A special reason to be thankful

Here are a few family pictures we took at the Clovis Castle a couple weeks ago. I LOVE them! Our awesome Castle photographer, DJ Ellis, from La Bella Vita Photography took them for us.

Thanksgiving was extra special this year as we announced some exciting news to our family and friends!
We are going to have another BABY! Baby #4 is on his or her way and we are so thrilled. Jake and I found out I was pregnant on October 15th, which was special in its own right because October 15th is National Infant Loss Recognition Day. Throughout the last four years since Ryan went to heaven little miracles, as I call them, happen like this that help me realize that heavenly Father is aware. I do not think it was coincidental.

We decided to tell the family on Thanksgiving Day and it was a wonderful day to celebrate and feel extra gratitude. We always go around and say what we are thankful for after we eat and this is where Jake let the cat our of the bag. We took off Caleb's sweater and underneath he had his big brother shirt on as well.  We told Jonathon a month ago and we swore to secrecy, but of course he's six, and while we were with Grandma one evening he let it slip. So my parents knew beforehand and we all laughed about it. They are very excited. Jake's mom flew in for 10 days with us for Thanksgiving and she was very thrilled with the news. We are all rooting for a girl naturally, but if it is four for four, as long as it is healthy, we are happy campers. The baby is due June 15th, right when school gets out and summer begins! I am currently 12 weeks, after some initial testing and ultrasounds are done because of Ryan's history, I will feel much better.

Jonathon is super excited, he talks about it everyday and is set on the fact that it's a girl. At school recently his teacher hesitantly asked me if I was pregnant, I said yes, surprised. She then showed me Jonathon's thankful list up on the wall and one of the sentences he wrote read, I am thankful for my baby girl. haha. Oh I laughed so much. I talked with him about the 50/50 chances and I said, if it is a boy that's ok. His response... shaking his fist in the air with a scowl. Oh boy. It shall be interesting. Caleb has no clue what's going on, but in our first ultrasound, he was very excited about hearing the baby's heartbeat from my tummy and seeing the small little thing squirm all around. I don't know what Caleb will do when he's not the baby anymore. We've babied him so much, he was long awaited for and a healer of our hearts, he will always be my rainbow baby and hold a special place for that reason in my heart. My rainbow after the storm. My promise that things can be right again. As I look at our announcement picture, some new friends I think were confused and that always sends a twist in my heart. When they see baby #4 but only see two kids there. I'm sure it would be easier when introducing my family to people to say two, but I always say three kids and then I always get the confused looks and then I always have to explain our story.

Anyway, So far I have been super tired and have had a lot of nighttime nausea, which is something new for me in this pregnancy. Thankfully it is subsiding and I'm hoping to have my energy back soon for all the holiday events coming up! We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, wherever you were. Turkey day pictures to come.