I did write this at the very end of my first trimester, but I just didn’t feel like sharing the news (widely) yet. I really savored having that special time when only Daniel and my doctor knew I finally conceived. We told Nadia about the baby after the ultrasound, but I again wanted time to really let her come around to the idea of being a big sister before too many others made a fuss. Of course my in-laws found out early, but that was mostly because we were on vacation with them when I was about 8 weeks and I figured they might wonder why I wasn’t drinking, was often nauseas, and went to bed promptly at 8:30 🙂
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Dear Baby,
After many rounds of unsuccessful fertility treatments last year, after Christmas your dad and I decided to take a break from trying to conceive. There were so many times last year when I was just late enough and I was so hopeful to be pregnant. Each month I grieved the loss of the possibility of you, my sweet second baby.
Then in early 2023, I spent some time reimagining what our lives might look like as a family of three. Your dad and I started pulling ideas for the kitchen renovation we had previously thought would be out of the budget for a while, we planned (and took!) a trip to Puerto Rico, and we just focused on enjoying our family. During that time, we joined the YMCA so your dad and I could take step aerobics classes together on Saturday mornings—we had not done that since Nadia was born. I found a yoga class and went to therapy. After a few months, I really felt at home in my body again.
We thought this spring we would do a few more rounds of fertility treatments, but sure enough, the week before Easter we found out that you were on the way! Your dad always figured you would come when we stopped trying, and he was right. I wish you could have made your presence known a LITTLE later so I could have enjoyed a mojito on vacation, but alas you are worth it! I joke that you must have FOMO and just couldn’t stand to miss our vacation! It really was a great trip! Awesome beaches, hiking, and so much fun visiting with family.
Mostly, this has been a healthy pregnancy so far. The first month I felt more tired than I ever have in my life. Truly I would fall asleep while putting Nadia to bed, wake up in a daze, and wonder back to my own bed by 9:30. Even now, it is definitely a struggle to stay awake past ten. Eventually I realized with this pregnancy, I don’t get hungry but instead get nauseous. A few proactive snacks have made a big difference.
During the first few weeks, it truly felt comparable to when my milk came in after giving birth to Nadia. I had so much tenderness and weird soreness. To match my Dolly Parton-esque figure, I definitely am showing a little baby bump. Eventually people will probably wonder why I have been wearing so many flowy tops. But, for now you are our little secret and we love you.
Probably my favorite task of this pregnancy was picking out some Christmas pjs for you and announcing the pregnancy to my parents on Mother’s day. They guessed my news after I turned down wine at a few family dinners; they were excited to be right!
I think we will wait to keep your sex a surprise. It does seem like my symptoms have been a little different than my pregnancy with Nadia, so maybe you’re a boy. Dad doesn’t have a guess either way. We can’t seem to agree on names yet, so hopefully inspiration will strike!
XOXO,
Mom/ Kari