A few acquaintances have just gone ahead and asked me, after looking me up and down, so that probably indicates that it's high time to make it known on here.
Would you ask a woman such a question? I guess I have a very “obvious” look about me from the beginning. I honestly don't mind it at all, and I'm happy to share that “yes, it's true” — but still, it's a big risk on their part. They're bold.
You heard about Rosie, right? The pattern between us continues. When we were on our family vacation this summer and she announced her news, that signaled to me that what I had been suspecting about myself was probably true. I just had to wait to get home and take the test to confirm it.
So yes, baby number 3 is on the way, due in April! The chuckle is that, technically, my due date is April 1 — a “Folley on April Fools!” But I've been saying that the joke will truly be on me if that comes to pass, since I am fully prepared, given my previous experiences (both babies born at 42ish weeks), for a Tax Day baby.
Some questions I've been getting:
Am I planning another home birth? Short answer: Yes. I have the same midwife as with Peabodee and so will be having another home birth, although I haven't planned out the logistics yet.
Do we have a nickname? Yes. Once again, The Artist has delivered (pun intended), and we've been calling this little on “Chickapea.” That name will likely stick around here on the blog as well (you do remember that “Finnabee” and “Peabodee” are not their real names, right? Just checking to make sure you know I'm not that weird.)
Are you going to be surprised again? Yep. Just too much fun! So unless this baby does anything exhibitionist during the upcoming ultrasound, we will be happily surprised again come d-day.
How's the Diastasis thing going this time around? I think certainly better than last time. That space is there again, but didn't come up as quickly nor as drastically as with Peabodee, and now I have the confidence and know-how that I'll be able to address it after the birth by getting back into Mutu (by the way, there will be a Black Friday sale on the Mutu program, which I'll remind you about when the time approaches). In full disclosure, I've been trying to keep up a Mutu routine while pregnant now that my energy is back, just to try to keep my abs strong around this baby and to avoid lower back and hip pain (it really helps!). And who knows? Maybe I'll won't have a giant baby this time! Just a thought…
Do the kids know/are they excited? We just told them last night. I had held out for a while. First, to protect them from any potential sad news. Then, to protect them from the burden of a very long wait. After a while, I was curious to know when Finnabee might just figure out for herself what was going on, so I resisted breaking it to them openly. But The Artist persuaded me we should let them in on it, and I'm glad that we did!
Us: “We're going to have another baby!”
Finnabee: “A baby GIRL?”
Us: “Well, we don't know if it's a boy or a girl – we'll have to find out!”
Finnabee: “When will she be born??”
Peabodee ran in circles around the room yelling, “baby! baby! baby!” and took long, inquisitive looks at my stomach when we told him, “inside Mama's tummy.” Just a few beats later, he was the one giving his Daddy knowing, nodding glances and explaining, “tummy” and “seep” (baby is asleep, Dad). I told Finnabee that she could listen to the baby's heart beat the next time the midwife comes to visit, to which she replied, “How will you make the baby's heart beep?”
They were both happy to give my belly a kiss goodnight.
And of course, the Artist and I are SO excited and grateful and always marveling that we get to experience this amazing thing all over again and dream all over again about meeting (and falling in love with) a whole new family member! It continues to boggle the mind, even despite having less time to think about it, with two toddlers keeping me busy.
Please keep us in your prayers! We're going into the third year of our crazy artist thing here in NH (you know, that whole “leave the job and go back to being a student so that you can have the skills to become a professional and support a family while restoring beauty and high-quality, classical art to the Church and culture at large” thing?), so if you wouldn't mind keeping that in your intentions now and again, we'd appreciate it!
Anny says
Congratulations!!!! And what a beautiful photo of you. 🙂
Laura Jeanne says
Yay! Congratulations…and I must say you are one beautiful pregnant lady. 🙂
corina says
Congratulations! What a joyfull news! You look splendid and your family photo is beautifull! Nice to see you all together!
Mrs. B. says
Congratulations, Deirdre! Beautiful news! Pregnancy during Advent is especially lovely… I had a chuckle at your words about “planning” for a home birth, remembering how the last time was a bit of an adventure! Leila, you better be prepared, you never know!
Diana says
Many congratulations! Such a lovely time of new babies at LMLD!!! 🙂
Elizabeth says
God bless you!!! and baby #3! Wonderful news! May the Mother of God protect you all!
Kari says
Congratulations!
I just have to say, both my first 2 babies were born at almost 42 weeks, so I thought I was a “slow cooker”. But then baby #3 was born at 38.5 weeks! She was due right around Christmas, so I was expecting an early January birthday. Surprise! December 17! Baby 4 was also born at 38.5 weeks. We’re joking that this one will be right on his/her due date😉.
So, you never know. Hope your pregnancy is wonderful!
Kari
Teresa says
Oh Deirdre, so happy for you and your whole family!!
Blessings and congratulations!!
The photos are lovely of your sweet family – and I got a chuckle out of the kids comments.
Little darlings – and another on the way!
Such happy news
Claire says
Congratulations to you and all your beautiful family!
You’ll be in my prayers tonight.
Kathy says
Congratulations! You have a beautiful family, and the Artist does a good job with the nicknames–Chickpea is an awesome nickname for a baby in utero. Maybe he or she will like hummus as much as my 7 month old does. Strawberries are acceptable, but hummus is his favorite.
RubberChickenGirl says
You look stunning! There’s nothing like a woman of God full of a baby radiating God’s light. I think of the line from Martina McBride’s (“Happy Girl” written by Beth Nielsen Chapman and Annie Roboff)…”the sweetest thing that you’ll ever see in the whole wide world is a happy girl.”
Blessings and prayers for you.
RCG
Joy in Alabama says
How exciting!!! Congratulations and blessings on you and your little one!!!
Lisa G. says
Congratulations to everyone concerned! These are such nice family photos.
Lisa G. says
And I also meant to say that Finnabee is quite a young lady! How they grow.
Emily G says
Congratulations! Best wishes for a beautiful pregnancy and safe, healthy delivery. You are definitely glowing with life and noticeably pregnant. 😉
Finnabee is looking so grown up!
Caitlin says
Congratulations to you and your darling family!!!
Donna L. says
Blessings to your growing family!
I think it’s terrible to be asked if you are expecting…I have looked pregnant many times, but was NOT. I would just sigh, “no, I’m just fat”….and then usually the asker was quiet…
I personally would NEVER ask a lady if she is expecting, unless I witnessed a small hand emerging from her being!
Amy A. says
Donna, I’m reminded of one of my favorite Miss Manners columns- someone wrote in to say something along the lines of, “I think my neighbor is pregnant, but I’m not sure how to ask if she is or not. What’s the polite way to inquire?” Miss Manners’ response was, “The only way to phrase such a question is, “Darling, are you about to make me a proud father?” If you can’t use that sentence, then don’t ask.” I thought that was just perfect, and I remember it to this day!
Congratulations Deirdre and family!
Virginia says
Congratulations! What a beautiful family. I’m also pregnant with my third due April 2! Woohoo!
Deirdre says
Oh fun – I wonder who’ll go first…? 🙂
MB says
Congratulations!!! And you look so beautiful!!!!!
Bernadette O. says
Congratulations!
Joana says
Congratulations! So happy for you all! Baby posts are the best!
kare says
Yes, please don’t forget to remind us about the Mutu Black Friday sale!!