One more bit of catching up before I return to my regularly scheduled regime of sporadic and unreliable posting.
We're having another baby!
To be precise, we are having another baby girl, despite Pippo's many prayers for a baby brother. (“I've been trying and trying to make it a boy!”) He is awfully excited to meet her, even if she will be another little sister.
He's probably not as excited as Nora (or as excited as she would be if she knew what was going on), who is as eager as any 18-month-old to get her hands on any baby in sight.
For instance, when we were up in Massachusetts and trying to get a photo of all the cousins (on my husband's side) together, she wouldn't stand still even for a minute until we offered to let her hold her 6-week-old cousin, and then suddenly she was the most cooperative one of all!
Check out these pro moves:
And she didn't move until the photos were done.
Or when she got to hold my friend's sweet six-month-old, who was over half her size:
Nailed it.
Totally ready to do this big sister thing.
We found out we were expecting right before leaving Oklahoma, and goodness am I even more thankful than usual that I don't get terribly morning sick, because I don't know what I would have done. As it was, I was perhaps not functioning at 100% during all our travels, but we still managed to have fun.
Now that Capt. P is back in the fleet, we're back in the cycle of field exercises and deployments — we got a little spoiled having him around so much at our last duty station.
(This is a big part of why we decided to live on base here, so we have more flexibility, support, and security when he's away, and so it's a shorter commute for him while he is around.)
We'd originally been told that there wouldn't be any deployments in his immediate future, but naturally I didn't take that promise very seriously. Sure enough, the plans changed as soon as we arrived, and by the time we'll have been here a year, I think he'll have been home for only about 3 months.
Alas, that time does not overlap with the baby's due date, and yes, you better believe that means I'm calling in all my reinforcements! Thankfully, those are many.
Anyway, all this (moving, traveling, figuring out various solo parenting logistics) is to explain why we've managed to make it halfway through this pregnancy before telling the internet. It also helps explain why I found this move so much harder than the last one — I was pregnant that time, too, so I couldn't figure out why it should be such a big deal this time around.Am I just getting soft? Turning into a big ol' wimp?
It was a huge revelation to me one day when I realized that we moved to Oklahoma when I was in the Nesting Stage of pregnancy, and moved away from it when I was in the Exhausted Stage of pregnancy.
(Not to mention we now have three little ones running around and “helping” unpack, instead of just one.)
Ooohhhhh…. excuse me while I go take another nap.
The logistics might be a little trickier this time around, but we are so very grateful to be looking forward to welcoming this baby girl around the beginning of March. I will keep you posted!
Clarice says
What a blessing, and what a lucky child. Always wondered how military wives do this! Thanks to your family for your service to our country.
priest's wife @byzcathwife says
congratulations! what a beautiful family!
Kelsey says
Congratulations! I am in awe of your courage and cheerfulness as you prepare to welcome this baby and also deal with deployments – honestly, I teared up reading that bit. Your family is an inspiration!
Donna Marie says
God bless you! Congratulations! My dh is a former marine and we understand and appreciate your sacrifices. Thank you for your service. xxoo
Rosie says
So so exciting! Congratulations!!! And you tell Pippo we had three girls in the middle before we had another boy, and those two boys have the BEST time together! There’s always hope 😉
Joy in Alabama says
If I lived close, I would help you! Congratulations!!!
Renee says
Congratulations to you all, Rosie. What a beautiful family you have!
Shyla says
Ahh!! Such wonderful news Rosie!!! Praying for you all!! You look beautiful and glowing!
alice says
Congratulations! You are glowing! Love the picture of the cousins. We have done a cousin picture with our family who live relatively far and we only see a few times a year. EVERY time they are all together we take a picture in the same order on the sofa. They groan for a decade, but now with some in college they are anxious to do it.
Laura Jeanne says
Tears came to my eyes as I read this. Another baby, hooray! And my goodness Rosie, you are one amazing woman. I feel inspired by your cheerfulness, toughness and optimism today.
corina says
Congratulations Rosie! You have a beautiful family and a very inspiring attitude! I’ll keep you all in prayer!
Diana says
Congratulations!!!! Very exciting! We’re also halfway through with our latest edition, so we must be at pretty much the same place as your family (we’re due 3/13). Can’t wait to see pics of your newest little one!
Claire says
Congratulations and much joy to all!!
And many thanks to all of you for your service, official or not. We appreciate it!
Emily G says
Congratulations! Rosie, you look beautiful and so does the little family you are growing. I was just looking at your IG last night and wondered when another baby might happen along. 🙂 You confirmed my suspicions in a very timely way. I don’t know how military wives manage to keep their sanity, and I very much admire your upbeat, can-do attitude. I hope everything goes well for the rest of your pregnancy and birth!
Betty says
God bless you! I’ll be praying for you daily! Our family is planning on staying at one of the beach houses at Onslow (retirees) for Thanksgiving, so if I see you at the beach I’ll introduce myself 🙂 In the meantime, be assured of my prayers!
Teresa says
Oh Rosie how wonderful!!!
So happy for you and the whole family – what a joy to get news like this.
Prayers for a blessed “settling in” and some much needed rest for Mama!
CMerie says
Congratulations! It’s hard to have a traveling husband and a house full of littles and to be pregnant at the same time. I’ll keep you in my prayers. Be easy on yourself and keep your expectations reasonable. When I had a traveling husband while pregnant this last time, my normally very good blood pressure skyrocketed. It was only after I allowed myself to go slowly and cut back on activities, etc that it came back down.
