photo of Ben Blair and me making out (sheesh! get a room already.) by Candice Stringham.
Friends. I’m expecting a baby.
Yes, this was planned (I can’t believe you even asked that! Just kidding. I would totally ask it too.) — in as far as you can plan such a thing. And we think we’re super lucky. When we shared this news with Ralph, Maude, Olive, Oscar, and Betty, they were shouting and dancing and hooray-ing around the room. We feel the same way. What’s happier than the thought of a new little person joining our family?
I’m sick. Pregnancy sick. Which is strikingly similar to a deep and abiding flu. But we’re very excited all the same. And we’re trying to celebrate this likely-it’s-our-last-pregnancy as much as possible (we’re thinking this is the end of the line for us as far as baby-making goes).
As part of the celebration, I’ve reached out to dear friends and bloggers to help. I’ve requested pregnancy memories and pregnancy advice from the 4 corners of the blogosphere and I’ll be posting the responses here all week.
One last thought: even though this was planned, it has somehow still come as a bit of a shock. How will we manage another baby? Who are we to think it’s okay to bring 6 persons into this crazy world? There’s something that seems unfair about the whole thing — considering couples that can’t conceive at all. These sorts of thoughts have been on my mind a lot — and most likely I’ll address them in a future post.
But today, I’ll just be happy. And feel blessed that I get to be a mother.
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Congratulations! I think this is wonderful news :) Hope you start feeling better soon…
WOW! Congratulations:) I hope your morning sickness passes quickly-as you know it is totally worth it:)
Congrats!
So so so happy for you. I'm glad people have big happy families like yours. Congratulations!
Congratulations!!! The little one will be very lucky to joining your clan! xo, jenny
Congratulatons!! It's wonderful news and I hope you have a very easy pregnancy… not that I would know anything (ANYTHING.. ahem) about that.
:)C
yeeeahhh so excited!!
The Blairs make the cutests and charming babies ever! I can't wait for one more!
Huge congrats to you and yours, Gabrielle (and yours and yours and yours and yours and yours and yours).
The world can never have too many devoted, loving moms with fabulous taste.
Congrats!
Congrats! Motherhood is a blessing & for those that cannot conceive, that is why there is adoption and such. I love that picture of ya'll! I love reading about your family. Another baby. I'm delighted!!
Mothering is such a selfless act. You and your husband are obviously consciencious parents who are attempting to raise children who will contribute to society. It is completely responsible and giving to bring another child into the world who will do just that. It's the young ones now who will be working, paying taxes, and caring for the week, sick, and elderly when we are too old to do so. So Good Job you two!!!! Keep up the good work!
oh congratulations and what a great post! i love that photo! WOW!
a lucky baby to have you as its loving and talented mommy!
wishing you wellness!
Oh my gosh congratulations! that's so great!!! and i'm totally excited for the next awesome name you have in mind.
yes! Hope the sickies pass soon – I know all too well how big of drag that is…
Great news! But, more importantly, how on earth did you get that amazing photo?
Congratulations! What lovely news for a Monday morning. I hope you are feeling better in no time!
Wonderful news! Congratulations.
Congratulations! As someone who is also pregnant (with my first!) … I'll be looking forward to all your pregnancy related posts.
That's such wonderful news! Congratulations!!!I'm thinking on my advice – though I could only imagine I should be getting advice from you!!! xoxo
…with so many people unable to have children, it would be a pity for you not to have as many children as your heart desires–as long as you can afford it, though ;)l
Congratulations Design Mom! You two have designed beautiful babies and a beautiful life for them. That sixth person is lucky that you're bringing it into the world.
how very exciting! congratulations, what a lucky little baby to come into such a lovely + sweet family as i imagine yours is, just from reading about it in this space!! hope you're feeling well soon…
Congrats! As someone who needs to spend $$$ and take lots of drugs and go through major medical procedures to get pregnant, I find so much joy when people can have big families. I am so happy for you.
Utterly, utterly thrilled for you G!! Lots of love and hugs, Christine
Wonderful, happy news! Congratulations to the Blair family.
