Happening Lately: Scaling Back.

This is a little bit of a hard one.

I've had a great pregnancy thus far, but about a month ago, things got a bit more challenging. Our month-long stint in New York was wildly adventurous and fun, but I think I might have pushed myself a little too hard. 4 weeks of being in a new place with an active toddler, without any helping hands, and walking miles everywhere might have been too much for me to handle. It's a little hard to admit, actually. It doesn't sound that hard, and I didn't feel like I was running ragged, but unfortunately towards the end of our time up there I had a few episodes of really intense Braxton Hicks and low pelvic pressure that was a little alarming. Like, I suddenly found myself in tears on the floor of Target with sharp pain that felt like labor. I've been in labor before, I remember that pain. These weren't your run-of-the-mill Braxton Hicks. Since I was only at the end of the second trimester, having a few of these episodes (which lasted for about 20 minutes each time) really scared me, and after a call to my midwife back home, I found myself at the White Plains ER. Not the kind of way we wanted to spend our Labor Day :( But the great news is that even though I was feeling crummy, the baby was completely fine (and still is!) and I had no signs of pre-term labor or dilation. Just an exhausted mama who needed to put the feet up. And keep them up.

I have always been told that walking during pregnancy is a good thing, one of the best forms of exercise. So I was really confused about how walking could have brought all of this on. Especially since I am in pretty good shape - I had been lifting light weights, doing Pure Barre, swimming and of course, walking. Apparently, I had just been walking too much, doing too much, pushing too hard for too many weeks. And I was dehydrated, which can bring on really intense Braxton Hicks. Who knew?

Honestly, I have spent the past few weeks reflecting on all of this. It's really hard to wrap my head around, because when I look around me, I see so many pregnant women who are active and doing well. Thriving, even. And you know what? Comparing myself to them doesn't help me feel better about myself. Even comparing myself to my own last pregnancy doesn't help. I've said it before and I'll say it again, comparison is the thief of joy. Okay, Teddy Roosevelt is the one who originally said that, but I really identify with it. I can't look to the right and left and let others' pregnancy experiences inform mine. It's true when they say that every pregnancy is completely different.

So there you have it, friends.

In an effort to ensure that this little man stays inside of me until he is full-term, Stevie and I have decided to scale everything back for the fall. No more travel, no more intensity. No more running on adrenaline for weeks at a time. Just lots of resting at home, snuggling up with blankets and baking and finishing house projects. Stevie's entire side of the family is on a special trip at Disney World this week, and we sadly had to pull out of the fun last minute. (When your midwife recommends that you should only be at the parks for 2 hours in the morning and avoid the heat and walking at all cost, then you re-think those expensive Disney passes :) Plus, walking for forty-five minutes at a time still has me feeling light-headed and brings on some seriously sharp pains, so I can't imagine that would have been super fun at the happiest place on Earth. I'm feeling a little blue today as I think about all the fun they are having together, but we will reschedule our trip for next year and then we will get to bring little man #2 with us, too!

I'm counting my blessings today. I have a healthy baby boy growing steadily inside of me. I just have to take some extra measures for the next few months to rest more than usual. That's not bad news, it's just not my normal. Have any other of you mamas experienced something like this before? Any tips for how to make the fall season festive close to home? I'd love to hear from you, friends. Thanks for letting me air and share this heart of mine. Now I'm gonna go drink my body weight in water and put my feet up. XOX

Picnic in Central Park on Labor Day.

We had the laziest of Labor Days. It was wonderful. We are in our final stretch up here in New York (I have so many fun adventures to share with you over the next few weeks, I'm excited!), so we wanted to enjoy the city a bit more before saying goodbye. We grabbed some Shake Shack (they had a blueberry pie ice cream concrete, so heavenly) and walked to our favorite part of Central Park, in Strawberry Field, where the trees are so old and stretch into the sky. I love this part of the park, so stately and green. Everett and Stevie played frisbee while I stretched out on our blanket and just watched. This mama is feeling less sprightly lately, so sitting and laying are really my jam. Then our dear-hearted friends Anthony and Jessica joined us, and we sat in the park for a long time, laughing at Everett (who took up a solitary game of throwing sticks) while we talked about life. We capped off the day with a healthy concoction from Juice Generation - my favorite is "get your greens on", which has apple, mint, kale, spinach and pineapple in it. So fresh. I'm missing my Vitamix juices up here, so this is a good fill-in.

A few photos below!

See what I mean about those trees? I mean come on.

This was a free frisbee that Everett caught in the 4th of July parade - it's smaller so it's perfect for his little hands!

This really cracks me up. When he throws it, he immediately looks behind himself in the other direction.

The trees. The trees are so delicious. Can you see the twinges of autumn?

He looooooooves him some Jess.

