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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So incredibly happy for you! Congratulations to you and your family Julie!
So happy for you and your family, Julie!
YAY! Congratulations!
That’s amazing news- congratulations!! I had my second yesterday and am currently experiencing just how wonderful it all is. You guys have waited to number 2 for so long and have had so many ups and downs it’s amazing to hear that at 18 weeks everything is going so well. Try and let yourself enjoy the pregnancy from here, you deserve it!!
Yay!!! So incredibly happy for you and your little family. Best wishes for a healthy rest of your pregnancy! June will be here in no time!
Oh my heart is so happy for you guys!!! Congratulations!! I was actually just thinking about you this past weekend (is that weird since we don’t know each other?? I hope not!) and was sending you well-wishes that your journey to bring another child into your family was going well. So I super happy to read this post!! Yay!!! Congrats again!! And regarding not knowing when it will feel 100% real… I am 37 weeks pregnant with my second child and, even though I feel this baby rolling all around inside, I don’t think she’ll feel “real” until I hold her in my arms. It’s just so surreal at this point, and also scary because of all of the unknowns. I just pray our children are born healthy and strong. Lots of love to you!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I literally NEVER comment on blog posts (yours or others), but I had to stop and give you and your family all the congratulations in the world. I can’t wait to read all of your updates and I will pray for your whole family through this process <3
My heart just exploded with happiness when seeing this! I’ve read your blog for so long but never commented. I am so happy and excited for your growing family!! Congrats!!!
Very few people am I ecstatic for when I hear their news of pregnancy….happy yes, but overjoyed and excited, not unless it was me, as I also dealt with infertility… Nonetheless, reading this news, I am SO overjoyed for you. So So So Happy. <3 Enjoy every moment!
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you! I’d been wondering if we’d see an announcement pop up!
What a wonderful surprise this morning!
AND… I just realized you endured the flu while pregnant! Talk about super powers from another force. That’s why we mamas are mamas.
Congratulations Julie! I’ve been hoping to see this post! So excited for your growing family and can’t wait to read about how motherhood is the second time around!
Congratulations! This is such a wonderful announcement!!!
Julie, this is so wonderful!!!!!! I love starting the day with great news!!!!! Congrats and God Bless to you, Ryan, Chase, Sadie and your family. I’m so so happy for you.
This is amazing news!! So happy for you!! Chase will be an awesome big brother!
I recently was telling my friends how I’ve been reading your blog for years now and feel like I know you. I recently had my first baby (a girl born in September) and I have loved all your milestone posts about Chase. I went back and compared them to what I’m experiencing now. They are so helpful! I was watching one of your Instagram stories the other day and I was like “wow I didn’t expect your voice to sound like that!” I’m not sure what I was thinking you sounded like.. maybe a southern accent since you live in the south? haha
Enjoy this pregnancy! Your little one is so loved already!
OMG Julie! When I saw this pop up in my bloglovin feed my eyes started to tear up for your family! What a precious little gift – cannot wait to follow along on all of your wonderful adventures as a future family of four (but really five since you cant leave out Sadie!). Congratulations!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! <3 <3
Congratulations! I found myself randomly thinking about you and your journey and struggle yesterday as I was asked to provide pregnancy resources for an upcoming talk at our church. I had referenced your baby updates as well as your very open posts on loss. Congratulations and I hope all goes well and you have a very healthy baby boy or girl in June!!
Congratulations to your family!! I am so happy to see this post! I’m sorry for all of the heartache you had to go through to get here, I hope this baby brings you and your family so much joy!
Crying tears of joy for you and your family! I had a miscarriage last year and your post brought me a little bit of comfort. I cried when you shared your second miscarriage and I am crying tears of joy now. We are expecting our rainbow in May. That first trimester was awful, full of so much anxiety and uncertainty and not wanting to let my heart feel like its real. Enjoy all the baby kicks that are coming and relish in how awesome of a big brother Chase will be.
