He's Here! Baby D's Birth Story

As of October 24, 2020, I am officially the mom of TWO very sweet boys. 

So, here's the story. 

Baby D never spun his little body into laboring position. However, he did turn back to his original position (back against my right hip, facing my left hip), which was really good news! I could feel him move and knew he was turned back to the side so I tried doing some more spinning exercises but they were really starting to make me sore and wear me out. By Thursday, October 22, I gave up and decided I'd just wait until induction time. 

Friday, October 23- I went in for the NST and saw my midwife. She said I was having small contractions and confirmed that Baby had turned back to the side. We went over the plan for induction the next day (how we'll get baby into position) and I was pumped and ready to go! That afternoon, I picked Mertoddler up from daycare and went to a local farmer's market to shop for pumpkins. He chose a handpainted bulldog pumpkin and I couldn't say no to his sweet face so we came home with TWO massive pumpkins. That sweet little face of his convinced me to spend $20 on a prepainted pumpkin but we still needed a regular pumpkin to carve. Hence, spending too much money on pumpkins. Oi! The sweet owners gave us two baby pumpkins when they found out I was being induced the next day. It was a fun little outing before his little world was rocked. 

We were scheduled for induction at 5 AM the following morning. We were instructed to call in at 4 AM to make sure there was a bed for us. But that night, I got a call from Labor and Delivery telling me that there were 6-7 women scheduled ahead of me and not to come in the next morning. The charge nurse told me to wait until someone called me and if we didn't hear anything by 10:30 AM, to call for a status update. I immediately texted my midwife who said she'd get me in somehow and told me not to worry. So, I decided to remain positive and enjoy sleeping in. 

Saturday, October 24- Baby D's BIRTHDAY

We were up by 7 the next morning with no word from the hospital. My mom came over around 7:30 as Merman and I were getting ready. We had our bags packed and by the door. I cleaned the whole house because I knew my mom would be here and I wanted it to look nice for our return home. Then we played the waiting game. I was anxious but enjoying my time with Mertoddler. Mom and I were able to go over everything she needed to know to hold down the fort. By 10:30, I hadn't heard anything so I texted my midwife. She called back to tell me that she bumped me up on the list so I was next to be called! Whooooo!! (It really pays to know people). We were told to wait a couple of hours while they prepped the room. So Merman went out to grab lunch for all of us. As luck would have it, the hospital called while he was gone and wanted us to come immediately. 

As Mr. Merman walked in the door, I couldn't help but exclaim that we needed to go now! He was so excited that he started loading up the car with our stuff. Before we left, we gave Mertoddler a little gift bag from us. It was an assortment of toys, games, and activities for him to do while we were in the hospital. He was so excited and kissed us goodbye. I thought I'd be super emotional telling him goodbye for the last time as an only child but it was a fleeting feeling. My adrenaline kicked in and I was ready and excited to go! I couldn't wait to see him as a big brother. We climbed in our new car and stuffed our faces with Chick-Fil-A as we rushed to the hospital. 

12:30ish PM- Once there, we had to fill out all the paperwork and wait a little bit before they put us in our room. The very first thing they did once we were put in a room was swab my nose to test for COVID-19. ARGH! That was the longest 15 seconds of my life. I had no idea it would be so bad but it was torture. Everything in me was cringing and I had to force myself not to grab that nurse's hand and pull the swab out. AND, Mr. Merman didn't even have to get swabbed! LUCKY!! But he did have to keep his mask on the whole time we were there. I'll take a 15 minute swab over mask-wearing for 48 hours. 

2:10 PM- We started the pitocin! This time I was laid back in the bed, texting friends, turning on a movie and just hanging out and waiting. They started the pitocin at a 2. My midwife checked me and I had dilated a bit more. If I remember correctly, I was almost at a 4. They went on and did a catheter as I knew I'd be getting an epidural pretty soon. The midwife wanted me lying in some contorted positions while laboring. There was no way I was going to suffer through contractions in those conditions so I told the nurse I wanted the epidural pretty quickly after being induced. Because of this, she started the IV fluids that are required prior to getting the epidural. 

It wasn't long before I started feeling the contractions. They weren't horrible but were pretty uncomfortable. I was lying on my side with the peanut ball between my legs. With each contraction, I held onto the bed rail and breathed through them. As they intensified, we phoned the nurse and asked her to speed the epidural up. 

3 PM- Merman surprised me with the most beautiful push gift! A ring with three pink sapphires in it. Baby D's birth stone (and mine). It's absolutely beautiful!

4:30- I was given the epidural. What a different experience! With Merbaby I was having such terrible contractions that I could barely sit still for the epidural. I hardly remember having it done because I had escaped to "survival mode land." This time, I was fully aware of what was going on and able to sit still through contractions. Which made it much scarier. Merman held my hand and stood in front of me. I was feeling very anxious and doubting whether I really needed it. The anesthesiologist put the needle in my back and asked if it felt centered. It felt like it was off to the right a little, so he had to REDO the whole thing!!! I was so upset but held still while he inserted yet another massive needle into my back. But, within minutes, I felt that calming numbing feeling start to take over my lower body and relaxed. 

5:15- My midwife came in to check me again and I was 5 cm. dilated! Things were progressing quickly! She decided to break my water to get things moving along. I don't remember much after that. The epidural has a way of making me feel sleepy and calm so I rolled over and took a nap. 

6:30- My blood pressure was getting low so they gave me ephedrine. I don't remember much about this  either because I went back to sleep afterwards. 

8 PM- My memory is a little blurry for the next bit. But I know I was feeling the contractions through the epidural. It wasn't bad but it seemed like they were coming nonstop and getting increasingly more uncomfortable. I called the nurse and asked her when they wanted me to get in the contorted position to flip baby and also upped the dose of my epidural with the push of a button. The nurse wanted to check me before we got out the stirrups to flip baby. But when she looked down there, she exclaimed that it was go-time! I was 10 cm. dilated and Baby D was trying to come out. So she ran to get my midwife. 

The midwife said it didn't matter if he turned at this point cause he was coming out no matter what. Also, she said he would likely turn as he entered through the birth canal. 

8:20 PM- I started pushing! She instructed me to push slowly to get a few practice pushes in. She was afraid that a full-forced push would send the baby flying out. Once again, I had the mirror so I could see what all was going on. I saw how the tiny little pushes were actually pushing him forward. After 2 of those, she told me to push a little harder. 3 contractions later and with very little effort, Baby D came out! 

8:27 PM- Little Baby D was born into the world. My sweet baby boy!

They put him on me and started cleaning him up, sucking out fluid, etc. Mr. Merman cut the umbilical cord and by 8:30, we were doing skin-to-skin, I was able to do skin-to-skin for the full hour this time and it was GLORIOUS! I loved every second of it. However, it did feel like it was only a few minutes in the grand scheme. That sweet hour went by so quickly. 

