The first trimester was ending before I even realized I was pregnant. Our minds began spinning!- How will we reconfigure our 3-bedroom home? Let's hope it's a girl, because Elise's room has a guest bed plus crib.
- Will 3 seats fit in the back of the Toyota?
- If my husband gets a new job this fall, how will I handle his greater responsibilities, longer commute, and a new baby?
128 comments:
HOLY MOLEY! Congrats!
I'm so very happy for you!
You'll handle it like you seem to handle everything else -- beautifully!
Congratulations to you and dh!!!!
A wonderful blessing. I have so enjoyed learning and following your days. I, too, live in the Nashville area.
Thank you for sharing with us.
Blessings,
Kath
I think that's one reason why we get nine months to "process". By the end, it will all ber worked out.
New babies are such happy news!
I had 3 baby seats in the back seat of our 1982 Nissan Stanza when my children were little.
We drive an Avalon now and it's back seat is certainly bigger than that Stanza's.
So I think it is quite possible for your Avalon to hold 3, assuming they are a more streamline design.
Best wishes to you!
Congratulations!
I have to say, it's always been my dream to not realize I was pregnant until the first trimester was over. Lucky you. ;-) Have fun getting ready! (I do know the not-enough-time feeling, though.)
We WERE going to figure out the three-car-seats in the back of a sedan thing, but then we got bumped into minivan territory. Hope you can get it to work.
We can fit 3 seats in the back of a Chevy Impala. None is an infant seat, though.
Congratulations!
Congratulations!!!!1
Wow, what news!! It does make your mind spin. I know you will have it all figured out and will be so blessed.
Oh Meredith! Congratualtions!!!!
Congratulations! We're in the same boat, and found out we're pregnant with #2 when I was already 9 weeks in (and we're also due in October!). Enjoy the joys of pregnancy!
Congratulations!! You are a great mom -- you will be a great mom to this new little one. I will enjoy getting to know her/him through your posts.
Thank you for sharing your life with us. I check your blog almost every day, first thing.
Meredith - Missing the first trimester has always been a dream of mine:) We fit 3 seats in the back of a Camry - a high-backed booster seat, toddler seat and infant seat. And we had two toddler seats with an infant seat at one time. We did look for a streamlined toddler seat last time we had to purchase one. But I don't think it'll be a problem.
And, speaking as one whose husband is almost non-existant through the week due to work, let me reassure you that it can be done! I can't wait to hear how Andrew and ELise are taking the news!
Congratulations! What a blessing.
Congratulations! All of your questions will be answered in due time.
I enjoy your blog - thanks for sharing!
Oh, my! Congratulations to you all - I join what I'm sure are the multitudes in wishing you a healthy and joyous pregnancy and a safely delivered baby.
What fun!
Praise the Lord! What wonderful news! Congratulations. I love your blog and you do an awesome job in every aspect!
Blessings!!!!
Congratulations! We are able to fit 3 seats in a older Honda CRV, though I do miss having a van. The 3 seats are a high back booster and two forward facing regular baby/toddler seats, though it did also work with a rear-facing bucket seat. My husband had to remove arms from one of the seats to make it work, but it works for now. The main thing I don't like about the situation is that I can't wisk the kids into the CRV and of out of the parking lot as fast as I could with a van because it is such a tight fit and there is no where they can stand inside the vehicle while I get another child settled. And sometimes I feel like I really have to contort my back to reach into the middle seat.
Congratulations!! With the Lord's guidance, you will handle everything with the same style and grace you always do!
Congratulations!
You'll get it all figured out. :) I know how you feel, though. I'm due in June and we only have a tiny two bedroom house. This is a girl and I have a boy already. They're going to end up sharing a room.
Thankfully, in prep for our plans on having 4 children, hubby got me a vehicle that seats 7...room for all those carseats and boosters!
My hubby works very long hours 6-7 days a week, so I'm used to "doing it all on my own." It takes some creativity, but I like that!
Congrats!
How exciting and thrilling! The blessing will be greater than the challenges!
When we had our third baby, we had a Honda Civic. We had three carseats in the backseat! LOL. We had to put the kids in a specific order in order to be able to fit them and fasten the seatbelts and didn't use the infant car seat base.
