Wow! I can't believe how long it has been since my last blog was written. It seemed like every time I would have an idea to write about this summer, something came up or the weather was too nice to sit at the computer and write. Now that our vacations are done and things have settled back into everyday mode, I figured it was a great time to sit down and do this. Plus, Stina (she no longer refers to herself as Teeny) crawled onto the couch and fell into a deep blissful nap, so what better time.
So many things are happening in our family I am ready to burst! Our summer was busy, but lots of fun. I drove to Georgia twice, Stina and Mimi in tow, for great visits to my dad, sister and Sam. I even ventured to Sesame Place alone with Stina for a weekend! I'm still not sure who had more fun-Stina or myself. We had a wonderful shower for my sister in GA-great to meet so many of her friends and new family.
My sister, Missy, is getting married in less than 2 weeks now and I still can't believe it. As old as she and I get, I can't get the idea of her being my little sister out of my mind. I am beyond happy for her and know she and Sam have a beautiful, bright future ahead of them!
And of course there have been changes in our family as well. Murph still has his crazy hours, so I did not return to school again this year. And I am thrilled! I have really grown to love being home with Stina. I have had the chance to watch her grow into a precocious, curious and smart 2 year old! I know in the beginning, even though I was happy about it, the idea of being home with no work in my future to speak of was a little daunting at times. I know now though that I have been given an amazing opportunity to spend so much time with my beautiful girl. She knows her alphabet now, counts to 15 and has a very vivid imagination. Her elaborate tea parties are so much fun-cheers, pouring and sipping sounds included. Stina has become my partner in crime and any doubt I had about staying home has been erased!
We also found out that we will be adding to our family in about 5 months! I am expecting another baby in March and have (somehow) managed to keep it secret for 4 months! Only a handful of people knew-Murph being one of those! I really loved having this secret for so long truth be told. It started for practical reasons-I was extremely sick, nearly daily and with a history of miscarriage, was concerned about the viability of the pregnancy. But the secret also became something the Murph, Stina and maybe 2 or 3 other people shared with me. I was a little disappointed when I was outed by my expanding, obvious tummy. As much as I love and cherish all the good wishes received when a pregnancy is announced, it is also the beginning of unsolicited advice, usually unfounded and totally out of left field. The beginning of opinions-who doesn't like what names and their reasons, what I should and shouldn't do, the look of judgement when I am drinking a cup of coffee and the invasive belly grabbing. Don't get me wrong, I love when people ask about the new baby and all the happiness surrounding the pregnancy. It just seems that the announcement of a pregnancy brings out all the armchair critics and doctors. It can be overwhelming and frustrating to have to defend your choices for names, what you are eating or drinking, or be compared to every other pregnancy that has ever been had. AND this is often the work of STRANGERS!!!!!
I know I probably sound horrendously ungrateful or unappreciative, but let's just chalk it up to charging, unbalanced hormones. Look, we are all guilty of doing this to people, myself included. It is how humans relate to one another, the common bond we share makes us feel closer. I know people are well meaning, but take it from this pregnant girl-sometimes it can be a little too much to process. And please, please, please hands off my belly! If you are wearing new jeans, do I walk up to you and grab your bum? If you've had breast implants, would you want me to walk up to you and grab them out of the blue? Just because my belly looks like a separate entity, just know-it is still attached to my body!
Good things and happiness to everyone! Promise to write more often!
