Baby #3 Is On The Way!
Ahhh! Today I’m finally sharing all the details of baby #3 with you!
In true third child fashion, I’m almost halfway there and have documented nothing! No bump photos. No long winded blog posts! I guess it’s a cliche for a reason, right?
So if you missed it, on Christmas I shared that we are expecting our third babe in June this year. We are so excited and thrilled and feel so lucky.
I’ve always shared insanely wordy recaps of my other pregnancies, so of course, this is no different!
How I found out was kind of crazy. I mean, okay, not crazy, but fairly unexpected.
We had been trying for quite a while (I’ve mentioned this on IG, but not really on the blog!) – about 18 months. We took a few breaks because I didn’t want to be due when my brother got married in June 2020 (which ended up getting pushed to this June) and I couldn’t really be due when my book came out in April of this year.
We really wanted a third, but are both also in love with our little family. If it didn’t happen, I felt that there was a reason and that we were meant to be a family of four. Meaning, we didn’t plan on taking any fertility measures for #3.
The month I ended up getting pregnant, I had decided in my head that we were probably done. It wasn’t going to happen and with our ages and things coming up this year, it just wasn’t in cards. Buuuut…. I was wrong.
The timing wasn’t exact. I didn’t think I could be pregnant the month I found out. On a Sunday, for the first time since early winter 2020, I asked my mom to go with me to HomeGoods to grab some stuff I need for a photoshoot. We haven’t shopped anywhere this year and she jumped at the chance. We went as soon as they opened. While I was driving home, I started to feel insanely sick. Like nauseous and dizzy. I didn’t say anything to my mom because she was trapped in a car with me, and I started panicking that I somehow got Covid and was going to get her sick. I said nothing, just, you know, instead had an absolute mental meltdown until I dropped her off. I’m sure you can imagine how fun it is to live with me!
I came home and felt so sick the entire day. I stayed on the couch most of the day and Eddie was like WTF… it was very unlike me. I just felt so… OFF. At some point I thought… could I be pregnant? I didn’t want to even mention it to him and it was a day or two too early to test. I SWORE to myself that I wouldn’t not test early at all this time. I didn’t want to get my hopes up!
Went to bed, woke up… was okay. Still didn’t feel great. Started cooking and getting ready to photograph some things for the blog. I opened up jar of hoisin sauce and the smell alone almost made me pass out. Nothing like that had ever happened before. It made me want to throw up.
I instantly ran upstairs, took a test (this is at, like, 10AM) and it quickly read positive. WHAT!
I was shocked. It was still early. I felt so nauseated. I called Eddie (which I NEVER do – we always text) and just screamed “I’m pregnant!”
He responds “HOW!!!!”
………
Ha. So that is how I found out.
The nausea only increased and it was crazy. I don’t know if it’s because I’m older or this is my third child, or a combo of a bunch of things, but it was baaaad. It was like every single day I was shocked at how awful I felt. Of course, at the same time I was still ELATED. I don’t know if staying at home made the sickness worse – like I didn’t have much to distract me? Of course I was busy with the kids, but it wasn’t like we were leaving the house and going places to take my mind off things. You know?
However, I was still pretty relaxed. I’ve had a lot of anxiety throughout the pandemic and felt like I was just going to relax and chill out for the first time while pregnant. We even considered telling our parents and family right away because it’s the third and I felt so sick, even though in the past we have always waited until 10 to 12 weeks.
That lasted about a week until someone really close to me (who was due two weeks before me) miscarried. That was devastating. I decided that I didn’t want to say anything until much later.
Keeping it a secret wasn’t too hard – we barely have seen anyone throughout quarantine! We were still seeing our parents and siblings a bit when safe (this was before holiday surges). We had Halloween outside and Emilia’s birthday outside, both of which I thought I may give in and say something because I could barely move, haha. It was crazy. For about 14 straight weeks, I could barely eat a meal twice. Any and everything made me sick and the thought of eating something that I had eaten before just made my stomach turn. It was wild!
