Introducing...Lao san

Yes it is true little Gaertner #3 is on his or her way! We are excited to announce we are pregnant and I am about 13 weeks along. This little one should make an appearance sometime around October 9. Not entirely by our design, but we will now have 3 birthdays within a 6 week period in the fall (Bennett September 25, baby October 9, wedding anniversary October 27 and Austin November 14- a lot of celebrating)! I have not felt great in terms of nausea, but it is starting to get a little better this week. When we first told the boys the news, Austin ran out of the room crying. He then said "I'm mad at you Mommy, I'm mad at you Daddy, I'm mad at you Bennett and I'm mad at myself!". Poor guy. I think mostly he was really aware the changes a new baby will bring and he does not like change. He is more adjusted to the idea now, though still some days he just doesn't want to talk about it. When you ask Bennett where the baby is he always says "mommy's tummy". I thought maybe he was getting it the other day when he even kissed my tummy. But then he said "Bennett has a boy in my bottom?" and then I decided it is all pretty theoretical now. He sometimes asks if he has a baby in his tummy...or his sock. I am not sure what goes on in his little brain.

My theory is when this little one comes Austin will be adjusted and a big helper and Bennett will be really jealous. When I hold other kids in the nursery at church or elsewhere he gets pretty upset. Of course, to be honest I am really hoping for pink this time around...but not getting my hopes too high. I know we will love whatever the Lord decides to bless our family with. Austin wants it to be a boy though. I am not sure how great the semi-clear ultrasound that was then scanned in our very old and temperamental scanner will turn out, but it is a clear view of the whole body profile. You can see the spine right down the middle. It is still amazing the 3rd time around to watch the ultrasound- the baby was kicking and moving and sucking its thumb- at 6 cm long. We are really wonderfully made.

SO, that is our big news lately and we are excited to share it.