happy for you!
Congrats!!! I know how stressful it is after having some loses, I don’t think i fully relaxed until the final few months. I also bought a fetal Doppler and checked him almost daily at home for some reassurance. So happy for you <3
Congratulations!!!!!! What great news! I am so happy for you and your adorable family! Hope things continue to go well and can’t wait for the arrival of your healthy little Thomas the Train! (And as someone who has previously and is currently struggling with infertility, I wanted to say how much I deeply appreciate your sensitive and heartfelt post.)
So happy for you guys! I’ve been praying for your family and am so happy to see that God is blessing you with another baby <3
I'm currently 8 months along with my first, and have loved reading your weekly updates from your first pregnancy! They're so relatable and encouraging! Every week I read your update for the corresponding week 🙂
Congratulations to you and your growing family!!!
A rainbow baby is definitely bittersweet. When I think of my miscarriage, my eyes begin to tear at the pain of loss, yet my heart bursts with so much love at the thought of my running, jumping, laughing toddler daughter. Because, yes, without the loss, the amazing being we call our child would not exist. It is probably the only way I and many others were able to heal from the pain.
So sososososososo happy for you, Julie! I have been praying praying since the loss of those beautiful angel babies. My heart is so happy for you and your family.
Yay! This is such great news! Congratulations! I’m actually 22 weeks pregnant right now so we are pretty close in the progression of things. Hope you continue to feel well!
Congratulations! I am so, so happy for you and your growing family. Another wee bubba is the best blessing that anyone could ask for. I can’t wait to catch up with your blog posts and follow along your journey!
xo, Victoria
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