We didn’t even tell the kids until I was 12 weeks – on Max’s birthday! He loves to talk and after his teacher told me that he “prayed for my arm hurting after my flu shot” for three days (omg I love this kid), I figured he would be a chatterbox! It was hard to not tell Max, because he is obviously really aware of what is going on. He looked at me a week before his birthday and said “are you still going to be sick on my birthday?” and I just felt so terrible. Broke my heart!
The nausea and all-day sickness is a funny thing. It literally disappeared one day at 14 weeks. Thank goodness, because I was convinced I’d have it the whole time. I realized that day that I had been on my feet running around all day and felt okay. I told Lacy that maybe I was turning a corner! It didn’t come back and, much like childbirth, within a week or so I actually forgot how it felt.
I technically do forget in theory, but it was a hard first trimester. I was sooooo happy and thankful to be pregnant, and honestly usually LOVE being pregnant, but I looked at Eddie once or twice and was like, this is it.
Thankfully, things have greatly improved since then! The only other wacky thing that happened around new years is that I ended up with PUPPS. I don’t even know how to go into this because it’s a whole thing. PUPPS is a pregnancy specific rash. It’s kind of like hives but also feels like your skin is sort of on fire which is not pleasant. It technically doesn’t go away until the baby is born and usually appears in the third trimester. It also rules your life. Once I started googling though I found lots of women who got it in their first and second trimester.
It’s pretty awful but I’ve found ways to manage it through multiple cold showers a day, pine tar soap, some food changes and drinking a whole lot of V8. I could write multiple paragraphs on this so I’ll just leave it at that. If you had it before, you have to let me know below!
To continue on my wordy journey… no, we are not finding out what we are having! We didn’t find out with Max or Emilia and we’re not finding out with this one either. It’s the best surprise ever.
I also have no idea what it could be! At first I was really feeling girl vibes. Maybe it was because I was so sick? However, once I got the PUPPS, I read that 75% of women who have PUPPS are pregnant with boys (or twins, which I was also convinced of at first since I was so sick, haha!). So then I was like… is this a boy?!
Either way, we will be so surprised and thrilled. I have two brothers, so I loved that. Of course, I always wanted a sister, so if it’s a girl, Emilia will have one. We can’t wait!
Also, I started to feel the baby move much earlier this time which is so exciting! I honestly feel like the baby was telling me to stop being a trainwreck, now you feel me kicking, so it’s time to fall in love with me. Ha!
Despite what sounds like constant complaining above, I am thrilled and actually enjoying this pregnancy as much as I can since it’s most likely my last. I’ve always really wanted four kids, but I can’t mentally or emotionally handle them super close together. The three year gap between Max and Emilia is PERFECT. And while we started trying a little earlier (mostly because I was worried by my age!), I truly feel like everything happens for a reason and this age gap will be just what we need – Max will be 6 and Emilia will be 3. I imagine that by the time I feel mentally ready for #4, I’m afraid I’ll be too old (and Eddie is ten years older!) so we are most likely done. It’s bittersweet!
Okay, so those are the details! If you’re used to reading my updates with Max and Emilia, you are probably used to my million word posts. If you’re not, thanks for sticking around. I’m almost halfway through this pregnancy already, and will update again soon!
xoxoxo
63 Comments on “Baby #3 Is On The Way!”
Congrats again! So excited for you! While I don’t have PUPPS, I suppose, as I have no visible rash, I have had severe itching in both of my successful pregnancies. It’s never on my stomach or anything that would make sense as far as stretching. Just my legs this time, and legs, arms, and neck last time. I was tested for cholestasis in my first pregnancy when my itching started sometime during 2nd trimester, but everything came back normal. And now my itching started even earlier this time around (like 11-12 weeks).
