Friends, it is with so much joy and excitement that I share this news with you…we’re having a baby!!!

Dave and I found out about our coming little one at the end of January, and reluctantly kept it a secret for two months before we could make it to either of our hometowns to tell our families in person. It’s the first grandchild on my side and the sixth on Dave’s side, which made telling each family totally different, but so completely wonderful in both cases! :) I’m now just over 16 weeks along, and couldn’t be more excited to finally share this big life update with you!

Here are a few of the questions family and friends have been asking me so far!

When are you due?
September 23! However, my grandpa’s birthday was on September 24, so I’m secretly hoping for just one day of delay :) My grandpa passed away long before I was born, so I love the idea of our baby having this in common with him.

How are you feeling?
Pretty good! I have not had any morning sickness, which I’m incredibly thankful for because my entire first trimester coincided with the most demanding season of work I’ve ever had, and I can’t imagine how much harder it would have been had I been sick. Eating cereal as soon as I woke up and snacking on oyster crackers generally kept my nausea to a minimum, and other than that, I’ve just been really tired. Now that I’m starting my second trimester, I’ve definitely noticed an increase in energy, so I’m hoping that keeps up!

Are you going to find out the gender?
YES. Oh my gosh, if the pregnancy test could’ve told us the gender, we would’ve found out then and there! Our ultrasound is on April 26 and we are counting down the days. Any initial guesses? :)

Are you going to continue working?
Dave and I prayed and prayed and prayed about this. I work with the most AMAZING full-time working mamas and am inspired by them literally daily, more so now than ever. For our family, though, Dave and I felt strongly that God was not calling me to work full-time after the baby arrives. I’m so excited and thankful to be able to transition to a part-time, remote role after my maternity leave!

Are you going to stay in your apartment?
Not if we have anything to do with it! As much as we have loved our first apartment, it is a 1-bedroom, 800 square foot little place whose space we have kind of maxed out on our own, so we have been on the hunt for a house since January! I’ll share about our experience thus far soon, and if anyone in the Raleigh area knows of a cute 3-bedroom house going on the market anytime soon, e-mail me ;)

So there you have it, friends! It is so surreal to be sharing this post…I’m especially thankful to have my blog to help me record this next stage of life, and I hope you’ll follow along! <3

P.S. I cannot thank my dear, dear friend Callie enough for these pictures–I spilled the news to her at Starbucks two days after we found out when she sweetly asked if we had thought about when we might have kids someday. I was like, “Ummm, want to hear a secret?” :) She offered her photography gifts to capture this season of our lives and her generosity just brings me to tears! Love you, Callie!