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 to all of you! Your family has been in my prayers, and I wish you all the best with this pregnancy! Thank you for sharing your life with your readers!
I am so very happy for you and your family, I will pray for a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery for your little one!
Congratulations to your beautiful, growing family!!
I started crying reading this! I’m so so so happy for you!! <3 And also excited to follow your journey because I'm 22 weeks pregnant with my second one too! <3 Wishing you all the best Julie!!
I had a feeling this post was coming! So happy to hear the exciting news – congrats to you and your family 🙂
I’m so so happy for you!!!! Love this beautiful reflection.
Congratulations on the amazing news! Couldn’t be happier for you guys, I rooted for this to happen (I think along with many readers :))!!
Congratulations, Julie! What a beautiful blessing! Continued prayers for your sweet family!
So incredibly happy for you and your family! Praying for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby! After my miscarriage, it was really hard to not feel anxious and afraid all the time. Feeling him move around and kick really helped but nothing completely stopped my worrying. And now as he approaches 18 months I still worry about him constantly! I try to remind myself that worrying won’t actually prevent or fix any problems so I should just pray for his health and safety and enjoy all of our time together! I hope you are able to enjoy your pregnancy and Chase’s last few months as an only child. He will be such a great big brother!
I’ve followed your miscarriages at the same time as I have been loosing my two babies. Coincidentally we were pregnant shorty behind you and this time round we are the same, but only 11 weeks.
I hope your 3rd miracle baby will be a good omen for us too, 1 baby – Jan 2016, two miracles in haven, rainbow baby due August 2018, even though still a secret.
Wish us all the best, with love, Eveline
I’m so sorry for the loss of your two babies and absolutely hope and pray for a healthy baby and pregnancy for you! Thank you for sharing this with me. Sending you so much love and many prayers!!
Congrats!! I experienced my miscarriage the same day you shared about your second loss, and your kind words meant so much. Now, I am also pregnant and due in June. It’s a rollercoaster – but I’m thrilled to be able to have someone to relate to 🙂
Are you feeling kicks? They’ve put me at ease beyond belief.
Oh I should mention I’m almost 22 weeks so the kicks may not be there for you yet which would be totally normal! My point was, once I felt them, I experienced the closest thing to a “sigh of relief” that I think this pregnancy will give me.
I’m so, so sorry for your loss, Kate. <3 I know how hard it is and this pregnancy has definitely been a rollercoaster but I am so grateful and beginning to let myself get excited. I've felt "bubbling" that I cannot say for sure is baby kicks (especially since it's often followed by gas -- LOL!) but I cannot wait to be sure of feeling our baby move in my belly. I think that will help my anxiety so, so much. Big congratulations to you!!!! <3
Congrats!!! What wonderful news!
WOO-HOO!!!!!!!! You and your family have been in my prayers and I am so happy you’re getting a little miracle!!!! Praying for a healthy baby and mama!!! Congratulations!!!! 🙂
I’m so so so happy for you (and Chase, Ryan, and Sadie) Julie!! This is such great news.
I had a miscarriage between my two boys and I never fully relaxed into that third pregnancy. But he’s 14 months now and while I wonder about who that lost baby would be, I wouldn’t change a thing. My baby boy is the sweetest thing and loves his mama fiercely and as you said he wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t experienced that loss. Best of luck! (I was thinking you were pregnant recently but I’m not sure why…women’s intuition I guess!)
What an amazing way to start my day!!!! Congratulations to you, Ryan, Chase and Sadie!!!! I can only imagine how much anxiety has come along with this pregnancy but am so honored that you’re letting us help support you through it. I know it sounds cliche but once that baby starts kicking away at you (probably not long from now), it will really help to alleviate some of that fear. I’m so so happy for you and wish you all the best for a healthy and easy pregnancy!
2 unimportant questions – Other than the obvious emotions, how have you been feeling physically? And, are you going to find out the gender or leave it a surprise?
Thank you so much, Melissa! <3 I appreciate the kindness and support from people like you SO, so much. It seriously helped more than you can imagine over the course of the past year. And to answer your questions, I'm beginning to feel better but was pretty nauseous (ALL day) from weeks 7-17. It felt oddly reassuring though so I honestly didn't care but it sure it nice to begin feeling a bit better right now! 🙂 And we are planning to be surprised by the sex of our baby! I'll definitely share more about all of this soon, though I haven't written anything or taken many pics so far. Hopefully soon! <3
Congratulations!
I am extrmely excited and happy for y’all!
BIG HUG!!!!
♡♡♡♡
Julie I’m so happy to hear this!! Congrats!! It will be fun to have the gender of the baby a surprise as well.
Congrats Julie!!!! So happy for you and your family! Hope you are feeling great.
Congratulations! I know you guys must be thrilled! Chase will be a great big brother! Keeping you and the new little baby in my prayers!
Julie – AHH! Congratulations! I am SO happy for you and your family! This was such a great way to start out my day 🙂 I am so excited to read about your journey with this wonderful little one <3
Oh Julie! Congratulations to you and your family! I have been praying for y’all and hoping for this kind of update! (Anytime I see a lot of roundups or sponsored posts I hope it’s because of something like this!) I work for a company that helps women try to conceive, and these stories help keep us going. Much love!