I literally wake up in the middle of the night because it itches so badly. I remember in my first pregnancy it eventually got so bad I would just cry. So weird. I’m only 15 weeks now, and we don’t find out the sex either, but I had a boy the first time, so no idea if it’s hormone-related or not. Anyway! All this to say I relate, but nothing helpful to say because literally nothing helped and the doctor never could tell me why. Hope yours doesn’t get completely unbearable. It’s such a weird symptom.
oh my gosh!! that is CRAZY! so sorry you are dealing with this.
i never had it with my other pregnancies. i thought mine was eczema patches at first because i do have dry skin. what a weird symptom to have. i could tell you the laundry list of things i’ve tried (after finding info online) but even after cutting out dairy and sugar, all the cold showers, etc – the V8 (which i loathe!) is weirdly what has worked best for me. i dreaded trying it, but the first time i tried it, within minutes i felt less itchy. it is SO weird. have you tried that yet? it might be worth it!
V8?! I’ve totally never heard of that solution for itchiness. Ha, I agree it doesn’t sound the MOST appetizing now in particular, but hey, if it works, totally worth it. I’m gonna have to give it a shot.
I adore you and you’re wordy posts! I had that terrible nausea with both kids until 20ish weeks. It’s terrible and yet I’d do it again. Ha! Congrats!
hahah thank you nikki!!! i totally get what you mean!! xo
Yay! Love these posts!! I’ve been reading since before Max, and I will never forget your glowing reflections on motherhood. I remembered them last year when I had my first baby (pregnancy included throwing up every day until 14 ish weeks too!!!)! Thanks for sharing with us — and congrats to all of you!!
thank you! xo
Awww I have been waiting on this post! Thank you for sharing your journey. Love the joy you find in being a mother. It is so heart warming. Wishing you the best for the second half!
thank you so much!
Love the baby #3 updates, keep them coming!!!
thanks keri!
WOO HOO!!!!
Congrats!
I developed PUPPS with my first son in 2009 and wouldn’t wish it on ANYONE!!!! I still have scars from where I scratched my feet and legs raw. My doctor actually induced me a week early because he was afraid of a secondary infection developing from all of my scratching. Ice definitely helped when I would flare up. It seriously made me question even THINKING about having another child after my first – but I did and did not develop PUPPS in my second pregnancy (thank the sweet lord). I hope you continue to feel well and that the itching is more manageable for you than it was for me!!!
ahhh i hear ya!! if i had this in my first i really don’t know if i could have gone on to have another. it’s crazy!! so glad you didn’t get it in your next!
YAY!! I’ve been waiting for this update since the IG announcement! As recently-pregnant (due in July) and a first time mom, I’ve loved following all your detailed blog posts about your prior pregnancies and as the kids grow – I also went back to your baby/toddler must-haves and most are on registries/lists we have going :) And I can absolutely commiserate with feeling like total trash the entire first trimester: fatigue that I’ve never felt in my life and awful nausea. WHINE!
Not PUPPS, but I have AEP. A super annoying, luckily non-itchy, hive-like rash on JUST my elbows. As someone who has always had ridiculously sensitive skin, I was surprised I didn’t get it elsewhere, or something like PUPPS. I SO sorry you are going through that (I read about it when I was researching pregnancy skin issues) but glad you have some remedies! Pregnancy is so strange, especially for some of us that are “older” (I’m 35 and we want at least one more child and I’d like some age gap between them).
Keep the updates coming! I’ve also been LIVING FOR your pomegranate cider these days as it is the perfect winter pregnancy drink :) Ah – and we aren’t finding out the sex either and it seems to be extremely rare to be on team green these days! So excited for that surprise!! No feelings one way or the other yet. Enjoy this 3rd time with your sweet family.
oh man, that is still such an awful thing to be dealing with, especially in the first pregnancy!!
how exciting for you – congrats!!! xoxo
I had puppps over 21 years ago. It was so rare that my gyn sent me to a dermatologist who literally used a text book to diagnose me. I was 37 weeks & having a boy. Aveeno baths were my saving grace. If they still make them, I would highly recommend them. Be really careful (but not overly crazy) about gaining too much weight since puppps is essentially an allergic reaction to your skin stretching. My heart goes out to you. Congratulations on baby #3!
oh my gosh jill, i can’t imagine! i had a friend who said her mom had it in the 80s – the doctor thought she was so crazy they almost sent her to psych ward. insane!!