Right now we have three boys in one room, three girls in the other room, and baby in our room - but soon it will be four boys in a room and three girls in the other.
As long as everyone has a place to lay their head, the room is big enough!
How did I miss this? Is this the first you've mentioned it?
Congrats to you and your family. Don't fret, it will be enough space. And if in time you need a little more you could likely add a room cheaper than moving. Congrats again!
Hi! I am thrilled about your happy news!! Take good care of yourself...
God's blessings,
Brenda
I'm a faithful reader of your blog.
Congratulations! What wonderful news for you and your family!!
marcia in Tx
wow! Pregnant! What a happy surprise! congrats. :) :)
Congratulations and prayers for a healthy pregnancy and baby! God Bless!
Congrats!!!! What happy news!! As a mom of 6 whos husband was working 3rd or 2nd shift throught out all their really early years, you can do it!!! WE hardly ever saw him.. Just enough I guess, LOL ; )
As to the car seats I am not sure. We had bigger vehicles, although I can tell you you can fit 3 cars seats across the back of a conversion van seat, any help at all there, probably not.
I will pray that everything goes smoothly for you.
Amy
So excited for you, Meredith!! What joyful news!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's great! How exciting! Congrats!
Congrats to you! We're on baby #4 in a 3 bedroom house and the extra bedroom is actually a play room! Our Kia Rondo is a 7-passenger VERY inexpensive vehicle. LOVE IT!
Steph
I was wondering who the fourth pregnant mom was!! Congrats to you!! I'm still reeling a bit from finding out last week that I am pregnant as well. I'm wondering how I'm going to be able to put Pumpkin all the way in the back of the minivan along with the stroller...
How exciting! Congratulations!!
Oh Yay!
Congratulations!!
Praying for a wonderful pregnancy and easy transition to a life with three blessings.
Caroline...mother to five blessings.
WOW! I'm so happy for you!
By the grace of God, Meredith! That's how you will handle it all! Philippians 4:13! :) What a wonderful surprise- I hope you're feeling well!
If it's a girl, I was going to offer my name as an option, but since you've already used it... :) my middle name is Marie... Just FYI.
Take care of yourself!
You can definitely fit 3 seats in the back of your car, even if you have to buy new seats, it is cheaper than a new car. When I was expecting #3 I went to Toys R Us with a tape measure, and they will let you take the seats out to your car and try them out. I got three in the back of a Ford Contour which is a smaller car than the Avalon.
We have 4 kids and 3 bedrooms as well, 3 girls in one room and 1 boy in the other. When #5 comes in October I have no idea where s/he is going. Maybe our addition will be done by then.
Congrats again!
That was surprise news! Congratulations!
Congratuations!!! Baby news is always happy news!!! (And I too am jealous that you missed your first trimester...I spend most of it on the couch trying to keep from turning green...)
I have heard a lot of people say that the best configuration for 3 carseats across a back seat is the infant seat in the middle without the base (or just use a rear facing carseat good from 5 lbs up!) with carseats on either side, being careful if one of the kids is in a booster with a seatbelt to put that kid on the driver's side (so that the infant seat doesn't get unbuckled accidentally by the kid using the seatbelt)
Congrats again!!
I'm sure the Lord will provide exactly what you need. We have 8 (soon to be 9) children in 2average sized bedrooms, 5 girls in one and soon to be 4 boys in the other. We actually have 2 other empty guest/bedrooms that we could use, but the children love sharing with their siblings.
Congratulations!
Blessings,
Kimberly, mom to 8 aged 1-11 and one more due in April
Meredith,
I'm so happy for you! Congratulatins and take care.
Michelle
Have you seen this website?
http://www.carseatdata.org/
Congratulation!!!
You must have had a wonderfully nausea-free first trimester to not know. What a blessing that would be.
Our 4 share a room...they love being together. I just read Kim C's post on living in a 3 bedroom home? Good perspective.
Congratulations again with the news of this little blessing.
how exciting and what a quick pregnancy it will be! congratulations.
Wow Meredith; this is such wonderful news! Congratulations! If it's a boy, maybe you can put a trundle under the bed or add a bunkbed? I'd opt for the slide under trundle since I cannot imagine two very young boys in bunkbeds...at least one of mine would not be able to resist leaping. ;) I see them on craigslist in my area from time to time. Or the children could switch rooms. I'll be praying! :)
Wow, congratulations! We were surprised when we found out about #3 as well...and what a wonderful suprise.
