our fourth child

Here's our baby! All bundled up in a ball, with a fist right by it's face. We don't know the gender and will wait to be surprised. When I told the ultrasound tech that we didn't want to know the gender said, "Oh, I haven't had one of you in a long, long time..." But we are excited to be surprised. :) And everything looked great at the ultrasound. We are already in love.

To be pregnant with your 4th child is a bit surreal. This pregnancy, on the whole, has had very mild symptoms and between that fact and the fact that I am chasing my other three, I often forget that I am pregnant at all. There are so many days that I wonder, "why am I so exhausted?!!" And then I remember I am growing a life. And chasing a one year old. And homeschooling two others. And feeding a family. And then I remember to go take a nap.

But I am definitely carrying our fourth child, so here are some highlights that I want to remember from this pregnancy:

1) My number one craving for the past 24 weeks has been vitamin D milk. That's right. The milk with the red cap. Labeled whole milk. We have it for Hattie's bottles, but I cannot get enough. It is my go-to all day long. My stomach must be really acidic this pregnancy because it is my tall glass of cold whole milk that calms things down for me. I drink a glass first thing in the morning and any other time I feel a little unsettled. Rory has been known to say, "honey, please, save some for Hattie." (Also, I always have a hankerin' for Culver's chicken strips. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner it seems.)

2) Along those same lines, I have not been able to stomach a sip of coffee since I got pregnant. And believe me, I need my coffee these days! But it just does not appeal at all. It makes my stomach feel sour, even thinking about it. So I've gone to tea, which is better anyway, but not quite the same little caffeine happiness that a cup of coffee brings.

3) My gag reflex is strong. I've never been quite this sensitive, but once offended, there is only one ending (and it's not a pretty one.) Rory has seen this many times in action, sometimes relating to changing a Hattie diaper, sometimes when having to put dirty dishes (with ketchup!) in the dishwasher, sometimes when it's time to empty the kitchen sink drain. All of those can be offensive to the point of no return. Thankfully, if caught early enough, a good glass of milk and some fresh air can usually get the train back on track. Again, that milk! We need a cow.

4) Elsie never forgets that I am pregnant. She prays for the baby, talks to it, kisses it, tells me that she will give a teeny piece of cake to the baby on her birthday because the baby will be so teeny at her party! And Ivar will say out of the blue, "I just can't believe we are having our fourth baby. That it's really going to happen and it will be so fun." 

5) My joy for this baby is enormous. I may have wondered if it would feel routine by now, but not at all. In fact, when I think of this baby I always hear the words, "pure gift." I believe all of my kids have been a gift from God, so this shouldn't be a new thought. But I think this baby is just going to be a sweet addition, a sweet gift, a cherry on top. We are nearly 24 weeks along. Time is flying and this baby is coming. We cannot wait to meet you!