Oh my gosh I got PUPPS with my third pregnancy too!!! It started early for me too, like 17 weeks or something. Dude, it is no joke. It was awful. It started on my legs, then went to my torso. I thought it was poison ivy at first. The dermatologist was zero help. I’m afraid not much helped–hydrocortozone helped a bit (my OBGYN urged me to use it), and another Aveno itch lotion. I am not a bath person so I didn’t do that. Cold showers always help as you said. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone! I had a boy, by the way (I had 2 girls before with no issues) so maybe it is a boy for you too! So happy for you!! Enjoy–I knew it was my last pregnancy/baby and I have really loved every moment.
poison ivy is a great way to describe it! i’ve never had poison ivy, but my brothers always had it when we were growing up. the whole thing is just absolutely nuts!
i’ve been freezing since december since i haven’t taken a warm shower… LOL!
Congrats! I got PUPPS in my final weeks of pregnancy, and oh gosh it was miserable. My doc put me on Benedryl and itch creams for my tummy. For what it’s worth, I had a girl, so I guess I defy statistics! Wishing you an easy rest of your pregnancy!
thank you hilary!!! so crazy you had it too!
So excited for you all. Voting for June 18th. It’s a great day!
thank you so much!!
let’s not hope for the 18th though, that’s my brother’s wedding – gah! lol.
I love the update! Sometimes people give me a hard time for having mine 3 years apart (currently 3.5 year old girl and 6 month old boy), so I love hearing that you love that gap. I love seeing the bond between Max and Emilia and picturing my two playing together when they get older 💕
it’s the best age gap!! i absolutely love it. i always wanted 2 year age gaps between my kids but now i just know i never could have handled it. this is such a lovely gap!!
It’s so wild reading this for me because my story is so similar! I am also due with our third in June, after trying for about 14 months. We also took a one-month break at one point so I wouldn’t be pregnant for my sister’s wedding that was supposed to be this past summer. I was more nauseous than ever this time around, but like you, also just so happy to be pregnant after trying for so long. I also told my husband “ok this really might be it, because I can’t go through this again.” I was sick all day every day until 14/15 weeks. It’s sooo rough! AND I also had my best friend miscarry around 10 weeks…she was supposed to be due two days before me. So many ups and downs for sure. I’m glad you’re feeling better and I’m excited for your family!
oh my gosh – how crazy!! congrats brittany!! our stories really are so similar!
Oh you poor girl! I absolutely sympathize.. I was sick like that my entire pregnancy until literally going into labor. After I delivered I realized it was the first time I didn’t feel sick lol. that being said , I was still so excited for my new baby (who is now 15.5 !! What the what ?!). It’s hard to share a rough pregnancy and not sound like it’s ‘complaining ‘ – I’m thrilled you’re having another baby so I can have a baby fix from afar and that you’re feeling better (hurray!) and we know you’re just as thrilled
can’t wait to meet your new little person
Congrats again to you and Eddie !
40 weeks of sickness, oh my gosh!!! i bow down to you, lol!!
thank you so much phaedra!!
It is the best surprise in the whole world!
Who cares if you have to buy “green” for baby clothes!
It drove my in-laws crazy that they couldn’t know what I was having.
Try Eurcerin extreme itch cream. Or I’m wondering if you can use Sarna?
I am so happy for you🤸♀️…. I’m doing cartwheels….. Ouch…..not to easy at 57!
agree, it is the best feeling!!
i do have sarna. i’ve found that to help mostly at night!! :)
I am laughing at this comment because my in laws are exactly like this. With our first, my mother in law suggested that she come along to the ultrasound and they could just tell her what we were having and not us. On the fourth go around, she keeps asking me when she can buy pink clothes (we have 3 boys and she is pushing for a girl, like I have any control). But that moment they say IT’S A ______ is just the best thing ever.
