Soon to be new addition

After much waiting and anticipation we are so excited to announce that we will be having a precious baby BOY around March 17th! (just three days before Ava's birthday).

Our little guy! I love him already.

Some of you may know that it has been a tough road for us the past 6 months. After a miscarriage in May we were wanting more than ever to be able to get pregnant and have another baby. When I found out I was pregnant again in July we were full of mixed emotions. We were so excited but also scared and nervous. Somewhere around week 12 I started bleeding and all those emotions I experienced before were coming back to me. After a sonogram we realized that I had a large subchorionic hematoma that had ruptured causing the bleeding. Thankfully the baby was healthy and not affected. This meant however that I was no longer allowed to lift Ava or exercise and that I needed to rest as much as possible to prevent further bleeding (which could lead to a miscarriage). I went for a follow up sonogram 3 weeks later and the stupid hematoma is still there. :( I saw a high risk obgyn after that appointment who also did another sonogram. He was encouraging because he said that he sees this a lot in women and that the majority go on to have normal pregnancies. He also told me that I needed to continue to take it easy and be off my feet as much as I can. Not easy with a 2 year old but we have adjusted and spend a lot of our day watching tv or playing with toys on the couch. It also helps that I have an amazing husband who has gone above and beyond to take care of Ava and I when he is home. I barely lift a finger when he walks through the door in the evening. The most exciting news of all from my last sonogram was that we found out we were having a BOY! I was not even expecting to have a sonogram with the high risk ob ,since I just had one that morning, so Mikey wasn't with me unfortunately. Nonetheless we couldn't be more excited about having a boy and it has made me look at this pregnancy in a whole new light. Before now I had been anxious and scared and we kept our pregnancy a secret from a lot of people. God has given me a deep sense of peace about this pregnancy now and I just want to embrace it and celebrate this precious baby boy. I would be lying if I didn't worry a little from time to time, I just wish I could peak in and know for sure that the hematoma is shrinking and the baby is ok, but I am doing so much better now. I have to thank all the friends and family out there who have already been praying for us and our baby. Your prayers have been heard and I have felt every one of them. :) I go back to the doctor again in 3 weeks for another sonogram to see if the hematoma is shrinking. Good thing about all this is I get to see my little guy a lot more often!

Ava is understanding more and more that there is a baby growing in Mommy's belly and she is going to be a big sister. She is already so loving and nurturing that I can't wait to see her as a big sister. She is going to be a great helper!

The other day I showed her my belly and I said "Look Ava, Mommy's belly looks like yours!". She lifted her shirt and said "Yeah, we're the same!". :)

Ava's 2 year old belly and Mommy's 16 week old baby belly (that is growing fast I might add!)

One of her favorite new things to do is to say "cheers" whenever we are playing tea party or eating snacks together. We are "cheersing" our bellies!

More updates to come!