That's fabulous, Gabby. You and Ben are such great parents, your kids are such great kids; I can't think of anything better than another Blair around!
Congrats! You seem to manage five so beautifully–what's one more?!
That is one more blessed baby to be sent to your home. Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
congrats to you! Sisters prego at the same time, fun!
Speaking from a person who has a "hard" time conceiving – I think its fantastic when people have large families because I know I never can. I hold no resentment for those who get prego on birth control like my own sisters. :)
Woohoo! This is exciting news! I hope the morning sickness goes away soon and that you are able to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.
Yay yay yay! In my opinion, you just TOTALLY shook up your blog in an awesome way. You're great. Your family is beautiful
Just popped over from Twitter to read your news — AWESOME! Congratulations…I'm looking up to you as we (hopefully) expand our family in the future :) Feel better Mommy…oh gosh Pregnancy sickies are awful :(
Congrats, Gabby + Ben + Blair Clan!!
Hooray! And many congratulations. Such wonderful news. :)
Yippee! I am looking forward to seeing a big bump at Summit 2.0
Wonderful news! And, can't wait to hear what wonderful name you give your new Blair.
congratulations to you! I just made it passed the 14 week mark in my second pregnancy and am FINALLY feeling better, I hope it lasts for a much shorter time with you!
Congratulations! I too am expecting, so I can't WAIT to read all the advice.
Wow! You get more impressive every second! I can barely manage my two! Congrats on the new addition.
Such wonderful news Gabby!
The world will be a better place with more Blair babies in it!!
xoxo,
amie
Congratulations! I'm expecting as well…last Saturday actually. haha, I'm 2 days overdue. Sorry to hear you are sick! I get that way too for about the first 4 months. I hope it passes quicker for you!
Congratulations! And what a great photograph!
Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! We're expecting #2 in January so I'm selfishly also very excited that this might mean lots of lovely, lovely baby things featured on Design Mom over the coming months! Yay for babies!
Congratulations! How exciting. I hope the sickness ends for you soon. I am due Nov. 24th with my first, and I was sick until 20 weeks but have had a pretty smooth pregnancy since. Best of luck and I look forward to hearing more!
Congrats! My second is due on Friday. Enjoy your experience…
-Desiree
Congratulations to you and your family. A baby is such wonderful news. Hope you feel better soon.
Congratulations! What wonderful news :)
YAY! SO EXCITING! What a blessing!
I read a quote this weekend from a man who has 13 children with his wife. The reporter asked if they were open to having more children he replied, "If you had 13 million dollars and someone offered you one million more, wouldn't you take it?!" I loved that. Children are such a gift!! :)
Looking forward to the documentation!
Congrats! Great news!
WHeeeeee! Congratulations to you all.
Congrats! How exciting!
Can I just say how much I admire your courage to deal with morning sickness while being a mommy to 5 little ones. You are truly amazing. We have a 16 month old and 3 months pregnant. Somehow I wonder if I will ever make it to 6.
Congrats!! Hope you pass this pregnancy nausea soon! :)
What incredibly exciting news! Ever since I experienced pregnancy I have been amazed at what a miracle each and every little baby is.
Wishing you a wonderful pregnancy with your new little miracle!
Congrats! I think nausea means a healthy baby in the end, does it not?
That's the loveliest picture of all of you!
HOORAY! This is the most wonderful news! I am so happy for you. xoxo
Congrats! As a gal who comes from a family with seven kids-I say three cheers for any mom who can handle to have a big family. As a youngster, I was never lonely. Now as an adult-I have six really close, really great friends. Perfect.
Congratulations! What a beautiful way to celebrate your new baby. Looking forward to the posts!
I can't imagine that you'd need any pregnancy advice! This is great news, I'm so happy for you! What a blessing!
Congratulations!
I am very very happy for you! Life is a miracle and I feel we are fortunate to be able to carry life inside our bodies (and hearts.)
Hope the sick months pass quickly and quietly to make room for the energy-filled, name choosing, room-decorating, baby clothes un-packing months to come.
And when the sleepless, late-night feeding, diaper-changing months show up, know that you've done a great service to your children by giving them another sibling, a great honor to your family by adding another branch.