This time, my placenta came out as it should. No digging or retention. Thankfully! Because of my history, the midwife prepped for that. We continued the pitocin at a higher dose to help my contractions continue. That was supposed to help get the placenta out but also help with the bleeding. However, my bleeding didn't stop as it should. Once again, I was having post-partum hemorrhaging. There was a lot of bleeding and clotting that wasn't stopping. I'm unsure of the medical details but the nurse kept pushing large clots out. Then they would measure and weigh them. My midwife wasn't happy with what she was seeing and made the comment, "It's a good thing you're not having anymore babies." She said that my body just doesn't like to stop bleeding after birth. This scared me. Merman and I immediately looked at each other wondering what she meant by that. I was given TXA through the IV. But that didn't stop or slow the bleeding, so they gave me a Methergen injection in the thigh at 9:41 PM. When that wasn't working, the midwife came in and gave me Cytotec. If I remember correctly, she put two pills in my butt and one in my vagina. At this point, she told that there was only one more medication to try. I asked what would happen if that last medication didn't work. She just gave me a look but never answered. She also had someone come in and start another IV on me "just in case" but didn't say what it was for. I was texting two nurse friends and one made the comment that I might need an emergency hysterectomy. Which explains the "not having anymore babies" comment from earlier. I tried not to freak out and focused on my new sweet baby. 

9:30 PM- After skin-to-skin, they took him to be weighed and evaluated. He was 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 20 1/4 inches long. He rated beautifully on the APGAR scale and by 10 PM, we were being moved to the recovery room. 

My bleeding had finally slowed down to a normal amount. They tested my iron levels and ironically, it came back higher than it had been prior to delivery. My midwife was shocked and said she didn't believe it. So another blood draw was scheduled for the next morning. She still wanted me to take an iron supplement because she felt that I'd lost too much blood. However, I refused to take it because I didn't want to become constipated. Because I was feeling okay, my color was good, and the test showed healthy iron levels, they were okay with me skipping a dose. I asked the nurse if we could wait until my next blood test and she agreed. Especially since my prenatal has iron in it. (PS: My iron levels dropped slightly the next morning but were still at a really good level so I never needed to take the iron supplement).

Once in the recovery room, we were as happy as can be. I wasn't allowed to shower or clean up until all the IVs were taken out. And that couldn't happen until my bleeding had slowed to a certain point and my levels had been tested again. So, I just snuggled that baby and squeezed out drops of colostrum for him. Everyone left us alone for the most part that night. It was very quiet and much different than our experience with Merbaby. I cuddled him all night and let him practice latching and sucking. We slept for a few hours and basked in the glory of a new little life. 

View from my bed on a rainy Sunday 

I've never been happier and am so in love with this little man. What a calm and pleasant birthing experience (aside from the hemorrhage scare). I wouldn't change a thing about it. Our little Baby D is just perfect. :) 

Happy Due Date

 Here we are. October 20, 2020. What a cool birthday date! But, I don't think this baby is coming today... 

I went to see the midwife yesterday at 39 weeks 6 days pregnant with high hopes. I knew it was very likely that this little guy had shifted and turned himself sunny side up in the recent days. I could feel his little hands going across the bottom of my belly and it didn't seem like his back and butt were on the right side anymore. I'd been doing a few spinning baby activities (as mentioned in the previous post) but it felt like he was turning the wrong way. Regardless, I was still hopeful that the 2 cm. dilaton and his head being "way down there" meant something would be happening soon. And, I must admit, I REALLY would love for him to come on his due date so that his birthday would always be 10.20.20. 

The midwife came in as I was having Braxton Hicks and said she'd like to check me. She offered to do a sweep of the membranes but I opposed. We did that with Mertoddler and it didn't do anything to help bring on labor. I remember it being incredibly uncomfortable and if this baby isn't in laboring position, then what's the point? So, she checked me and said I was about 2-3 cm. and she could feel his head. Next, she squeezed me in for an ultrasound so that we could get a good look and measurements on baby to make sure he's doing okay in there. 

While I was super excited to be seeing him again, I was also really nervous that they would tell me he's measuring small and encourage me to continue waiting for him to come on his own. But the opposite happened and his estimated weight was 7 lbs. 10 oz. The midwife was shocked! However, the ultrasound did confirm that he is now sunny side-up. All was well with his heartrate, measurements, and fluid levels. He was just hanging out in there, all smushed up and cute as can be. We got the sweetest little picture of his face so that's definitely an upside to him facing up. I DID get my 3D picture of this sweet baby after all. He finally cooperated. At 40 weeks! ha! Who would have guessed? He is freaking adorable and looks a lot like Mertoddler did in his 3D photos. I can't wait to see what this little guy is going to look like. 

After the ultrasound, I met with the midwife again. She asked if I wanted to schedule an induction and I said, "PLEASE!" I've had so many uncomfortable nights, Braxton Hicks, etc. I'm ready to meet this baby! Plus, I'd really like to be home and somewhat settled before Halloween so that I can enjoy that holiday with Mertoddler. He's so excited and I've ordered PJ Masks capes and masks for me and Daddy. If we were to wait this labor out like we did with Mertoddler, we'd end up having a November baby and Merman would have to return the push-gift to exchange the birthstone out AGAIN. Not to mention the fact that Mertoddler would be devastated if Merman and I missed Halloween. The midwife looked at me like I was silly when explaining this to her, but I just love having that special time with my first little love and don't want to miss out on it when he's at such a fun age. 

Anyways, she told me that they're being strict about elective inductions because of COVID but that my cervix makes me a good candidate and moves me up on the list. So, we agreed to induce labor over the weekend and she told me to come in Friday morning for an NST. I left the appointment feeling really bummed out. Not really sure why, I was fighting back tears all the way to the car. I loved seeing that sweet boy's face but I really wish I could just go into labor on my own. Maybe that's why I felt so down. Defeated by that fact that I'd been working to spin baby into position, I was disappointed that he spun the opposite way.

This is how Baby D looks in the womb right now.
Spin, Baby, Spin!

Once home, I texted my midwife friend (the one who delivered Mertoddler and is now a good friend of mine). I explained everything to her and mentioned that I would be pumping for nipple stimulation to hopefully bring on labor. This was her response: "If baby is sunny side up, you're going to trigger a bunch of false labor contractions with pumping. When the baby is in that position it causes slow labor. Hence you're 2-3 cm. and haven't already gone into full blown labor. If he was turned around, it would be happening. So you need to do the specific positions on spinning babies website for occipital posterior. Do that today and tomorrow. If you feel him flip and you can feel his hard back on the front of your belly then start pumping. You do 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off alternating for an hour. Also do deep side lunges going up the stairs. Let me know if you feel a big movement like you flipped him!"