You didn't know until the END of the first trimester? Lucky girl! Man...the coma-like exhaustion and oh, yeah, barfing...would have tipped me off if it were me!
Here's to an equally easy 2nd and 3rd trimesters and a healthy mommy and baby.
I got off line last night and told my hubby "Meredith is pregnant!" He said, "Meredith from Like Merchant Ships?...wait...why do I know that?!" LOL! :)
Happy nesting ;)
Daiquiri
Congratulations to you and your family. What a blessing!
Congrats, congrats, congrats! We have had 3 kids in the last 3 years, so take it from me- you just do what you have to do and love every minute of it! So happy for you!
When you miss two periods- TAKE A TEST! Congradulations! I always know something isn't right within a couple of weeks of missing period. I get sensitive to foods and smells. Take care and don't worry about the autos or bedrooms. We had 5 in two bedrooms.We first had a bunk bed with double down bottom and put the two girls on the bottom and son on top. In the other room we had toddler bed and crib. Then when we moved, the girls went to a daybed with pull out trundle, then we put single wood bunk beds with Chest of drawers built in and a captain bed with underdrawers in the boys room. It can be done. We did have a sunroom in our 2nd home and it had built in shelves, so we put toys in there. God bless!
congratulations!! :)
How exciting! Many well wishes to you and your precious family Meredith! :D
Oh yay! Congratulations! If you've made it this far without noticing, hopefully the rest of the way will be equally smooth sailing. :)
My parents had 3 of us under age 10 in a 2 bedroom apartment. I'm sure I remember it more blissfully than my mom does, though. ;)
A wonderful woman I know slept under her family's dining room table when she was little and her family had taken in some cousins. She loved it! With your creativity, you'll figure something out. Kids don't need a lot of space, they just need a lot of love, and you're well stocked in that department. Congratulations!
I too didn't know I was pregnant with my first child until I was 3.5 months along. And he was born in October! I thought the exhaustion and nausea was from a recent mexico mission trip I had just got back from! That was 7 years ago, and now we have #3 just born in January!
Congratulations & I love reading your blog!
Meredith, many congratulations. What wonderful news.
As a mother of 3, I have to say having 3 kids rocks and everything will fall into place.
Congrats again. I'm so thrilled for you.
What a wonderful, fun surprise for you! Congratulations! Whatever the future holds, you can rest in the knowledge that the Lord will never send more your way than you can handle.
Congrats!
Some friends had a surprise #3 and found three carseats fit in the back of a Jeep Commander. Just FYI! :)
Congratulations, Meredith! I meant to say so yesterday, but never found time to comment (our computer is slow). Adjusting to three is, in my experience, easier than adjusting to two. I think it is because we are finally really comfortable with our own parenting style, and we're no longer questioning ourselves all the time. I think you will do well. You seem to do so many things well.
As far as the space issues: I don't know how big your room is, but we found it helpful to keep our third baby's crib in our room for the first 10 months or so. The is because all the kids seemed to sleep better this way. Even now, our third sleeps in our room for naps so that they all get to sleep as long as they need. Well-rested children keep me sane. :) Another thought is that children can share a full-sized bed instead of having multiple beds, if that is something you are interested in. Kids love sharing a room, especially if you let them sing each other to sleep!
Again...congratulations.
Congratulations, Meredith! May the Lord richly bless you and your family as you look forward to the birth of this new little blessing.
The room situation and the car will work out, it really will. Avalons are big for foreign-built sedans. Friends of ours fit two big brawny teenage boys in theirs with room to spare. I agree with those who suggest measuring everything before you buy any new seats.
Do you have a playpen? (My mind just went blank on what they're called these days...the foldable thingy with a little mattress in the bottom!) Baby can sleep in that in any of your bedrooms until you decide whether any room arrangements need to be changed.
You know all this, you've done this before. :) It will all work out beautifully.
Congratulations!!!!