You are blessed. Yey!
Bises, D
WOW!! Awesome news!! Many congrats to you and your family! :o)
Congrats Gabby! That's awesome news. You seem to be able to balance anything that's thrown at you and when God tosses this new baby your way, I'm sure you'll handle it just as well. Lovely news. And here we are with our third, cherishing every minute because in all likelihood she's our last as well.
Awesome!
Woo-hoo! I am so happy and excited for you and your family! I have four little ones and at least every second day they ask when the next baby is coming (ahem, it's not) so I can imagine the absolute joy your wonderful kids must feel! Such fantastic news!
So very exciting! I was sick for the first 4 months, but I have a beautiful daughter. And I can't wait to go through it again.
squeeeeeeeee! thrilled for you! xo
Oh, congratulations! That little baby is so lucky to be coming to your family!
This is such wonderful news – Congrats!! I am quite excited to see what cool pregnancy-related things you blog about.
Oh wow! Congratulations! I don't have any pregnancy advice since I've only got one child (after 4 previous losses). I would say you are expert! In light of that, I would say enjoy each moment, document everything, and honor each day! Thrilled for you!
Congratulations! I am knocked up, too (4th time in 4 years!) and am exstatic to watch your journey via blog along side of mine! hurray!
Congratulations!
That's amazing. 6 kids. You're so brave. I'm about 10 weeks along with my third, and already wondering how on earth I'm going to adjust. Every time I see a newborn sleeping in its mother's arms though, I think how doggone excited I am.
felicidades!
Felicitations, Gabrielle! SO happy for you!!
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations! I'm the youngest of six kids and LOVE it! Hope you feel better soon!
Wonderful, wonderful news. I would love to have six children but always worry about silly things like finances etc. I'm so happy that there are people like you who are showing the rest of us it is possible. All the best and I hope, despite having five little ones, you're able to get some rest.
Would it be wrong of me to say that I suspected when you wrote about painting rocking chairs and added a line about being able to bring another chair in if your family expands? I'm so happy for you!
Blessings abound you Gabrielle and Co. Congratulations!! Like everyone else, I’m fascinated by your "Can-Do" attitude. You are such an inspiration. Here’s wishing you smooth sailing. I'll be watching…
that photo is fantastic, … it looks like you both have angel's wings
You're blessed! What a fabulous start to the Monday reading this post! Congratulations!
Half a dozen is wonderful! That is so exciting for you all, congratulations! And best wishes throughout the entire pregnancy for a healthy baby AND mama. Thanks for sharing the good news!
Congratulations! I'm a little jealous….hope you feel better soon.
Wow! I didn't see that one coming. Congratulations! I love that photo of you guys, btw!
Congrats to the sweet Blair family.
Oh Congratulations dear Gabrielle! I am thrilled for you.
My best pregnancy advice is to sip on red raspberry leaf tea all day long, it will help strengthen and tone your uterus and is tremendous for morning sickness.
As for new baby ideas…get yourself a sling if you don't already have one. With 6 kids, you will need all the extra arms you can get ;)
wow- 6. Personally i think a big family is just wonderful. And, I think as long as you're not taking advantage of government support for all those kids, I would not feel guilty about it. If you did… well then, ya know… More needy people and all.
I'm crying with joy for you. Congratulations and if anyone can handle a sixth child, it is the wonderful Blair family.
So, so happy for you. Who wouldn't want 6 awesome kids in their family? Few are blessed with it. I hope you feel healthy and well soon.
So very happy for you, Gabby!!!!
fantastic news! I hope the sickness passes soon and that you can enjoy!
Congrats!
Congratulations! I come from a family of six. Five sisters and one brother. I loved growing up in a large family. I do believe it takes a certain pair to raise that many children – and my parents are exceptional in that department. And, from what I can detect from your blog – you are too. Best of luck.
Congratulations! Wishing you continued blessings.
Congratulations!
Congratulations fabulous lady. Hope the morning sickness passes quickly.
Congratulations! What wonderful news and such a great blessing!
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