Little one,
I wish you could have seen your oldest brother’s face when we told him about you.
“There’s a baby in Mommy’s tummy,” we said.
He beamed. His face positively lit up. We had been talking about it as a family for a while. Oboy, who will be four when you meet him, asked about you regularly. He was the most verbal advocate for your creation, even petitioning God in his prayers before bed to give you to us. His face when we told him God had put you in my tummy to start growing and be ready to come out? Pure joy. But I’m sure it does not begin to compare with how happy he will be when he holds you for the first time.
O, the holding. Baby, there will be so much holding when you arrive in October, you won’t even know what to do with yourself. OBrother, who will be two and half when you are born, will want in on the action too. (Don’t worry, we will always be there to help him.) OBrother doesn’t have quite the understanding that the oldest does, but he seems to think about you often. Every time he points to my stomach and says “beebee” my heart melts, and I’m sure yours would too if you could hear him. He also has a strange fascination with pulling up my shirt and rubbing my tummy, which is awkward but adorable. I have a feeling you two will be fast friends.
And Daddy. Daddy is already your biggest fan. Funny story, he knew about you before I did. And not in the intuitive “I think you’re pregnant” kind of way, but quite literally. I didn’t wait long enough to check the pregnancy test before another child was urgently calling me (this might be something you should get used to.) so there it sat on the master bathroom counter quietly with its two pink lines until Daddy came in and noticed. That was a funny conversation.
“When were you going to tell me?” He asked. And so it was on a Friday afternoon in early February that Daddy informed me I was pregnant with you.
Today the two of us – you and I – are flying to Texas for a blogging conference and can I just tell you? I am so excited to have you along with me! This Sunday, if we feel up to it, we are going to run a half marathon around the city of Dallas, but trust me. I will listen to you and my body and we will do what we can. Training runs have quadrupled in difficulty since you joined me. I’m not complaining, promise. I understand that my body’s primary allegiance is to you and not to the 13 miles I am going to try to run. Although? Can I complain really quick, sweet little one? The throwing up thing is getting really, really old. I mean, I know you need All of The Hormones for your growing and things, but mercy. The list of public places I have had to lean over an puke in is getting a little ridiculous. I know they say that this is a first trimester thing so we are almost out of the woods (we are 10.5wk now) but if my memory serves, there is no magic corner that I turn at 12 weeks. It tends to fade away around 15 weeks.
You are sure making your presence known – which is uncomfortable but also good, because there was a strange month there in December of 2012 where, for the first time in four and a half years, I was neither pregnant nor nursing anyone and my body was all “Huh? What do I even do with this independence?” Barfing or not, I’m so glad you’re here with me, cooking along and getting ready to meet your loud crazy exciting loving family.
Now let’s go take a nap, baby. I’m freakin exhausted.
Love,
Mommy
So exciting, congrats! Hope you start to feel better soon!
Congratulations, O Family!!! I am so happy for you! We are about to open the floodgates for the possibility of #3 ourselves (#2 is 11 months old today!) We aren’t quite sure what God is telling us other than to Trust Him, so that we will do.
Praying for you and the little one and all the excitement now and ahead!
That was the sweetest pregnancy announcement ever. Congratulations!
Congratulations! Praying the sickness ends soon and you get some energy too!
So, so thrilled! Congrats, friend! And this is such a beautiful letter!
Congrats!!!!!
Soooo happppyyyy for youuuuuuu! Just when I thought you and your family couldn’t get any more adorable…. Congrats!
Congratulations!!!! I am so very happy for you and your growing family!
Oh goodness. I’m so glad for you. xoxo
Congratulations!!! I’m so happy for you!
Congratulations! How exciting! :)
Yeah- congratulations, that is awesome news. I am about to spit out my second (I really hope it’s that easy!) so know what excitement the next few months hold. Enjoy!!
Congratulations
Yea! Best wishes for you all as you prepare to become a family of 5!!!!
Happy reader over here! So glad to hear your wonderful news. Enjoy every one of those special moments (except the throw-up ones. As I remember, those are impossible to enjoy.)
that was the sweetest announcement EVER. so excited for you, Os!
Ahhh Congratulations! Can I just say that reading that confirmed what I have known in my heart for a little while now…..I want a 3rd child!
So so excited for you and I really hope you don’t stop blogging now. We all need to see baby #3!
Congrats!! I went to BlogHer pregnant with Charlie around 10 weeks. Let’s just say I was so very thankful for medication for nausea. Many prayers are being sent up for your sweet family of FIVE right now from Sluiter Nation :)
Beautiful announcement. Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to you and your family!
Congrats! After my own two blonde boys, I had a sweet girl! She’s already 19 months and the love the boys have for her is amazing. Cant wait to read about your new bundle as you welcome into your family. :)
Congrats! And super cute way to announce :)
Congratulations! What a wonderful story. Have fun on your half.
SUCH a sweet way to announce! Congratulations. :) :)
“O”mgoodness!!! Congratulations “O” Family!!! So excited to watch your family grow once again!!! Loved the way you decided to share / announce this new little “O”. Congrats again!!! Be safe in your travels this week and good luck running the half.
Yeah! So excited for your growing family!
CONGRATULATIONS!! So thrilled for your family to welcome a sweet baby. How fun for your boys to be a double big brother & big brother : ) I hope you feel better soon – I remember those days oh so well. So tricky when trying to care for the two that are already on the outside while feeling so sick and exhausted taking care of the third!!! But, as you know well, it is all so very worth it.
Congratulations!! :) So exciting for you and your family. :)
Congrats! So happy for you and your sweet family!
OMG Alison! This post is so awesome! I have been reading your blog since you were pregnant with OBoy and couldn’t wait to start a family. You are listed under my “Inspirational People” on Facebook. I just found out I am pregnant 2 days ago. I cannot wait to “go on this journey with you!”
Congratulations! My little one is the same age as his older brother was when we found out he was coming, so I’m starting to get a little wistful. New babies are so exciting!
congratulations! what an amazingly sweet announcement. lucky baby!
Congrats!!! So exciting!!
Ohhh joy !!! Just a beautiful announcement :] So excited for your family !!
Congratulations!
It’s quite amusing, I stumbled upon your blog just before you had OBrother. I had a baby girl about two weeks after you had your second boy. And now I’m expecting in November and I read about your wonderful news as well.
Wow and Hooray! Congrats, you guys. This was lovely to read.
Congratulations!! I’m so excited and happy for you and your family!
LOL. Very funny. I told my wife that she was pregnant with my youngest also. She didn’t believe me.
I just love this. :)
Such a sweet post. I too remember the excitement on my daughters face when she learned I was having her little brother in my tummy…congratulations….