Oh, Baby!

Big changes are on their way, come June!

That's right, back in September we began the early stages of one of our biggest projects yet and in another 20 weeks, we'll be ready to share the big reveal — our newest family member.

Our sweet news is also one of the reasons moving a laundry nook upstairs shot straight to the top of our list of house projects. With that, we're not only gearing up to complete the office & laundry space, but have added a nursery (!!) to the list of rooms we'll take on in the coming months.

On one hand, I'm feeling all of the first time mom excitement and jitters. On the other, I feel so much comfort in knowing that it's not Tim's first time and just how much love there will be to go around with Stephanie and Brandon. In fact, one of our very first baby gifts was a Steelers onesie from Stephanie and her husband over Christmas (#herewego). Tim's been joking that after marrying one off, he's getting back in the game.

We shared the good news with family over Thanksgiving and one of the happiest parts has been seeing the excitement everyone feels right along with us. As for Basil, he keeps trying to understand what we mean by "a big surprise" is on the way.

In all of our excitement to share this announcement, I'd be remiss to gloss over the fact that our story doesn't come without challenge, waiting and loss. That said, I've also come to learn that the things I hold dearest usually come from places or times where I deeply understood what it meant to be without.

A few weeks back, I mentioned feeling ready to begin opening up about navigating a more personal journey after receiving a diagnosis of unexplained infertility 2 years ago. And while I sit here now 20 weeks into pregnancy, it still feels important to talk about. It was other women who were willing to share about their struggles, either in person or through the internet, that gave me comfort and strength in knowing I wasn't alone — and that there is hope in every outcome involving infertility.

I have a strong belief in the power of community, and while the right process for me was silence while we navigated uncharted waters — as the fog begins to clear, I want to talk about it more and add my voice to those that I found so much comfort in when it was too difficult before. For mothers reading today that may have a similar experience or are still in the midst of your journey of waiting — I see you, and I'm thinking about you.

In the midst of our more regular home and life updates, I'm thinking I'd like to write a small series of posts that talk about my initial diagnosis, all the way through our experience with in vitro fertilization, which ultimately ended up being the right answer for us. If you're curious about certain topics or have thoughts to share from your own experience, I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.

In the meantime, thank you for taking the time to share in our good news today and as always, for making this a safe space to share the special moments in our lives. I'll be over here researching all the little things we need to know and have for Baby Vidra — welcoming all your pregnancy favorites and new baby must-have lists along the way!

Sources & Shop: 

Each of the photographs in today's post were captured by our talented friend and photographer, Ali Williamson of Alisandra Photography. We are so grateful for a friend like Ali who has not only shared in our life but captured so many special moments like these that we will be able to cherish for a lifetime.