She then called Labor and Delivery and schedule my induction herself! She's on call this Saturday so she schedule me for a 5 AM induction. However, we have to call at 4 AM to make sure they have a bed available. If it gets delayed, she said she'd rush them along to bring me in by 7:30AM when she arrives. I'm feeling confident that we'll be able to get in that morning and having her advocate for us will really help get things going. However, I'm really, really, really hoping that I can get this baby turned and begin laboring on my own. 

Merman and I have been working hard to do these spinning exercises. And while it hasn't worked yet, I'm trying to stay positive that it will. Even if it doesn't bring on labor, it'll make induction a lot easier if the baby is in the correct position. 

So here's what we've been up to!

1) Rebozo sifting

2) Side-Lying Release

3) Forward Leaning Inversion

4) Side lunges up the stairs

We started #1 and #2 last night. We did them twice. Once after Mertoddler went to sleep and again before I went to bed. Then we did them this morning. Randomly, I'll side lunges up the stairs and then stop by the bedroom to do the forward leaning inversion. So far, it hasn't worked but I did wake up to some major movements from baby last night so maybe another day of stretching will help.  

In the meantime, I'm going to try to soak up and enjoy the sleep-filled nights, naps during the day, one-on-one time with Mertoddler and the freedom of not having a baby on my boob 24-7. :) 

I knew this past weekend would be the last one at home with Mertoddler as an only child (as I'd planned to request a induction for next weekend) so I tried to make some quarantined memories. We took a family walk to the neighborhood playground one morning. I took him to Starbucks for a special treat and then to the playground for a date with just the two of us. We made brownies, watched a new movie while snuggling up on the couch. I broke rules and rocked him to sleep a couple of times. And on Sunday night, I laid in bed with him until he fell asleep. I've talked to him about how baby brother is coming this week and am trying to prepare him for Mommy being very busy with the baby. Yesterday, he came home from daycare with a picture of two teddy bears that he colored "for my baby brother" so we put it in the baby's crib last night and Mertoddler was so proud! He just melts my heart and makes me the happiest mommy. I know he'll be a good big brother but am so nervous about him feeling jealous or becoming super clingy.

Well, I guess I'll go enjoy my due date while still being pregnant! These boys just love being in their Momma. I guess I should take that as a compliment, right? :) Hopefully, the next time I come on to write, it'll be a birth story!

39 Weeks!

10/12/20 

Whoops! It's been awhile and there is a lot to update on!

Tomorrow, I will officially be 39 weeks pregnant. Unbelievable... but also, I'm so ready!

My 35th birthday was yesterday so I'm officially a geriatric pregnancy now. 

I went to the doctor today and allowed them to check me. I'm already 2 cm. dilated and she said his head is "right there." She thinks that once I go into labor, it won't take long for him to come out. Eeeekkk!! It's getting close!!

How I've Been Feeling

This pregnancy has definitely been different from the Mertoddler's. I'm having a lot more discomfort and trouble sleeping or sitting still. 

A few weeks ago, I was having severe pelvic pain. It hurt to move my legs and switch positions in the middle of the night. Getting up from laying or sitting was extremely painful and even walking sometimes seemed impossible. But that has lessened now that I'm not working. I think sitting all day (to teach online) caused a lot of that discomfort. Because now that I'm not working anymore, I feel much more comfortable. It could also be that this little guy's head is just so far down there, it's pushing my pelvic bones apart. 

Obviously, chasing after a 3-year-old while pregnant makes a huge difference too. There's much less resting, sleeping, and down time when a toddler is involved. I'm constantly getting up and down off the floor to play with him. Carrying him around or picking him up to snuggle and get kisses is sometimes difficult to do but I won't stop doing it. I need my Mertoddler to feel all the love from his Momma even if it is hard to move around sometimes. I'm also making sure that I never blame the baby for my inability to do things I once could. Instead, I say things like, "Momma's belly is getting in the way." Or "It hurts to do that because my belly is so big now! Why don't we do this <insert a better idea> instead?" He is really attentive to my belly and likes to hug it and give the baby kisses. It absolutely melts my heart. He also comments on how big it's getting and pokes my belly button. He is such a sweet boy and I can't wait to see him as a big brother!

Sleeping isn't going well. I don't know if it's because we switched monitors. The noise coming through the new monitor is more high pitched and crackly than the old one. It could also be that I'm just SO VERY PREGNANT and this baby moves around all night long. It seems like I can never get comfortable. I'll wake-up 4-5 times throughout the night for no apparent reason and then just lay there wondering what I should do about it. But at least I'll be used to sleep deprivation once Baby gets here. 

Contractions? Braxton Hicks? Those are great questions! My stomach does get tight pretty regularly now, especially when I'm playing with Mertoddler or cooking. But it's never painful or uncomfortable so it's hard to know whether or not I'm having Braxton Hicks.

A few weeks ago, I was in a meeting (online) and suddenly felt very uncomfortable down there. My stomach was tight and I was feeling a lot of pain and pressure. So I stood up and started swaying. The pain was a but more intense, which caused me to start sweating. I was about 35 weeks pregnant and seriously thought I could be going into labor. I had a couple more episodes following that one. They lasted about 5 minutes each and then just stopped. I haven't experienced anything like it since then. How bizarre! It must have been some severe Braxton Hicks. 

Now, let me tell you what I'll miss about this pregnancy: Feeling this sweet boy move around ALL THE TIME. He's on the go all day long, it seems. It feels like he's doing full somersaults in my belly. I absolutely love watching it from the outside and patting his little booty when it's sticking up. I love rubbing his little feet when they push out through the side and laughing when he's popping around. He also gets the hiccups several times a day which is just the cutest thing. And, lastly, I love it when Mertoddler gets to feel him kicking from the outside. He'll talk to to my stomach and then rub it. Watching his eyes light up when the baby responds is the best thing ever. He giggles at the kicks and bumps and it makes me the happiest Mama. I never thought I'd get to experience this and here I am living a dream! I'm trying to make the most of it and soak it all in. 

While I'm thankful for this pregnancy, I'm also ready to have this baby. I don't think I could go to 42 weeks again. Not this time. But I'm reminding myself to remain patient and just enjoy. Cause I will really miss being pregnant and (more than likely) will never get to experience it again.  

Here's the Plan: If Baby hasn't arrived by my next appointment on Monday, October 19, we will schedule an induction for the weekend (23rd or 24th). In the meantime, I'll be doing some Baby Spinning exercises to get his head in the correct position. He's currently Right Occiput Transverse, which means he's facing my left hip with this back to the right. So I only feel kicks on the left side. (See photo). My midwife thinks that if I can get him turned correctly, labor will begin much sooner. I'm really hoping that I can get him in a good position and start laboring naturally to avoid another induction. But, it won't be the end of the world if that does happen. As long as I can deliver this baby safely, I'll be a happy Mama!

