Update on Baby#4

SO..........


       I had an ultrasound last month which showed that all the bleeding on the first ultrasound had completely resolved itself, and my placenta is in a perfect place and all looks great with the baby. Still, we've felt this time we should have this baby in the hospital -- we don't know why, and it's hard going back after such a wonderful homebirth with Lena, but we're going to and trying to take steps to make it as good of an experience for us as we can. We'll have a doula this time which I hope will help. I have my own anxieties with the hospital that I'll have to deal with, but whatever... that's not what this post is about -- THIS post is to let the cat out of the bag. Initially, we were going to be surprised again this time, but then I wanted to find out and then Ryan didn't and then we compromised and decided we'd find out but not tell anyone, but I'm having a hard time keeping a straight face when people ask my point blank if I have found out, so we'll just announce it:

We will be welcoming our fourth baby girl into the Weight household (hopefully before the year is out). We are very excited because we love our girls and think we make pretty stinkin' cute ones. We will be naming her Monta Maxine Weight after two very wonderful women that we admire and respect... Monta Benson, our wonderful 82 year old neighbor/friend who has been such an amazing help to me since we bought our home -- she reads stories to the girls, babysits for us to attend the Temple, has taught me how to can pickles, beets, jam, make delicious rolls, make amazing pie, and many other things too... but more than that, she is an amazing example of service. She is like the good fairy always going around blessing other peoples lives. I would be honored if I myself could be like her, and like the idea of naming a daughter after her as someone to learn about. Maxine is Ryan's amazing paternal grandmother -- she has taught me a lot about mother-hood. She had 13 children herself but somehow manages to keep track of all 75 + of her grandchildren AND their spouses, AND their kids. I feel such love from her whenever I see her and I love her stalwart example of faith and sacrifice in motherhood. She is also very handy at gardening, canning, etc and I've learned a lot from her.

So, we hope you'll be happy to be put out of your suspense and be excited with us. And Monta is pronounced pretty much how it's spelled -- like Montana kind of: "M ah NT uh".