Another Precious Little One

A few days ago, I put a new widget on my blog. If you scroll down a bit, and look to the right, beneath Tricky's photo, you'll see it...

We're expecting our fourth child and we're so very excited. Richard and I took the kids on a hike Sunday afternoon. About halfway around the lake trail we were hiking, we found a lovely dock, overlooking the lake, away from the myriad of others hiking or fishing, and we told the children that around Christmastime, we will have a new baby. Wanting to know if it is a boy or girl, what we would name the baby, and if they could see the baby, it was obvious the children were excited about having a new sibling. I'm so happy that I can help give them such an amazing gift - the gift of someone else to grow up with and to love.

Each day I'm thankful for my swelling belly, waking during the night, and even the bouts of nausea. I'm grateful that I've been given this most precious of gifts. Given my experience six months ago, I'm honored that God has smiled upon me yet again.

My midwife came to my home yesterday. I believe the kids thought her purpose for visiting was so they could entertain her, which I let them do for a few minutes. Soon, however, it was time to get to work on writing up my medical history - even detailing the pregnancies and deliveries of each of my children. My finger was pricked and we learned my hemoglobin is lower than what my midwife would like to see - so I'll be eating sunflower seeds, making tea sweetened with molasses, and cooking in my (new) cast iron skillet. My midwife does house calls because it is good for her to become familiar with the place where the baby will be born! [I'll post about my decision to home birth another day.]

The best part of the visit was the anticipation of hearing the baby's heartbeat. Casey was with me as the midwife gelled up the doppler and rolled it around on my belly. She said that it may be too early to hear anything, then... I heard it! I heard my baby! That most precious of sounds... the sound I never heard last year. The sound I gleefully explained to my daughter was the heartbeat of her littlest brother or sister.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your goodness and generosity in giving this child to us.
In Your mercy please watch over this child within my womb.
Please let my child develop in a normal and healthy way.
Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and anoint my precious little one with Your grace and Peace.
Amen.