Julie, I am so so happy for your family! I am also 19 weeks! This one is my first so it will be nice to read your blog, and feel like I have someone to go through this with! Congratulations ❤️
Congratulations to you and your family, Julie! I’m so happy for you.
I’ve been following your blog for years and am so thrilled for you! I am also due in June and look forward to following along with this pregnancy. ?
Congratulations! So happy for you, Ryan, Chase, and Sadie!
Congratulations Julie!! I’ve been hoping we’d see an announcement from you all soon. I know it is an answered prayer. Enjoy every second!
Julie, Ryan, and Chase – I’m sure I echo your readers when saying we are all so deeply happy for you. While I’m not someone who prays, I’m someone who has been hoping on all hopes for something like this to happen. Thinking about the two babies you weren’t able to hold gives me pause and I echo what one of the other commenters has said, this is the rainbow after your storm. Chase was a blessing and this new baby will be as well! Thinking all of the positive, healthy thoughts for you over the next year!
Literally crying while reading this; so happy for you and your family.
Oh, Julie!!!! My heart is overflowing for you. ❤️❤️❤️
Congratulations Julie!! I am so happy for you and your family!!
Amazing news! Congratulations! I’d been hoping you’d share happy pregnancy news soon! I’m not far behind you at 16 weeks with my second. 🙂
congrats, Julie! Wishes for a happy, healthy 9 months!
I’m so happy for you and your family, congratulations!
So happy for you and your family! You helped me so much with your honest blog posts about your miscarriages, as I went through very similar circumstances with two miscarriages after the birth of our son. We are also having a miracle baby in June and like you, I felt a range of emotions during this pregnancy. Sending you love and prayers!
Congratulations! So excited for you and your family! I am currently 21 weeks pregnant with my second, also had some trouble getting to this point. Things truly do happen the way they are supposed to! 🙂
Congratulations!! I’m so happy for you! We lost our first pregnancy at 8 weeks in August, but I’m now almost 16 weeks pregnant and finally starting to feel like I can enjoy it and celebrate. I’ve been reading your story for the past several months and it has helped me to grieve and heal alongside you. I wish you an easy and healthy pregnancy!
I was so happy to read this and will pray for your family every step along the way. Congratulations to all of you 🙂
Congratulations! I am so happy and excited for you guys!!
Amazing! Congratulations! My sister (who also suffered 2 miscarriages) is due the second week of July. You’re nearly halfway there!! I’m amazed you’ve been able to disguise it in your pictures lol.
This is so exciting! I have had a feeling for awhile that there might be some awesome news (strong intuition maybe?) and saw your announcement on Instagram first thing this morning! I am so happy for you and your lovely family! We are due with our first at the end of July! 🙂
Congratulations! So happy for you and your family.
I’ve been following your blog since way before Chase was even a thought in your mind! I am SOOO excited for you all! Chase will be a great big brother, and I pray for a healthy, happy baby!!!
Your post has me so emotional! Incredibly happy for you! Chase will be an awesome big brother! Congratulations 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS JULIE!!! I can’t tell you how genuinely happy I am for you. My heart breaks when I see women struggle to get pregnant, and as someone who will be trying in the future, I love seeing success stories. I wish nothing but the best for you, Ryan, Chase and the new baby.
Gosh was I excited to see this pop up just now! So very happy for you and your family. Praying for you a safe and healthy pregnancy-sorry you had to deal with the flu recently, that must have been so hard! I had the flu while pregnant with my second child and it scared me because of all the violent coughing, but everything came out fine. Those babies are well protected in there! Thank you for sharing your sweet news, Julie!
Already commented on your Instagram post but I am so happy for you all! Congratulations and I can’t wait to hear about your pregnancy so far!<3
So incredibly happy for you! Had tears reading this. Congratulations!!
Hooray!!! I just started crying at my desk! So, so happy for you guys. Chase is going to be an awesome big brother. Congratulations!!
Really so happy for you and your family. Congratulations!
THIS IS SO WONDERFUL. Congratulations to all of you. I’m so happy for your fourth miracle and that your pregnancy has been healthy and good. Sending you a lot of love over the next few months. <3