We're Expecting . . .

In case our announcement on 4.20.14 didn't catch your attention (see link here), we are excited to announce that our family will be growing by one this November.  We are so blessed to welcome a little one this fall and my favorite part is sharing the anticipation with our boys.  Although nine (ten) months is an eternity before they will get to meet their new little brother or sister, the thrill that a new sibling is busy growing in mommy's tummy is exhilarating.  They are my sweet gentlemen.   They are kind and sweet to the baby - they talk to the baby and are always full of hugs.  It is a joy that the boys are old enough to realize what is going on and appreciate the gift of life.  Thank you God for this wonderful privilege of parenthood.

We told the boys the good news on Easter Weekend.  We wrote a letter to Drew, Owen and Evan from Jesus letting them know that they would get the chance to be big brothers this November.  Drew read the letter out loud to his brothers in his sweet 1st grade reader voice.  This session was videotaped and is one of my most precious possessions (refer to this link for the video).

I am 19 weeks pregnant now and looking forward to relief from the nausea and fatigue which have not yet subsided with the passage of the first trimester.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be soon.  Fortunately, I married well and dear husband picks up my slack (well, he does most of the time).  And although the baby is likely no more than one pound at this point, it appears that my body already knows what to do (since it is the 4th time) and has gone immediately to full-blown 40 weeks mode because (I feel like) it looks as though I'm ready to deliver tomorrow!  It is hard to believe how quickly I am showing.  No question that I am pregnant at this point.  Evan puts it best when he says to complete strangers, "Do you know why my mommy has such a fat belly????  It is because she has a baby in there!"  Thanks, Buddy.
      
Consistent with our previous pregnancies, we will not find out the gender in advance of our delivery.  I look forward to the moment when I hear Dan's voice telling me that we just delivered our 4th sweet little boy or I see a smile grow on his face that I've never seen before telling me that he will be a father of a little girl for the very first time.  Either way, we are grateful for this blessing and pray for a healthy little Niebruegge baby.