Picture from spinningbabies.com

I seriously can't wait to meet him! I've been nervous about how differently I might feel with Baby #2 or how it might change my feelings for Mertoddler. I have guilt about not being able to give Mertoddler as much attention and don't want him to feel left out. It's been weighing on me big time and causing a bit of anxiety. But then I dreamed that the new baby arrived. The dream felt so real and I was so in love and happy with both of my boys. Something about that dream has put my mind at ease and I'm more excited than ever to have this baby now. I'm ready to love them both and be the best Momma I possibly can be!

Work/Pandemic Updates

Work started back at the end of July. Due to COVID, they pushed the first day of school back to mid-August which gave us 3 weeks of pre-planning. My midwife wrote a note requesting that I be allowed to work from home so that's what I did! I attended all of our meetings online and did a lot of paperwork, professional learning, and webinars. It was quite an adjustment, especially since we attempted to keep Mertoddler home for the first two weeks. But that clearly wasn't going to work when Merman's meetings overlapped with mine and when I had doctor's appointments to attend, leaving Merman alone to work with a toddler. He ended up getting a lot of screen time and it made me feel very guilty. So we made the tough decision to send him back to daycare full time. It wasn't ideal to put him in a room full of germy toddlers everyday but it was the only way we would be able to accomplish anything with work and ensure that our toddler wasn't becoming a screen zombie. :)

So far, it has been great! The daycare is taking many precautions and Mertoddler has just blossomed and become so much happier since the return. He loves playing with his friends, singing, dancing, going out to the playground, and learning. In fact, his teacher says that he LOVES to learn and does so easily. It really helps me know that we made the right decision to send him back. 

Once the students started back to school, everything was virtual. Things went really well and I actually found myself enjoying the new virtual teaching routine. I was able to create lessons plans and activities online that aren't typical for my position as an ESOL teacher (oh yeah- did I mention that they moved me from EIP to ESOL so I've also been learning a new job!?). But I hated the sitting. I've never wanted an office job and now I know I never want one! Sitting in front of a screen all day is utterly dreadful. After teaching hours, we had meetings galore, then paperwork, then lesson plans. There were days that I just had to get up and walk outside for the fresh air, sunlight, and LACK of screens. It was also pretty uncomfortable to be sitting all day while in the 3rd trimester. All I wanted to do was get up and MOVE. But, overall, it wasn't a bad experience and I was starting to get used to the routine of it. 

That's when the county decided that we should return face to face on October 5. And my heart sank. That date was 2 weeks prior to my due date and I just didn't feel safe returning to a building FILLED with people, putting me at risk of exposure so close to labor. After a lot of calling and meeting with HR, we were able to come up with a plan that would prevent me from having to do so. 

Fall Break began at the end of September and teachers were required to return to the building the week prior to that in preparation for the students' return. I was told that I could no longer work remotely so I decided to go into work that week. We were still teaching online so I felt safe staying in my office bubble and continuing to work. However, that was my last week of work. I was approved for COVID leave from October 5-16. Because the doctor recommended it, I am being given 10 days of paid COVID leave to quarantine prior to my due date. Once that time is up, my FMLA will kick in and I will remain in quarantine until the baby arrives. At that point, maternity leave begins. Regardless, I cannot be out for more than 12 weeks total so my return-to-work date is January 19! Can you believe that?!?! I'm over the moon!  Because of fall break, Thanksgiving break, and Christmas Break, there are a few freebie weeks in there that won't count against my FMLA time, which allows me to spend more time out with the baby. YAAAAYYY!!! 

It feels good to be free and not at work stressing over catching COVID and figuring out how to teach online and face-to-face at the same time. I'm also loving this time to "nest" and prepare. I've been doing some self-care, working on the nursery, and getting things in order for my mom to stay with Mertoddler once I go into labor. It has been pretty stress-free and I'm thankful for that. 

Speaking of nesting... the nursery is *almost* finished! I'm just waiting for the plant stand to arrive (should be here on my due date). Otherwise, everything else is up and ready for baby to come! I absolutely LOOOOOOVE the nursery. It may be where I nurse and spend ALL of my time because it's just so stinking pretty. My vision came to life and looks better than I could have imagined. (Yes, I realize I'm tooting my own horn but... COME ON!)

Random Life Updates

We finally have a name! It has been very difficult to agree on one as we both have such different opinions and tastes in names. I don't know how we ever came to an agreement but I'm glad we did. Since we're so close to the birth, we're thinking about waiting to announce his name when we announce his arrival. We shall see.... but I already ordered the Christmas stocking with his name embroidered on it. :) 

Since being stuck at home during the pandemic, I've had the itch to update a bit so I ripped the fabric wallpaper off the lower panels of the dining room walls. Merman sanded the areas down. And then I painted the chair rail and everything under it white. We even replaced the wooden colored blinds with white blinds and I LOVE IT! The room looks brighter and more open than before. (This was my classroom office while working from home and it made my heart happy). Now I'm ready to replace all the wooden blinds in the house with white ones but Merman isn't on board  just yet. I'll have to keep working on him...

I can't believe this is the only picture I took!
*more to come*

We are getting a new car!! And, this time, it's going to be my car. We've been on the hunt since spring but not really taking it seriously until the last couple of weeks. Way to wait til the last minute, right? My heart was set on a Chevrolet Traverse but we kept our options open and ultimately I got my way. It's slightly over budget so I'm hoping we don't regret it. But, with two boys, leather seats were a must! And, for me, captain seats were the only way to go. We finally found the perfect traverse that met all of our needs so I called the local Carmax to have it transferred to our area. It arrived within days and after test driving it, I was sold! Unfortunately, today is a bank holiday so we're having to wait til tomorrow to finalize the loan paperwork and get everything in order. Hopefully, we'll be driving it home tomorrow evening. I really need this car to get here before the baby does. 

Socially Distant Sprinkles

On September 13th, my sister and best friend (with mom's help) threw me the most amazing drive-by sprinkle. They decorated the driveway and front porch with the most beautiful decorations. My sister had special coozies made as souvenirs for everyone who came by. My friend ordered specially made cookies and they even thought to have a basket of Goldfish for those with kids in the car. Over the course of 90 minutes, I stood in the driveway as friends stopped to drop off a gift, sign the guest print (that is now hanging in the nursery), and grab a water (with coozie) and a cookie. Most people were wearing masks. Everyone stayed socially distant. And, best of all, I got to see and catch up with so many friends. It was GOOD for my soul as we hadn't seen each other since before COVID. I'm talking more than 6 months. Many of them had not seen me since becoming pregnant so I really enjoyed showing my belly off. 

