MIA Blogger is Reunited with Blog

Wow. My last post over in these ‘ere parts was October 5th! Crazy.

For the past few weeks I posted some pregnancy-related updates at Baby Stanley on Blogger, but I think I want to stick to my roots. Plus, my husband built me this blog and I’m sure it would mean a lot to him if I documented my pregnancy over here.

I’m now 23 weeks and some change. Baby Stanley is a GIRL! We do have a name picked out, but I’m going to “reveal” it when I paint the letters for her nursery. Our family and friends know her name, though. It’s fun to call her by her name.

To be honest, it wasn’t until 16 or 17 weeks into this pregnancy that I felt truly connected to the idea of a being a mom or having a baby. Initially I was terrified. I remember laying on the reclined chair in the doctor’s office during my 8 week viability ultrasound, watching the little mole-shrimp-baby floating around on the monitor, and thinking, “Oh my god, there really is something in there!”

My first emotion was disbelief which was promptly followed by a wave of panic. RJ had been laid off in April. We had zero money, zero job prospects (not for lack of interviewing or applying), and zero idea about what we were going to do. I wasn’t in a position to pick up and leave. Little details such as maternity leave, health insurance, and licensure made it difficult for me to up and relocate if RJ found a job outside of Jacksonville.

By the time October rolled around, RJ had finally been offered a job and started working. We learned our baby-to-be is a girl in early November. We started planning the nursery. On Thanksgiving I felt my first distinct “kicks” from Baby Stanley. I was finally starting to feel excitement about my pregnancy and the future. I’m still terrified but it’s for a whole new set of reasons.

Anyway, that’s the hap. I’m back for now. I will start to post my weekly pregnancy updates here for consistency. See you soon, interwebs!