Mama Rachael says
Congrats! My second is now just short 8 weeks old. And its been a crazy time of adjusting, since my first is nearly 5.5 years old. Perhaps Auntie Leila covered it, but I would love to hear about finding that new normal of adding a child to the family, finding the new routine and helping the new baby adjust and fit into the family’s routine.
Leila says
Yes, Mama Rachael, here are a few!
http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2016/05/ask-auntie-leila-new-baby-toddler/
http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2015/05/kitchen-table-thoughts-on-nursing-the-newborn-baby/
http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2015/05/postpartum-does-not-mean-one-day-after-the-baby-comes/
Before you know it, everything will seem so normal, and until then, don’t look over your shoulder! Rest and be patient! xoxo
Mama Rachael says
Thank you! I need these thoughts right now. The colicy baby is getting the better of me these days.
Helena says
It is not getting soft: have you heard of the “chaos factor”? If the average age of your children is equal to or lower than the number of your children, the family is officially in “chaos mode.” Maybe for some people that number changes when the baby is born, but in other circumstances (ie, morning sickness, moving, deployment, it seem fair to start counting that number at conception. And the greater the difference between the two number, the more chaotic becomes. (Guessing your sweet kiddos’ average age is a long way off 4! I find this a reassuring way to remember it isn’t all in my head–needing 14 hours of sleep is the body’s very rational and healthy response to the many blessings. =)
With prayers for you lovely family; and especially that your husband is around, after all, at the important times.
Tia says
The chaos factor, love it!
Mrs. B. says
Oh no, now I’ve discovered my family is not in “chaos mode” – what other excuse can I make for myself??? 🙂
Elizabeth says
God bless you! and your beautiful family! that would be SO HARD, moving like this and expecting. I am glad you are calling in all the help you can muster for this new little one. It really is a real sacrifice you are doing as a military wife. Thank you. And God keep you and your family well, healthy and comforted!
Paula says
Congratulations! Sorry about the deployment…but my dh used to travel (not military-but 2 wks at a time) and boy could i let the house be messy while he was away! (trying to be positive 🙂
Cami says
Our #4 is also due in early March. 🙂 Congratulations! We moved 4 times in 3 years (not military!) and although our plan is to stay awhile where we are now, I have not hung pictures or made it pretty yet. I can’t keep up with basic housework! And two straight flights of stairs to lug laundry! Baby growing ain’t easy! Best wishes to you with the second half of your pregnancy. God bless you as you prepare to meet your new daughter.
Cami says
Oh, and our kids might be similar ages judging from photo. Mine are recently 5, 4 (they are a year apart), and 20 mo. Solidarity in this busy, exhausting phase of our lives!
M. says
Rosie! This is wonderful news. May Our Lady continue to intercede for you, blessing you with a healthy, uneventful time of Baby Under Your Heart. I’ll be sure to especially keep you in my prayers. God bless you and your whole beautiful family.
Kathy says
Congratulations! Such beautiful children.
Kate says
Congratulations! Baby news is the best news! Love the family photo, beautiful.
Lisa G. says
Isn’t that the funniest thing that your little one loves the babies! She doesn’t know that she’s one herself, practically! So cute. Many congratulations to you all!
Shannon says
Congratulations to you! To all of you! You look wonderful!
Our eldest, age 3 was born at Lejeune. We had a wonderful Family Medicine doc for my prenatal care and his birth. He and his wife (and kids) became very dear friends of ours. At the time, he was a Resident and very well respected. He did not prescribe contraceptives and promoted NFP, and was very transparent about why. He was quite respected there. They’ve been stationed in Guam about a year now since finishing up residency but I believe there’s another Catholic doc at Lejeune that followed in his footsteps. Anyway… if you need anything in that regard would be glad to put you in touch with him!
Julie says
Praying prayers for you all. For safety, for moments of rest and for joy.
– Julie C
Ashley says
Congratulations! I’m due at the beginning of March too! 🙂
Amy says
Oh goody! What a blessing! You have a beautiful family. Just take one day at a time!
Mrs. B. says
Great news, Rosie!! Add me to the list of readers in awe of military families… I am one shamelessly spoiled wife compared to you all!
When I was expecting our second, and our first was 1, we moved the week before my C-section. All I did was to sit on a mattress on the floor, watching Army guys on their weekend job pack for me on moving day. They broke only one thing, an ugly plastic lamp shade I wanted to get rid of anyway.
Molly R says
Congratulations! You’re awesome.
Wendy says
congrats!! I remember that those looks in Walmart started when I was expecting number four. The world is such a silly misdirected place. Let your light shine, this is the stage where you get to explain to many that children are a blessing. I have been where you are. So much fun, and so much work. Blessings to you today.
Cassidy says
Congratulations!!
I just had my fourth child. I say just – he’s two months old. Still feels like I had him a couple weeks ago. He did turn out to be a boy. My son (my oldest child – 6 years) decided it was his prayers that made him a boy. My oldest daughter decided it was because things have to be even. Two girls and two boys. 😂
Bernadette O. says
Congratulations!
Libby says
Glorious news! Yes, it does make a huge difference which stage of pregnancy you’re in! And the number of littles that you’re chasing around at the same time! 🙂
Kathy says
Congratulations! My oldest is the opposite–he was really hoping for another baby sister. He’s now over the moon with the baby, though. I’m glad you have your reserves lined up–and that you’re willing and able to use them!