My sister even had custom onesies made along with the most beautiful floral arrangements and diaper cakes. I really was blown away by the beauty and thought put into each little detail. And we were spoiled rotten!

Work also threw a celebration. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be there because it was during the quarantine period (Oct. 8). The celebration was for 4 different people (2 weddings and 2 babies). So they set-up and decorated tables in the media center. Staff were to come in, grab a cupcake, pass by the tables to say hello, drop off the gifts, and keep moving. As required by the county, everyone had on their masks and stayed socially distant. The media specialist set me up on the laptop so I could visit as people walked by and still get to be part of the celebration. My team leader dropped the gifts off the next day and I was overwhelmed by the amount of gift card love we received. I was able to finish out our Target registry! Whooo!! 

Merman also had a virtual shower thrown by his department. They tricked him into thinking it was a meeting and then surprised him with a virtual shower. They sent fancy cupcakes to our house and e-mailed a HUGE gift certificate from Amazon (which allowed us to complete our Amazon registry). This was back in early September when I was still working from home so I snuck downstairs to say hi and show off the belly. We have really felt the love from everyone this pregnancy. 

10-14-20

Well, once again I didn't get around to editing and publishing and now I have updates!

1) We got the car!! I'm officially driving around a massive boat! lol. I spent yesterday getting all of the lienholder paperwork completed and picked up the check to give the dealer. Then I picked Mertoddler up from daycare, swung by the house to get Merman and headed to the dealership. It was pretty simple as everything was already set-up for the sale. We just had to wait around for the paperwork, make the down payment, and hand over the check. The whole process took about 1 1/2 hours. Mertoddler was such a trooper and so well behaved. He had a minor tantrum about 40 minutes into the process. He decided that he didn't want to wear his mask anymore. I broke some rules and pulled out my phone. I told him that if he kept his mask on, he could watch YouTube. We have NEVER done this but I had no idea how long it would take and being in public in the midst of a pandemic while I'm supposed to be quarantining made me very anxious. So screen time won! :) 

Mertoddler and I took the new car home! We rode all the way home with the windows down (his request). Then I allowed him to "explore" once we pulled into the driveway. That's when I realized that I didn't have the house key! I'd given my keys to Merman to drive the other car home but he was picking up dinner first. So Mertoddler and I were stuck outside. Of course, he suddenly has to poop and we can't get in so... he totally pooped in the yard! ha! That was probably a site to see. Me holding up a 3-year-old with my 39 week pregnant belly while he takes a dump in the yard. hahahaaaaaa!!! 

Merman finally got home only to realize that my house key wasn't on the keychain! Which means that  we were locked out of the house. Luckily, Merman had the garage door opener and was able to break into the inside door. But now I'm missing my house key. I tried to call the dealership today to see if anyone turned it in but they put me on hold for at least 10 minutes so I finally just hung up. 

And, you won't believe this! There's already a small crack in the windshield and we have no way of knowing if that was there before we bought it. I set up insurance today and took it for a little joyride to Starbucks. That's when I noticed the crack. Thinking it could be a spiderweb or small spider, I rushed home to check it out. Merman came outside and confirmed that it's a tiny crack... like a small pebble hit it. So now I've got to try calling the dealership AGAIN to see what can be done. Oi!

2) HOLY BRAXTON HICKS!! Two nights ago, after writing about how good I felt, I had a full night of Braxton Hicks with no sleep and it was miserable. It started when I was cooking dinner. Merman took Mertoddler to the playground so I was home alone and it was killing me to cook. My stomach was extremely tight, my back was hurting, and I kept getting a sharp pain in my groin. So I took lots of breaks and chugged water as often as possible. Once the boys came home, we ate dinner and Merman made me lay down. But they continued through the night and into the next morning, finally stopping around 5:30 AM. I was up every hour of the night because of the discomfort. I tried using the bathroom to see if that would help but the contractions persisted and my back felt like it was locked in place. 

Since then, I've taken it easy and have been feeling much better. I'm definitely still having Braxton Hicks and feel like this baby is pushing down into my cervix as hard as possible. I really need to get started on the Baby Spinning today!

Here are the boards I've made since the last post:

25 Week Update + Mertoddler's Exciting Life

As of today (7/9/20), I'm 25 weeks and 3 days pregnant! Time is FLYING!

Medical Pregnancy Updates
May 26- The anatomy scan went well. They did look pretty extensively at the heart, which was making me very nervous. But I think Baby just wasn't in the best position for them to get a good look. The doctor was pleased with everything but told me that he wants to see me one last time around 28 weeks. (I'm assuming they want a better view of the heart). But then I asked about my cervix... because I'm paranoid and constantly worrying that something is bound to go wrong. (This pregnancy and baby seem too good to be true).

He tried to calm my worries but did not dismiss them. We talked about my history with infertility and miscarriage. From what they saw on the external scan, it was closed and long. But he agreed to do a cervical check on me at 24 weeks to ease my mind.

June 23- I went into the MFM doctor to have an internal ultrasound, JUST to check the cervix. The tech did an external ultrasound first and once again, spent quite a bit of time checking the baby's heart. Apparently, he did a massive flip and she had the perfect view so she started clicking and measuring. They really are making me feel worried about all the attention they're giving his heart. But she said everything looked great before moving on to check the cervix.

OUCH!!! That's all I have to say. Due to infertility, I've had a million internal ultrasounds but this one hurt like never before. I had to tell her how uncomfortable it was so she would hurry up and stop. She commented that my cervix was closed and long so I replied, "I'll quit freaking myself out then." BUT the doctor came in to view the images and said that my cervix has shortened since the last visit (from what he can tell). He told me not to freak out because it is still closed and long (3.4ish cm. or something like that) but that we need to keep an eye on it. Cue my panic! WHAT?!?!!? I really was not expecting that. Maybe my intuition was right?? I'm going back today (July 9) to have a look at it and make sure it's not continuing to get shorter.

Because of this, I've quit going on my morning walks and have limited the amount of physical activity I do in a day (as much as a toddler mom can). I saw a midwife on July 2 and she confirmed that it was a smart decision to quit the exercise until we know what's going on with my cervix. She also eased my worry and told me that anything over 2.5 was great! She doesn't think anything will happen and loves that the MFM is monitoring me closely. She did say that if all looks well at 28 weeks, she wants me to resume exercise and continue it throughout the pregnancy. So I'm really hoping today brings good news cause I can tell a difference in how I feel without the daily exercise.

