Seeking Sister Wife’s Dannielle and Garrick Merrifield Welcome Baby No. 3

Dannielle and Garrick Merrifield’s family has grown by one more!

On the Monday, April 22 episode of Seeking Sister Wives, Dannielle and Garrick revealed they were expecting their third baby together. Now, the couple is sharing that they welcomed their baby daughter Leia Lilly Melisa Merrifield on May 17, 2023, speaking with PEOPLE exclusively about their newest addition, whom they kept a secret for almost a year.

“Leia is such a personality. She is very particular with what she likes and doesn’t like,” they tell PEOPLE. “She makes us all laugh. She is super independent and has been since birth. I prayed she would have her daddy’s beautiful blue eyes and she does.”

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“Pregnancy at 35 is a lot harder than pregnancy at 20, for sure. I had some preterm contractions at about 19 weeks and was hospitalized to get things under control,” Dannielle says. “It was super scary because I didn’t have any problems in my previous pregnancies with our boys.”

“But thankfully we were able to get the contractions to stop, and I was able to carry our beautiful baby princess to full term. I believe God was watching out for her and me.”

Asked what it’s like to watch her journey back during this past season, Danielle says it’s been “so weird” to watch it play out on TV.

“But seeing the moment I told Garrick I was pregnant, I will never forget it. I was nervous about sharing the news with him because neither one of us expected this to happen,” she continues. “But Leia is such an amazing blessing to our entire family.”

“As everyone knows, it’s crazy how fast time goes by. It’s insane that she’s almost one year old and about to start walking! It’s so true that we have to treasure every moment of life because they’re so fleeting. We didn’t expect to have our beautiful baby princess Leia, but we wouldn’t change it for the world.”

As for how her two older sons have been adjusting to having a baby sister in the house, Dannielle says it’s been an easy transition so far.

“While I was pregnant with Leia, the boys kept telling us they wanted a brother. But now that Leia is actually here, they are amazing with her,” she shares. “They watch out for her and are so loving and kind to her.”

“I know the boys will be moved out of the house when she is about 5, but I also know they will be calling to check on her and stopping to see her as much as possible.”

Seeking Sister Wife airs Monday nights at 9/8c on TLC.