I have a little news to share.
I have felt like crap for most of 2016.
But for a good reason.
I am having a baby.
Yes! A third child! Me! (And, you know, that guy I married).
And the best part? I didn’t have to endure any more losses to get to this point.
(The second best part is that I didn’t realize I was pregnant for several weeks, which meant far less anxiety than the last time I was pregnant. When I found out, like, 4 days before my period was even due.)
Everything has been going really well. I’m just a out 15 weeks pregnant, I listen to the baby’s heartbeat first thing every morning before getting out of bed, and I haven’t thrown up in a whole week! I’m feeling the baby move a little already, too, which is pretty amazing.
So. That’s happening.
Theo, who still seems like a baby, is going to be a big brother! And a middle child!
(The very first thing my new midwife asked me was, “Were you trying for a girl??” I’m guessing I’m going to get a lot of that. So the first person to say, “I hope it’s a girl!” gets a little stink eye. Fair warning.) (Not because I don’t like girls! But because I feel like it’s dismissive of my wonderful little boys.)
The baby is due two days after Gabe’s birthday. We feel excited but not terribly overwhelmed by the idea of adding another little one to our family. Mostly because Gabe is more like a third parent than a child.
We ARE a little overwhelmed by the logistics of our lease ending three days before this baby is due, so please standby for some handwringing. And minimal gushing about how very grateful I feel. And a litte shocked.
New baby! Three kids! Aii!
Katie says
Wow, congratulations! Best wishes for you and your growing family.
julie says
Congratulations
Erin Sturm says
Congrats!! How exciting!
ashley says
Thanks so much!
Natasha says
Yay, congrats! I have three, it’s wonderful.
ashley says
:) That’s great to hear!
Jessica Meierotto says
Yay!!!! Congratulations! I’m so glad everything is going smoothly, if a little barfy :)
Jessica Meierotto says
And, hey!! I just heard your name on Sorta Awesome :)
ashley says
Yes! I was so excited they took my question. :)
Christina says
Ashley! I’m so happy for you! Congratulations!
ashley says
Thank you!! :)
Jess says
Congratulations!!!
ashley says
Thanks!
katelin says
All of the happy for you! Can’t wait to see Theo as a big brother and Gabe as parent 3.0. So much love for you guys, weee!
ashley says
Theo as a big brother makes me laugh and cringe at the same time! He seems SO young!
Feisty Harriet says
Congrats!!! How exciting!
xox
ashley says
Thank you! :) We’re excited.
Sarah says
How exciting! Congratulations!
ashley says
Thanks, Sarah!
Laura says
Congratulations Ashley! Many prayers on a healthy pregnancy (and that you are over the vomit hump).
ashley says
Amen, let’s hope! (I only threw up once since writing this – a good sign, right??)
Anna says
Congratulations!!! Wonderful news :)
ashley says
Thanks!
Jess says
YAY congrats! Eee I am so excited for you! And for this baby, who is getting such an awesome family!
Kateri says
Many congratulations!
ashley says
Thank you!
Cait says
How exciting!! Congratulations!
ashley says
Thanks!
Kathleen says
Wow so exciting!! Yay babies!
ashley says
Yay indeed! :)
Mrs Cpt PAO says
oh ashley congrats!!!! hooray for you guys!!!! 3 is a lovely number, and three boys would be the bees knees b/c have you seen your boys?? so happy and excited for you guys :D
ashley says
I’m really excited about the idea of 3 boys. :)
Kate says
Oh my goodness, congratulations! Wishing you an easy pregnancy & a healthy baby!
ashley says
Thank you, Kate!
Becky says
Ahhhh! Yes! Congratulations!! This baby already has the best big brothers!!
ashley says
Well, Theo is TBD as a good big brother, but he has Gabe as an example, so that’s gotta help, right?? ;)
Lacey Bean says
Congratulations! That’s so exciting. :)
ashley says
Thanks, Lacey!
Mandy says
Such wonderful news. Congratulations!
ashley says
Thank you, Mandy!