Great news!! I'm so happy for you and your family. You'll figure out the rest. Lynn Marie
Meredith,
Such exciting news! I confess that yesterday when you mentioned there had been 4 pregnant ladies around the table I wondered if you were among them. Now I know! =)
Wow! Yippee! Yay! What a surprise to log on and find this news today. I am rejoicing with you and your family!!!!!
Oh, congrats! I was 14 weeks pregnant when I found out, so I TOTALLY understand!!
Yippee! What wonderful news. I enjoy checking your blog each day and now with a little one to add to the fun...I can't wait!
Sue
My eyes welled up with happiness when I read your news. And I've never even met you! Look at all these joyful posts of congratulations. God has richly blessed you with a new little life and a bounty of admirers.
Your faith in him will grow as you watch him work out all the details of these changes.
So happy for you!
How lucky are you that the first trimester when by so quickly!? (I was miserably sick!) Congratulations!
Three "Sunshine Kids Radian" carseats fit in the back of our Chevy Cavalier with the middle one facing backwards. They are narrower than most carseats. At $200 each, they are not inexpensive, but cheaper than a new car! They are available at Target.com and other online sites.
Again,
Congrats! Renee
Hello Meredith - I had wondered yesterday when you posted.How lovely - many many congratulations- wonderful news.
Lynn.
Congratulations!!
Erin
Been following and enjoying your blog for a while, but haven't commented until now (this was worth de-lurking for!). Wow! Congratulations!
I am just so happy for you! I think with the seats, you might have to test drive and see what will fit. I can't fit three in the back of my Subaru, but is because of the arms of certain seats make the seats wider.
I know it will all work out, and I am glad you have some time to prepare for it :)
God is so merciful to spare you the worry in the first trimester. I'm sure He will bless you to easy, frugal solutions to the logistical problems as well.
Congratulations!
Congratulations! Those pesky little details will work themselves out over the next few months.
Congratulations Meriedith! I'm so happy for you!! I'm sure you'll figure it all out - you have time!
Manuela
Yay! Congrats, Meredith!
Wonderful news! I am so happy for you all...another blessing from the Lord!
Trish
My one year old is still in a playpen. Whatever works. Congrats on the new baby, that is such exciting news!
Congrats! I have 2 October babies and it is a great time to have them. I have done the bedroom juggle before and know what you mean. The 3 carseats will be tough though.
What wonderful news and you're such a creative lady...you'll have all the logistics figured out in time!
Congratulations!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Congratulations from Northern Ireland - What a blessing!
Congratulations Meredith!
oh, what wonderful news. i am so very happy for you...thank you for sharing with us!
the surprise of our third baby coming along about a year and a half before we "planned" was our impetus to purchase a very affordable and wonderful, preowned minivan. the sedan we owned at the time just could not fit the three seats. Since then, we have ridden in cars which would fit three seats across the back. but there was often no room for actually buckling the seatbelts properly, and we found the situation extremely taxing on our backs.
Congratulations -- what great news, and what a blessing to pass those most frightening days without even knowing. That would be such a lovely, lovely blessing.
If this baby is a boy, you can always rework the rooms and their decor so that the boys share the room with the crib and the double bed. Or you can put the two older kids in a room together, which is what we did when our third came along. Now while we work on finishing up the upstairs of our house, we have three kids sleeping in a double bed together and the baby in a portable crib in our closet. Many things are do-able and I know you'll come up with a beautiful solution no matter what.
Congratulations!! Here is to a happy and healthy pregnancy!!
Mercedes
GOODNESS GIRL! I have goosebumps! Congratulations! And I agree ^, you'll figure things out beautifully!!!
Congratulations!!!!!! WOW!!! What awesome news!
Kathy F.
A 6-month pregnancy sounds great to me! Congrats Meredith! Wonderful news!!
Congratulations! That's quite a surprise! :)
I don't know, I think God has quite a sense of humor. ;) It will all work out.
{Hugs!}
God bless you all! Reminds me of when we bought our home and I discovered a month later we'd have 4 not the 3 children we thought the house would comfortably accommodate. You'll manage quite well and we'll enjoy the journey with you.
How awesome! Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Hey we have 4 in a 3 bedroom. And the way the market is going, it will be 5 in a 3 bedroom.
Two words. Bunk beds.
We moved number 3 into the bottom bunk when he was only 1 1/2 and he did great.
