Baby love arriving January 2019

We're thrilled to announce that we're expecting our fourth little love in the new year! Because our family has been praying for another child, we're rejoicing at God's undeserved kindness towards us. I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant, with a January 19, 2019 due date. We found out Mother's Day weekend with tears of delight and awe at God's mercy toward us. It was such a sweet gift to herald in the holiday. When we told Serene and Valor we're going to have another baby, Serene was overjoyed, exclaiming "Yay!" repeatedly while chattering to (the babe in) my belly. Valor solemnly asked, "Who's going to take care of me?" before embracing the news. Reverie has been obsessed with baby dolls and babies littler than her so we're thinking she might take to a new baby quite well. Alex prayed from the beginning for a boy so Valor would have a brother buddy. Serene wanted a brother for Valor because she already has a sister, but Valor requested a sister (probably because sisters are all he knows). Nevertheless, God's plans are always better than ours, and we can't wait to welcome a little girl to our family!

I'm so thankful I'm well into the second trimester, as the first trimester was rough per usual. I had nausea and fatigue right before June began. The summer was quite full with getaways, my trip to London, wedding season for Ah, Love, and normal life. Thankful for God's sustaining grace, strength, and mercy through the summer months. I started feeling more energetic at 17 weeks, and have been all around happier emotionally since then. Alex and I have been reflecting more lately how children are blessings. Our children are loans to us as we've been given this paramount task to raise and disciple them in the knowledge of the Lord. We'll have four children ages five and under once our littlest love is born in January. We've been wanting four children, so we don't plan to have more after this, though we're aware God is sovereign. Thankful we're doing all the baby and toddler years at once, for we want all our kids to grow up close in age as, Lord willing, each other's best friends. We're in the throes of the baby and toddler years, which are incredibly sweet but also hard - it is a season of sanctifying joy. We're grateful for it.