I’m also due in June with baby 4! I’ll be 20 weeks Monday, and we never find out either. I took a test in October fully expecting it to skip over to the control line and when the other line started to fill out, I think my eyebrows went all the way up to my hairline.
I developed a rash a couple weeks ago and I was worried about PUPPS, but it went away. However, the backs of my knees are SO itchy… like wake up in the middle of the night itchy.
I have found that adding some lemon, white pepper, and worcestershire greatly improves V8 :)
ahhh how exciting! you’re exactly a week ahead of me.
this pregnancy itchiness is so weird! and oh wow… that does sound like it would greatly improve V8!!
How old are you? I’m 39 and we are expecting number three in the fall. We had also kind of settled on two because of our age, but one day we just said “you know what screw it we want one more face at the table!” And thankfully that prayer was answered. I’m 8 weeks and 4 of those have been nauseous ones! Hope the rest of your pregnancy is smooth sailing.
ahhh congrats anne!! so happy for you!!
i’m 38!! i do think i still would have tried for #3 for another year or so if it hadn’t happened. my mom had my brother at 38 and that was 35 years ago!
Oh friend sending soooooo much empathy. I had PUPPS with my first pregnancy and it was excruciating. (We were waiting to find out gender as well and I had a boy) So so glad you’ve found a way to manage it, I did not but thankfully got it very late third term.
Thanks for sharing all your lovely updates with us. Big well wishes from FL.
thank you abbie!! xo
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you guys. I saw your announcement and just about died, I had to do a double take because it was so unexpected. I clearly did not detect any signs in your posts lately!!!
Also, I have worked in a prenatal MFM/ultrasound clinic for the last 7 years and have never heard of PUPPS! I only see families with high risk for problems so certainly don’t see all patients, but I am surprised that no one has ever mentioned this before!
Lastly, although you didn’t ask for advice and I am sure you already know/have talked to your provider about this – while yes, advancing maternal age does increase the risk for certain things, we still have had many successful, healthy pregnancies with moms in their late 30s and 40s (I have had multiple patients >45) so if you really feel that a fourth baby would complete your family later down the line, it could be worth talking to your OB and/or a genetic counselor about!
thank you so much lindsay!! i love this advice. it’s wonderful and encouraging – thank you!
Girl, PUPPs is no joke. I am surprised you got it with your third. I got it with my first in the last trimester on my belly and then as soon as a baby was born it spread to my whole body. The doctor had to pull out a book because she hadn’t seen it so bad before. She was afraid it was something else. I kept telling other moms no one tells you about the full body rash you get when you have a baby! Face palm. But, at exactly 6 weeks post-delivery it went away. I read so many articles about it, and sadly there isn’t much you can do. Boo. Just cover yourselves in cream and wear clothes that aren’t tight. And pray it doesn’t get worse. Gooooood luck!
So happy for you!! I had a lot of nausea with my second child (girl) all nine months. Even got sick the day before she was born- it was awful! It is bittersweet to think it’s your last pregnancy- I can relate. I have two and thought about #3 but it never happened. It’ll be good your kids are close in age!!
I’m so sorry you have PUPPS! I had it with my second daughter at the very end of my third trimester and it got worse for several weeks after she was born (the dr couldn’t figure it out!). The pine tar soap smelled terrible but seemed to help a little. I was so desperate! Glad you’ve found something to manage it!!
Congratulations! I’ve been reading your blog since I think 2009… Maybe 2010? It’s been so fun to watch you & your family grow. I just had my first this past July, and your lactation cookies got me through those first newborn weeks. I had many a lactation cookie at 3am. Best of luck to you and your beautiful family!
Congrats!!! Just delivered my first and I’m living off of your lactation cookie recipe :) My little nursling is definitely reaping the benefits. Had 24/7 nausea for the first 17 weeks so I feel you on that. We did not find out the gender and it was definitely the best surprise ever when we met our little girl. Here’s to smooth sailing and an enjoyable rest of your pregnancy!