I also voiced my concern with returning to work during the pandemic. She said that she can write a letter requesting that I work from home. So I'm considering that. Then I asked how they treat laboring mommas who have COVID. She said that patients are all tested once they're admitted into the hospital. If the results are positive, they're moved to an isolated room for laboring, which has a closed air/vent system. Everything with the labor and delivery is the same but all nurses and doctors are basically in a hazmat suit. Things are so weird right now. What a time to be pregnant!

**7/10 Update- I didn't get this post edited and published before my appointment with the MFM so here's the good news! My cervix has not shortened at all. In fact, he's happy with the length. He flipped through my chart and kept telling me that I was having a very normal pregnancy and even said, "I don't even think I need to see you anymore." I can't tell you how happy this made me! I just wanted him to repeat over and over that my pregnancy was really normal. Then he stops and says, "You'll be 35 when you deliver?" After nodding yes, he says, "Let's see you back at 32 weeks." lol!
So, I plan to begin easing myself back into exercise this week and start feeling good again. Whoo-hoo!**

The only face shot we could get... not creepy at all! ha!

Non-Medical Pregnancy Updates
This little guy moves nonstop! It's so crazy! I don't remember Mertoddler moving around so much. He also seems to have the hiccups quite often. I can feel a foot or hand moving all the way across the bottom of my stomach almost daily. It is really the coolest feeling! And, although it seems I'm carrying him much higher than I did Mertoddler, all the movement I feel is down low. I'm assyming that'll change as he gets bigger and takes up more space. Maybe I just forgot how it felt to be pregnant during the late 2nd trimester phase?

My cravings for popsicles have dwindled down a bit and now I don't ever know what I want. The pandemic may be the one to blame for that problem. I'm tired of planning and cooking every single meal. It's a little exhausting and I feel like I'm running out of ideas and/or repeating recipes too often.

It's getting harder to get up and down and to bend over and pick things up. I'm not able to hold Mertoddler as much cause I can feel the strain and it wears me out. My stomach is too big for him to sit in my lap for story time now. So, he sits next to me while we read. He likes to pet my belly and often comments that it's getting so big. ha! I just love it.

I'm trying really hard to soak up every second of this pregnancy and not let the pandemic steal away my joy. I will admit that it's very anxiety-inducing to be pregnant during this time. There is so much unknown and I have no control over the situation. That "mama bear" protective instinct is in full swing but I can't do a lot with it. If I get COVID, will it be mild or severe? If it's severe, will they be able to medicate me without harming the baby? Will they have to choose me over the baby? What if they have to take the baby out early so that we can both be treated properly? And who will take care of Mertoddler if he's been exposed and we're all sick? It's a constant worry and I try not to let it consume me. But it really is a scary time to be pregnant. I'm focusing on the day-to-day joys. Trying to capture photos, record videos of my belly jumping around, and soak it in as much as I can.

**7/10 Update- During my MFM appointment yesterday, this little baby was doing somersaults! It filled my heart with so much joy. The tech said he's head down but was moving all around. At one point he pulled his foot all the way up to his face, which she captured on the screen as we felt the massive movement from the outside. He would not stay still. My belly was bopping all around, knocking the probe up and down, and making us both laugh. After she left the room to get the doctor, I just laid on the table with my shirt up to watch him move. It was the coolest feeling ever. I never want to forget it!**

Mertoddler Updates
We've been quite busy since the last post. We on a short beach trip at the end of May to a secluded area for 3 nights. My mom, Mertoddler, and I rented a condo and enjoyed every second of the time outside the house. We did not go out anywhere and kept ourselves socially distanced from others the whole time. Mertoddler had a BLAST swimming, jumping in the waves, and being somewhere different for a change. We basically had the beach and pool to ourselves. It was such a beautiful time of year and a great escape from everything going on around us.

Loving Beach Life with My Perfect Little Man

Daycare reopened in June and we decided to start sending Mertoddler twice a week. It was a huge internal debate but, ultimately, it came down to me needing some time to rest and get things done, and slowly reintroducing him into daycare. I hated the thought of him suddenly going back to daycare full time (when work starts back) after being home with me for 5 full months... and then bringing a new baby into his life less than 3 months later. That's too much change at once for our little dude so we are easing him back into the routine of daycare. He's loving the social interaction and, most days, doesn't want me to pick him up cause he's having too much fun.

Last week was the 4th of July and the first year he was able to stay up late for fireworks. Because of the pandemic, we stayed home and had a really fun celebration here. We went swimming at the neighborhood pool for a few hours, grilled sausages on the driveway with chips and baked beans for dinner, ate popsicles, played in the yard, introduced Mertoddler to sparklers and poppers. When it got dark, we sat in the driveway to watch fireworks being set off by neighbors. I've never seen Mertoddler's eye light up so much. He was amazed! He was just giggling and laughing hysterically. His little squeals and leaps of joy were the best part of the evening. At one point, he screamed, "I can't wait to tell my teachers that I saw fireworks!!

4th of July Belly! 24+5

We also celebrated his 3rd birthday this week! WE HAVE A 3-YEAR-OLD! How is that even possible?!?! We had a small "party" for him on Sunday with immediate family and two friends. It was outside at the neighborhood playground to allow for social distancing. The kids played until they were hot and sweaty. Then, we did cupcakes and presents. It was one of the easiest parties I've ever had to plan. He wanted PJ Masks, so everything was red, green, and blue. We did cupcakes instead of a cake and minimal decorations. It was a perfect celebration!

On his actual birthday, we decorated his play area and our breakfast nook with all things PJ Masks. We wrapped presents from Grandma and Grandpa (who couldn't fly in to visit because of COVID) and stacked them up on the table. His new big boy bike (with pedals) was sitting in the middle of the play room.

He was speechless when he came downstairs that morning and saw everything. After opening presents and trying out the bike, we went to the Children's Museum in the city. I was quite nervous with the pandemic but loved their safety guidelines and, essentially, decided to risk it. We agreed that if we got there and felt uncomfortable, we would leave.

 IT WAS SO WORTH IT! We basically had the entire place to ourselves. Everyone was required to wear a mask. Mertoddler wore his the whole time without ever complaining and/or trying to take it off. Employees were sanitizing everything after we played with it. And Mertoddler was "in the zone." I've never seen him have so much fun and become so focused on exploring and playing. It was the best decision we could have made. He keep talking about it and begging to go back.

Painting the Wall at the Children's Museum!

That afternoon, he colored in his new coloring book for AN HOUR and filled every page. Then we took a family nap. I actually let him sleep in our bed for the first time ever, which he just thought was so cool. :) We spent the evening playing with his new toys and trying to pedal the new bike around. His requested meal of Macaroni and Cheese was served for dinner (with veggies and a cupcake, of course). It was the perfect 3rd birthday.