Kim L-B says
Oh, congratulations! Now you really do need a woven wrap!! ;)
ashley says
EXACTLY!!
Stefanie says
This is wonderful news, Ashley! Congratulations to you and your family!
ashley says
Thanks, Stefanie! :)
Miranda says
Ahhh!! Three is definitely a magic number! Congrats!! Now can you please move to MN and be my neighbor so we can be real life friends and I have two girls that can marry your boys and regardless of what baby#3 is, I have a boy we can match him up with for marrying or BFFs (or both?!) Yay!! I am so excited for you!!
Stevie says
Three cheers for baby #3! Congratulations to all of you!
ashley says
Thank you, Stevie!
Kelly says
Wow you guys are amazing!! I can’t even gear up for number two and you are like bam lets go for three! I’m so glad this pregnancy has included less anxiety and you aren’t feeling overwhelmed :)
Ris says
Awww congratulations! I’m so happy for y’all!
Holly says
Congratulations!!! My oldest is like a third parent too – he totally pretends to babysit his little sister every chance he gets. I love it :)
ashley says
It’s so useful to have a helpful oldest child!
Linda Sienkiewicz says
Congratulations!! After my husband and I had 2 boys, I didn’t want to have a 3rd unless I felt I’d be happy with having another boy. Simply wanting a girl isn’t a good reason to have a baby! So you go right ahead and give anyone who asks if you’re trying for a girl a big ol’ stink eye!
ashley says
Exactly! I would never want to bring a child into the world just because I want it to be a certain gender – totally not fair to the baby! :)
Kerri says
I saw this on Twitter and my jaw dropped when I saw the link. SO EXCITED FOR YOU! Three kids is such an awesome number, and your new little one will be so lucky to have such incredible older brothers. Can’t wait to follow this new adventure, sweet friend. Hugs to you and your sweet family!
ashley says
Thanks, Kerri! We feel so incredibly lucky and excited to embark on this (crazy?) new adventure! :)
Miranda L says
Yay, yay, YAY! We had our third just 8 months ago and having 3 is all kinds of awesome! We got similar comments as we had 2 girls, if it was another girl we would have been just fine with that! Much to our surprise, baby turned out to be a BOY! That we were not expecting!
Congrats, I’m beyond excited for your growing family!
ashley says
Totally! My parents had 4 girls then a boy, so I can only imagine the comments they got! Ha. (And my grandma had SEVEN GIRLS before her son. !!)
Rebecca | Seven2Seven8 says
Oh my goodness!!! What happy news! I am thrilled for you. xoxox
ashley says
Thank you, friend. :)
Lisa says
How wonderful! We moved into our new house 36 hours before I went into labor (the baby was three weeks early so a big surprise!) and it was a little bit crazy but it all worked out. Sending good thoughts your way!
ashley says
Wow, that would be a surprise! Glad it worked out – I keep telling myself there are worse, more stressful things! :)
Mich says
Congratulations! Yay for the third baby! I can truly feel your joy and excitement.
Karinny says
How wonderful! Best wishes to your growing family!
ashley says
Thanks! :)
Melissa says
ASHLEY!! OMG I AM ALL !!!!!!!!! lol :) SO, SO overjoyed for you, Mike, & your family. Wishing you a smooth second half of this pregnancy, a healthy 3rd baby, and of course lots of love to big brothers Gabe & Theo. :) xoxo
ashley says
Thanks, Melissa!! :) We’re so excited! (And overwhelmed, but MOSTLY excited.)
Kiera says
Congrats! We ended up with a girl for our third but until she was born I was convinced she was a boy. Congrats again! I’m glad things are going better this time around.
ashley says
I’m like…99% sure I’m going to have 3 boys! Ha. My family seems to ALL have single gender families – which is kinda fun in its own way. :) But we shall see!
San says
Yay, yay, yay! So excited for you and your family, Ashley! What do they say? JUST DO IT. I know you’ll be wonderful parents of three!