I’m just so very happy for you!!! 💙💗
Ugh PUPPS! I luckily didn’t get it until right before I gave birth (to a girl, Emilia! :)) but it lingered for weeks after she was born. The worst part was that it spread from my lower belly down my legs, and I ended up having a c-section, which increased the itchiness in that area x1000. Not fun! Luckily it too is one of those things that you remember feeling miserable, but not the actual misery. Our bodies and minds do unbelievable things to make and birth our babies! Congrats to you on #3!!
Thanks so much for the update. I’m happy to say I never had pupps – how horrible. Glad you’re better. Congrats!
Yayyy! So exiting! You’re building a house too, right? What a way to move on from 2020!
I was wondering if you would consider a post about what your kids eat in a day? I have two myself and the toddler is super picky. I make tons of your recipes weekly and was wondering if your kiddos ate what you make for Eddie and yourself or how you handle feeling everyone on a regular basis.
Congratulations!!
This was pre-home pregnancy test days. First 2 (boys) I scoffed at people that had morning sickness-I felt great!! I swear the minute I got pregnant with 3rd (girl) I started throwing up. Queasy all day, would throw up and feel better long enough to eat something for 4 months.
Went to my dr. and said if I am not pregnant, I am dying! Good thing she was worth it :).
Happy for you!
Congratulations! I love your wordy posts! I saw your pregnancy post on Christmas snd was thrilled for you. Such beautiful news!!
Love the long posts! I had horrible nausea with my 2nd (I have 4). I’m so glad it got better for you. And so sorry about the rash. :( I’m rooting for you that that is all you will have to contend with this pregnancy!
I had pupps with my first daughter. It was just terrible. Miraculously though, it went away as soon as I delivered her. So weird!
I wish you well. Love your blog.
That first born daughter, Lindsay turned me onto you.
Oh, this is lovely. I didn’t have any kids (for myriad reasons, I was NOT the right person for that job), so it’s always very reassuring and heartwarming to me to see how much you love motherhood. Thank you. It’s a gift to me. I mean that sincerely.
i had PUPPPS with my first and it was the. worst. ever! pine tar soap helped but the only thing that truly helped me was dandelion root pills. hope you find some relief!
I have never had PUPPS, but I do have chronic hives, and oh Lord, I would not wish that on anyone! I don’t know if anyone has suggested this, but if your hands and feet are being affected, buy some of those ice-pack booties and gloves, and keeping a bottle of fragrance-free lotion in the refrigerator can bring some quick relief. Also, check with your doctor about using an OTC antacid since it can function like a histamine inhibitor.
Best of luck and congratulations! I’m a long-time reader and your blog is one of my favorite online reads!
I had PUPPS with both of my multiples pregnancies ( triplets, then twins) and it was awful! I’m so sorry! I took lots of oatmeal baths, and loved when someone would tickle my back because it helped the itching and burning. I would just cry sometimes. I wish I could help, but you just have to endure it, and that’s hard! But I looooooooove your blog and have been a follower for YEARS! You’re amazing! And congratulations!
I somehow missed this post until now, but I am just so happy for you! And so glad you felt better at 14 weeks. What an unpleasant couple of months.
I started to feel some baby movement just this week, so this line truly resonated with me: “I honestly feel like the baby was telling me to stop being a trainwreck.” I have been stressed this week for stupid reasons, and I thought the exact same thing when I felt her move! lol
Yay for summer 2021 babies and here’s hoping for more normalcy come June!
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I’m just now reading this, but I had to share-I currently have PUPPS. Third pregnancy with my third boy and third round of this maddening rash. The thing that helps me the most is keeping bags of washcloths frozen for itchy times. I drape a frozen washcloth over the itchy area and it helps so much and almost immediately. I’ve found itching only makes it worse and the cloths provide relief. Good luck to you!
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