OOOOhhhh, I almost forgot! He also graduated from his toddler bed to a REAL bed a couple of weeks ago. It's a beautiful white twin bed with a book case built into the headboard and a trundle bed underneath. I was a little nervous about the transition but he's done really well with it. He sleeps later now. :) I think the PJ Mask sheets have helped make the transition a bit smoother. I really like being able to crawl in next to him as he falls asleeps each night.

**7/10 Update- Today was Mertoddler's 3-year well check. He is healthy and doing great! The doctor commented on how talkative he is, as we could hardly have a conversation with all of his stories and commentary. He's 32.2 lbs (56th percentile) and 38.5 in. tall (76th percentile). We grabbed a cake pop from Starbucks after leaving the doctor and headed to the playground to get some energy out and soak in some Vitamin D.**

More to come...
Well, I was hoping to write more about life during a pandemic but life is still BUSY so I'm stopping here and will hopefully get some more writing in soon. This Momma is TIRED! :)

Updates & Pregnant-Mom Life Through a Pandemic

As of today, I'm 19 weeks pregnant! Tomorrow is the anatomy scan with the MFM doctor. If all looks good, I'll be released from the specialist and will only be working with my OB/Midwife for the rest of the pregnancy.

First and Foremost,

IT'S A BOY!

We are so excited that Mertoddler is going to have a little brother to play (or fight over) cars and trucks with. We did a Zoom gender reveal on April 18. Some of our closest friends and family joined us on the call. We set up the video camera, ipad, and laptop on the back porch so that everyone could see us and we could capture the moment. Mertoddler wore pink because he insisted the baby was a girl. I had on blue and Merman was wearing green as he claimed to be neutral (ha!). We did a little countdown and popped the confetti out of the tubes. (Mine didn't pop open right away because I'm weak apparently). But I saw the blue flying out of Merman's tube and his instant reaction of pure relief. I finally got mine to pop and started explaining to Mertoddler that he was having a brother! I'm so excited to be a real boy-mom, as it's what I always pictured myself as.

I was also a little shocked at the sense of peace I felt after finding out. Knowing that we already have everything we need for this little guy is so comforting. We have tons of clothes, shoes, toys, baby supplies, etc. The list of things we need is so small and it really has made me feel more at ease about what we'll need to prep for the arrival of this sweet boy. 

Pregnancy/Baby Updates

April 11- EASTER! We told Mertoddler that he was going to be a big brother! He got a Big Brother shirt in his Easter Basket and two books about being a Big Brother. We read the books to him and then explained that he would be a brother soon. His initial reaction was that of a typical 2-year-old, in which he insisted that he's not a brother and was getting very upset with us. So, I reset the tone and started over with the news. I explained that I have a baby in my belly and that's when he seemed interested. We caught the whole thing on video and I'm so excited to show it to him when he's older. His eyebrows shot up with excitement as he touched my belly. And then he was over it and ready for a snack 3 minutes later. haha!

We Facetimed the in-laws that day, with Mertoddler wearing the Big Brother shirt. It took them a minute to catch-on but they were elated once I put the sonogram photo on the screen. My father-in-law just kept asking if it was real. 

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April 13- Since I last wrote, I've had the initial appointment with the MFM for the NT scan at 11ish weeks. All the measurements came back normal and they said that everything looked great. If you remember, our first MFM appointment while pregnant with Mertoddler didn't go too well. My amniotic fluid was low and we found out that I had marginal cord insertion. So it was almost unbelievable when they told me that everything looked normal with this pregnancy and that I would likely be released from their care after the anatomy scan.

I'll let you in on a little secret: I'm 85% sure I saw the gender of the baby at this appointment (which was before the reveal). I pretty much knew we would be having another boy. The ultrasound tech did all the measurements and spent about 5 minutes looking at the baby on the screen. I was able to watch and ask questions. We talked about all the body parts and how crazy it is to see the baby moving so much because I still couldn't feel it. Throughout this entire process, we never saw between the legs. But then the doctor came in to have a look and the second he put the probe on my belly, a crotch shot popped up on the screen. There were two open legs and a little penis sticking straight out. Before I could process what I was looking at, the doctor yanked the probe off my belly and said, "Do you know the gender?" Even though I was thinking, "I do now!" I just told him, "no" so he placed the probe back down on the complete opposite side of my belly. I spent the next day trying to determine whether or not that was actually a penis I saw, but the gender reveal confirmed that it was. hahaa! So, once again, the gender was revealed to me before I was ready. But that's okay! I'm just so happy to be having another baby boy. 

This was also the day that my mom and stepdad got their package in the mail. So, we did a Zoom call with them (and recorded it). The thing I remember most about the call is my stepdad mumbling, "Are they serious?" to my mom in the background because he was in such disbelief. My mom was shocked and totally surprised. With the plans of IVF underway and then being stuck at home in the middle of a pandemic, pregnancy wasn't even on their radar. I've watched that video several times now and just can't get enough of her initial reaction. You can see Mom's brain working to process the information and it's AWESOME!

We did a Zoom call with my dad that night. Mertoddler was being so cute and yelling, "We're having a baby!" over and over. My dad was also in disbelief because I'd told him the fertility clinics were closed and that everything was on hold at the moment. He just kept asking why I'd lied. lol. Once I explained how I was pregnant prior to the pandemic and all the information I gave him was true, it just didn't affect me, he started to understand. I never lied! 

My sister and niece said they KNEW I was pregnant because I'd been so overly cautious about the pandemic. And my niece was mad that I didn't tell her first. 

May 4- I had another appointment with my midwife. It was short and sweet. Baby's heartrate was around 135 and everything was normal. I had blood drawn to test for Spina Bifida and was sent on my way. (Yes, they're still screening patients as they come in. I am now required to wear a mask at each appointment. And check-out is over the phone so you just walk out when you're ready to leave).

Pregnancy has been pretty easy since hitting the second trimester. I hardly feel pregnant and my bump is still pretty small. I can't wait to take a 20-week photo and compare it to Mertoddler's 20-week picture. I actually think I'm smaller this time around. I did a comparison at 15 weeks and this bump seems to be much higher up than it was with Mertoddler.

14 + 3 weeks pregnant! Hello, 2nd trimester!

My boobs are still pretty tender and sore to touch. I'm slowly transitioning into maternity clothes. However, being at home all the time means that I'm always in yoga pants and PJs, so it's an easier transition than it would be if I was getting dressed for work everyday. I purchased more maternity yoga pants since we'll be stuck at home for quite some time. 

I started feeling Baby move about 2 weeks ago (a little before 17 weeks). Now I'm feeling him move even more and I absolutely love it! He seems to be most active at night and first thing in the morning. I love ending the day on the couch, waiting to feel him bouncing around in there while I enjoy a popsicle... or two. There's something about a cold, fruity popsicle that I just NEED every night before bed and it's the first time I've really experienced a pregnancy craving.   

