Oh, and there's THIS!

We're adding another boy to the brood! His due date is Christmas Day, and we are so, so excited that Gavin will be getting a brother. So, with everything else I've mentioned lately, we also have that to consider for our long-term plans.

As you can see, Gavin still has mixed feelings about all this. Plus, he really wanted a tractor for Christmas.

If you've seen me lately, you know that this is no secret. Remember how my stomach was huge right away with Gavin? And how they say that you show much more quickly the second time? Well, let's just say it's been difficult to hide and not much of a secret for several weeks now.

Fun fact...when I found out I was pregnant with Gavin, I had just had my last glass of wine for 10+ months the night before at Z Tejas with Tariq. And, interestingly, things happened the exact same way this time around, which is really strange since Tariq lives in DC and we've only been to Z Tejas for a glass of wine together a handful of times ever. Either there's something in the house chardonnay at Z Tejas, or Tariq can cast a mad spell.

As you may know if you follow this blog, things have not been a real walk in the park for me, reproductively speaking. But we had an early ultrasound to rule out another ectopic and saw what we needed to see and then recently found out we were having a boy. So, I am very blessed this time around to have basically just snapped my fingers and found myself with a thus-far healthy pregnancy. (And by snap my fingers, I mean...)

We're doing things a little differently this time as far as prenatal care and delivery. After recently telling someone about my birth experience (remember the leg??) and then into Gavin's infancy and breastfeeding, etc., she told me that basically everything I told her sounded like the worst experience ever, which made me glad that I'm doing everything differently. I am delivering at the Babymoon Inn with a midwife and no epidural in my spine and hopefully no paralyzed leg when it's all said and done. Now, I understand that 14% of women have to be transferred to the hospital and then may or may not get an epidural, but I want to do everything I can to have the most positive experience possible while keeping in mind that a healthy, happy baby and a healthy, happy me are the ultimate goals. And then, I'll have the resources and support for things to hopefully go a little better after we bring the baby home. A lot of this stuff cannot be controlled or predicted, but I'll do what I can and give it my best shot to have the best outcomes possible.

I'm actually not scared at all for natural childbirth because I would be a lot more scared if I knew I was going to have an epidural again. I'm just not even thinking about it. I am scared, however, to take care of a 2-year-old and a newborn by myself. I'm pretty sure my house will fall apart. But, billions of women have done it before me, and I tend to be an overall pretty capable person, so I suppose I'll manage.

Prayers and blessings, please, for an uneventful and healthy pregnancy and delivery! It's an exciting time of many transitions, but it's this kind of stuff that makes a person feel alive. It's invigorating, and I feel good!