Congrats to you and your family! I don't doubt you'll find amazing ways to fit baby #3 in your home an life. What a blessing.
Congratulations-what a blessing! I am sure that all the details will come together, just as they always do!
Woo hoo!!! Congratulations!!! :)
Three car seats -- that's what we're doing in our Sable. It works. We stay home lots, anyway. :)
Congrats, again! Do you need another high chair? I have a beautiful wooden one in my dining room, that is yours. I will even bring it to ya! Hugs!
Congratulations Meredith!! How exciting, especially to have cruised thru the first trimester! We are delivering our 3rd in 5 days!
Elise
Welcome to the 3 club!
I started reading this and wondered if I was the only one who did not know this about you! I am thrilled for you!
Congratulations!!!
My two (girl and boy) shared a room until their teens- their request. Low bunk bed beginning at 4 and 5 years old....
We were 5 in our three bedroom growing up- my dh had 4 sharing a 2 bedroom....
Creativity and love make for a very close family!
I'm so excited for you. My husband is wondering why I am so excited so I am just telling him about you and why I read your blog everyday.
I'm due in November too.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I was wondering how you were going to tell me! Alli told me but I wanted to allow you to tell me ;0)
I'm so happy for you!
And you'll have it all worked out. You'll be amazed at how it all falls together!
xo ~K
Wouldn't twins be a blessing???? I am so happy for you! Don't worry about the logistics - there's always room for another child when your heart is full of loving kindness!
Oh my goodness Meredith!!! I'm so excited for you! And I, too, had wondered if you were one of the four in your previous post. It will all work out .... it always does. Sending you many good wishes for a happy and healthy umm.....six months. *he-he*
Congratulations!!!
:)
There were five in the bed and the little one said , Roll Over , Roll Over !!! I am the oldest of five . There is always room for one more ! I was just able to have one son and it often seemed we were missing a few children . I am so happy for you and your family !
We still have two out of three little ones sleeping in our bedroom, in our little 2 bedroom apartment. You'll be able to make it work.:)
And you'll be able to handle the other things too. My 3rd has been the easiest adjustment so far.
Congratulations!
It may depend on your Toyota:-) I am due with number three in September, and our toyota seca will _not_ fit a third seat, so we're car shopping. I have friends with toyota wagons though, who will fit the third car seat with no difficulty!
All the best:-)
(At least you only 'missed' the first trimester, you have _plenty_ of time to get sorted:-) )
Congratulations, Meredith! I'm so thrilled for you! --Natalie
Wow! Congratulations! I thought...now wait a minute...I don't read your blog as much as I use to- pre two kiddo days- but I never read that she was pregnant! Holy Moly! Congrats! Yeah...by October you'll have everything organized and ready!
Wow, congratulations!!!
Congratulations!!!! I'm due in October, too! Little pumpkin babies! :-)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
Blessings to you Meredith! This is such a special time for you and your family. I bet the children are excited. Enjoy every moment!
Hugs~ Renee
Mama to four: 13,5,4,and 2 yrs.
Oh my oh my! Congrats dear Meredith. Let me tell you, going from 2 - 3 kids was a piece of cake. So don't worry ... it was the BEST! My cousin just found out she is having triplets! and my close friend (turning 40), twins!!
I'm so happy for you ...
Congratulations on the soon expected little one!
Oh, Meredith! Congratulations to you and your sweet family!
Congradulations =) God is going to do wonderful things in your life and that third baby is going to be loved so much! Don't worry, everything will be worked out in the end =D
congratulations!
I had to do a double take in my google reader - wha??
A big congratulations to you and family!
Here it is April 25th and I just caught this post! Oh my goodness! God definitely has plans for your family. I'm so happy for you!
I haven't checked your blog in a while and I was thrilled to find out your news! Congratulations! I'm excited to enjoy you sharing the journey with us!
Congratulations, I am a bit behind you (November but they always come 3-4 weeks early).
I wanted to encourage you, my husbands former job left him working 110+ hours a week (for nearly a year) and at three weeks recovering from a c-section he went on a 7 day business trip and I had no help. I cried and begged for him to send a dog to help me I was so stressed out, but I wouldn't trade those days for anything. I learned more about myself and my ability to mother than at any other point in my life!
Fear not, my friend God has something special planned for you!!
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