Mertoddler Updates

I was rocking Mertoddler to sleep last week, and he started hugging my belly. He told me that he was keeping the baby warm. When I moved him to the bed, he tried putting the blanket on me and told me that I needed to cover my belly cause the baby was cold. Then he exclaimed, "Make sure the baby pops out of your tummy in the morning so he can get in bed with me!" 

He is suddenly really into pretending his stuffed animals are babies. He wraps them up in blankets, pretends to feed them, plays with them, and kisses them. The other day I heard him whisper to his baby elephant, telling him that he really loves him. It was the sweetest thing in the whole world and I just can't wait to see him as a big brother.

He's doing much better with the toddler bed. This pandemic has caused a shift in our schedule so he's going to sleep much later than usual (9ish PM) and waking up between 6:30-7:15 every morning. Naps have moved from 12 to 2 each day and it has been quite the adjustment for me and Daddy.

Mertoddler is riding his bike like a champ! He's doing so well that we're considering a real bike with pedals for his birthday. He has great balance and can glide with his legs up without any effort at all. Last week, he started pretending to pedal because he saw his friend doing it. He will definitely be ready to pedal by July!

He's also beginning to use big words and vocabulary that he's picking up from his books, TV, and us. Yesterday he told me that he "scrambled back under his covers" when he woke up and heard the storm outside. He uses these words correctly and it makes my heart flutter every time I hear him say them: especially, actually, probably.

He's just growing up so fast and it has been really neat to see it firsthand over the past 10 weeks together.

Pandemic Updates

We're at the start of Week 11 since everything shut down due to COVID-19. Merman and I have been working from home the whole time. He's also in IT school so he's very busy. Which means that I'm overly exhausted. I never imagined I'd be parenting a toddler 24-7 with no breaks while pregnant. But I've adjusted and now that I'm in the 2nd trimester + Mertoddler is sleeping again, things have been going pretty well. We've spent most of our days going on walks/bike rides, playing in the yard with the hose, sand/water table, splash mat, chalk, bubbles, and more. We've met more of our neighbors and Mertoddler has made new friends. We've spent a lot of time riding around in the car just to get out of the house. And I've cooked more meals and washed more dishes than I ever imagined possible.

We've become very creative with indoor activities on rainy days: painting anything in sight, creating ramps for the cars and monster trucks, puzzles, making cards and pictures to send friends in the mail, Hot Wheels car wash, baking treats, building with blocks, Magnatiles, dry erase markers and boards, trains and tracks, books, TV, and so much more.

Merman has built and completed furniture for his office/Mancave in the basement. I've decided to update our dining room and I've completely cleaned out and reorganized our hallway coat closet. We had a guy come by and clean up our yard and spent the whole last week laying pine straw in the flowerbeds to make it look pretty again. Merman swears he'll be repairing the rotted siding on the house so I had a company come give us a quote for a new exterior paint job. Hopefully, that will actually happen soon.

Last week was the official last week of school for me. NO MORE WORKING FROM HOME WITH A TODDLER! HALLELUJAH! I had to go in to clean up my classroom for the summer and it was so weird. It felt really, really good to be back at work but it was odd packing up a classroom that hadn't been touched in 9 weeks. We had a parade for the graduating 5th graders that day, which was so much fun. I teared up seeing some of my former students ride by. We didn't get to finish the year together, we didn't get to have their 5th grade graduation ceremony, and I didn't get to tell them goodbye properly. I can't imagine how seniors in high school must be feeling right now.   

A Bit of Normalcy
Our state was one of the first to start opening things back up, much to our dismay. Even the president commented on his disapproval of the way our governor chose to reopen. But it was nice to have the parks/trails open back up. I've been able to take Mertoddler to a variety of parks around town so he can ride his bike and have a change of scenery each day. (Our daily ride to the farm up the road was getting a bit old). He loves "going on adventures" and discovering new places at each park.

For Mother's Day, we invited my parents over and had a socially distant lunch on the back porch. I finally caved and allowed Mertoddler to play on the neighborhood playground. (I've been too nervous about germs to let him play previously). I can't even begin to describe how nice it was to see my parents again after 5 months! But it was so hard not to hug them.

I was able to schedule a surprise visit to a local petting zoo last week. They're allowing people to reserve an hour to come visit the animals. They clean and sanitize everything for each family and only allow immediate family members with the reservation. So, Mertoddler and I got an entire hour to ourselves! He rode a pony for the first time and loved it! We got to pet goats, bunnies, ducks, chickens, pigs, and sheep. They had a stall full of construction vehicles so we spent a lot of our time playing in there. And we ran around outside to play in the little clubhouses they had. It was the most excitement we'd had in weeks and Mertoddler did not want to leave!

Since then, we've ventured out to a couple of restaurants, which still makes me very nervous so we'll probably hold off on doing that again anytime soon. We went to the real zoo, as they have reopened for members only. And they have it really well planned out. First, we had to reserve a time to visit online. When we arrived, they scanned our reservation and our Membership card. Once inside, we had to follow the arrows through the zoo. At each exhibit, there were taped off boxes letting us know where to stand to see the animals. There were hand sanitizing stations everywhere and the zoo staff were there to enforce safety measures. It was highly recommended that visitors wear masks, which many of us did. All buildings, playgrounds, rides, etc. inside the zoo are closed. Even so, we had a GREAT time and Mertoddler cried when we had to leave. He's been begging to go back so I think we'll be doing that again soon.

This weekend, we got really brave and attended a low-country boil across the street at the neighbors' house. It was their family, a couple friends, and us. We were outside the entire time but I'm really hoping we didn't take too much of a risk by going over there. Our neighbor introduced Mertoddler to the skateboard. His eyes lit up on that first ride and he kept jumping back on to try it again. This daredevil kid of mine is going to give me severe anxiety one day.

Mertoddler stayed at my mom's house last night. His first sleepover since December. Everyone had such a time! Merman and I finally had some alone time. We rented a movie and ordered pizza. WE got some laundry and cleaning done. AND we napped and slept in. It was pretty amazing. But I missed my little buddy so much.

I think we're going to take it easy the next two weeks just to ensure that all of our adventures this week didn't expose us to the virus. My uncle is currently in the hospital because of it and his daughter (my cousin) is at home with milder symptoms.

Daycare will be opening back up soon and I'd really like Mertoddler to be able to return for 1-2 days.

So we'll be taking it easy and enjoying more time at home after a busy week of going out into the world again.

I can't wait for that anatomy scan tomorrow! EEEEeeeeeeekkkk!!!!

My latest Bump artwork. I'll be updating
it to say 20 weeks in just one week!