Congratulations Julie! I am so happy for you and your growing family! <3
Oh, Julie! This is absolutely wonderful! I have followed you for so long and you have been so transparent and honest, I feel like I know you. I feel so much joy for you, Ryan, and Chase! God bless. I can’t wait to hear about this journey and the arrival of your new bundle in June! Thank you for sharing with all of us.
Congrats! Beautifully written. Enjoy this special time with your family.
Well that is just the best thing to read first thing in the morning!
Oh my gosh, Congratulations!! I have no idea why, but I was just thinking the other day that I was hoping an announcement was coming soon. I can’t imagine all the feelings you’ve had during this pregnancy. I hope excitement wins through the rest of this pregnancy!
Ahh JULIE!!! Congratulations!!! I am so so excited for you, Ryan and Chase. Keeping you guys in my prayers!
So very happy for you and your family!
So very excited for you and your family, Julie! Congratulations! June will be here very soon.
When is your due date? I have a 3 year old son named Chase born June 17th. I have a 1 year old daughter too.
Our due date is June 18! 🙂 What is your daughter’s name!? Clearly we have similar taste and we are currently clueless on name ideas at the moment for either sex!
Her name is Cassidy. My son Chase also has light blonde hair and blue eyes.
Beautiful name!!! <3
Congrats!!!! So happy to read this first thing this morning!! June will be here before you know it!
I’m so excited for you and Ryan and can’t wait to see Chase as a big brother!!! ??
Julie, I’ve been following your blog since 2011 and it has been such a happy part of my life. I was so sad to read about your two miscarriages and sent thoughts and prayers your way. But I am SO happy for this exciting news! Can’t wait to continue to read about your growing family 🙂
Oh Julie, wow!! Congratulations to you and your family!
Congratulations, Julie! I was so happy (and slightly teary!) to read this amazing news. I’m so happy for you and your family <3 Thanks for sharing this great news with us!
Julie, I am so excited for you after such a long and challenging season. God is good and you are sharing this news in such a beautiful and perfect way – celebrating your two babies in heaven and and this little one on the way. And how thoughtful to include a little note for those of us in the midst of trying, as you know that pain. We are celebrating with you!
Wonderful, wonderful news!! Congratulations!!
How wonderful!! It warms my heart that all these people who read this blog are so happy for your family. Isn’t it great with everything going on in the world, strangers can come together in this place and be so excited for you! Can’t wait to read along.
Congrats! Longtime reader and I had a feeling the last couple months that something was up!! I’m pregnant with my first and due June 4th, it will be fun to follow along with your journey!
I’ve been a reader for years and literally thought yesterday- I think Julie’s pregnant!!! I’m so happy to see this today!! Congrats!!
I am so incredibly happy for you!!! As someone who struggled with infertility I know how hard those announcements are and I am so glad your miracle baby is doing so well!!
Congrats Julie! So happy for you and your family <3
Crying tears of joy for you right now!! God is so faithful and the way you have handled your struggles is such a testament to that. You are awesome and CONGRATS!
Julie, I am so thrilled for you all. Prayers for peace for you and for a healthy babe!
Wow Julie. Congratulations to you and your family! What exciting news!! I’ve been following your story and am so thrilled that you are blessed with this little miracle. Miscarriage can break you but a strong faith can lead the way to a new beginning. I can’t wait to follow along with the rest of this journey with you. xo
Thank you, Jen. Truly, my faith grew more than I could’ve imagined this year when I found myself in a place where I truly felt like I needed God more than ever. He was there for me over and over again. I really appreciate your kind words. Thank you for following our journey! <3
Congratulations! I am so happy for you and your family!
I’m not someone who often comments on blogs-but you brought me to happy tears this morning. I am so happy for you and your family-sending lots of love ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Jackie!! <3 I really appreciate you taking the time to comment and your sweet words.
Don’t ask me why but I’ve had a feeling this post would be happening soon and I’m so incredibly happy for you and your family that it is!!! I’m due in June too! With baby (boy) #4 ? congratulations!!! Can’t wait to follow your journey.
Thank you so much, Regina! Congratulations on your fourth amazing miracle! <3
Oh Julie! I am so incredibly happy for you! I’ve been following your blog for years since you guys got married! We also have a one and a half year old son, and we also suffered a miscarriage not long after your first! Its a feeling like no other! We are now expecting our 2nd son, due August 2nd! He even gave me quite the scare at our 12 week apt where they couldn’t find his heartbeat on the Doppler, and he was just simply hiding, since they squeezed me in for a quick ultrasound! Its an incredible journey, and I’m so excited for you and your family to be having your 2nd child soon! Hugs and blessings to you and your family! XOXO
We had a similar experience at 16 weeks when the first woman who tried to find our baby’s heartbeat couldn’t find it and I was terrified. Thankfully the second woman who came in with the doppler found it immediately but it definitely shook me up. I am so glad everything was okay with your little one at your appointment! Prayers for a healthy pregnancy, baby and delivery!! <3 I'm also so sorry for the loss of your little one. It's such a horrible pain and I'm so sorry you know this all too well.