Per the usual, kid ate all my concrete. (P.S. Concretes are a milkshake/ice cream concoction that God whispered in someone's ear and now we all get to enjoy, via Shake Shake. This one had pie in it. A whole slice of blueberry pie!!! #sopregnant

I hope your Labor Day was relaxed. Pray for us as we get packed up and on the road this weekend - we are driving home from New York to Atlanta (I know, everyone says we are crazy, and I'm beginning to think they're right). Stevie actually has a big presentation today that is the culmination of his project work up here. I am so proud of that man for working so earnestly in every area of his life - his job, his family, his faith, his health. He is so super disciplined and really inspires me to be the best version of me, because I see him constantly honing who he is to be the best version of him. Just feeling really grateful for him this morning and how his efforts have given our family amazing opportunities like being able to come up to New York for the month. He's a rock star.

Next week we will be home! Hurray! I think my garden has literally turned into a jungle, so says my mom.

P.S. - Last London post is up tomorrow!

The Things I Miss and the Things I Don't.

Sunset over the Hudson River from a few nights ago. Taken from High Line Park.

I'm sipping on my Stumptown coffee this morning and the apartment is quiet. Processing. This baby inside of me is wiggling. The toddler is sleeping soundly. The husband went to play basketball early before work. I love these moments, because they are so rare. The ones I get to keep for myself.

I wasn't planning to post anything today, because, well, I have an editorial calendar and it's been a challenge enough to keep up with it. I have so many photos to edit it isn't funny. While being up here, away from our normal routine and childcare and grandmothers pitching in to help, "normal" has fallen by the wayside. It's been just me and my boys. And it's been wonderful and challenging in a special kind of way. Although my normal routine and responsibilities have been backburnered while I tend to the new ones - making sure everyone feels homey, safe, cared for, stable. Holding lots of hands. Making lots of plans. I am missing home, but not terribly. I am missing routine, but not craving it. I know it will come again, just like the morning and the ocean tide and the rising sounds of the city. So I am just enjoying these few moments, this odd gift of time where I get to adventure along with these 2 (3?) boys of mine. But I must say.

I miss my wild, untamed, jungle-y garden.

I miss the quiet under the trees of the winding golf cart paths.

I miss sitting on my back porch, watching Everett tumble around in the grass.

Thought I don't miss the mosquitoes.

I miss the comfort of my home, but I have rediscovered how cozy and simple a home can be. We don't need a big house with tons of furniture - this apartment is furnished with just what it needs, and it's enough. I like that. I really really like that.

I miss my mom. And my other mom.

I don't miss the humidity. Or that chain restaurants are kind of the only option. I have eaten really really well up here. You should see my burgeoning belly.

Up here, the drivers are aggressive, the roads are narrow, and the sounds are constant. I don't appreciate those things.

We brought Everett 12 books and two small canvas totes of toys. He's managing just fine.

Attitude really, really, really is everything. I could be crying about all the things I'm missing. And missing out on. Or I could be happy and optimistic about the coming season. Or I could be living each day, fully present and true in the moment. I've done all three on this trip. A simple attitude adjustment is the very best medicine, I'm convinced of it.

I packed too many clothes, and I packed for myself and Everett in the same suitcase. I am really struck by how little we need for life to go 'round. Life just really isn't about the stuff.

But then, I really do love the activity of shopping. Discovering and creating and planning and arranging. There's something so artistic in finding new treasures. So there's that. I am my own oxymoron.

I just realized that today is September 1 and it all makes sense. This is my month, the time that I always reflect and feel the shift in the season. So yeah. It all makes more sense now. Good morning to you friends, and happy September to you. It's going to be a very good season, I can sense it.

It all makes much more sense now.

Happening Lately.

Can I have a moment for a heart dump?

The past few weeks have been a bit of a blur.

Stevie and I spent so much time gearing up for our trip to London - packing, planning, and preparing to leave Everett for the 5-day trip. It was an emotional process, especially for me, and I spent the drive to the airport bawling. Not like one cute tear. Like, questioning my life choices - "Why didn't we bring him? What if he feels abandoned foreverrrrr?!!! The ocean will be between us!!!!" That kind of thing. As it turns out, he did marvelous during our time away. He didn't just survive - he did wonderfully! It was such a relief to get the video texts from my sister, mother-in-law, and sis-in-laws, because those videos don't lie. He was really happy and I could tell he felt safe and comfortable around so many loved ones. I prepared a pretty mega itinerary for him for this particular trip, with a full-on meal plan and play dates, and I think having a set schedule and activities with lots of cousins and family made the difference for him. So thankfully, I was able to relax more on our trip when I knew that he wasn't in the fetal position howling for us.

And London! It was so so fun! I still have countless photos that I am going through and editing to share, which will continue on for the next few weeks. It was honestly just what Stevie and I needed, so as hard as it was to leave Everett, I feel more convinced than ever that it was the right choice for us. We needed that time away together to adventure just the two of us, because it helped us relax and really talk about things that have gone unspoken for a while. I just love that man and I am so thankful for who he is.

When we got home from London, Stevie found out about a work opportunity that would bring him up to New York for a month. This was something that had been on the horizon for a long time, so in the back of ours minds we kind of knew it was a possibility, but we didn't realize the turnaround would be so quick. I mean, we made the turnaround quick, because there are some commitments in September that we need to be present for. So we just decided, let's load up a car full of toys and books and oh yeah, clothes, and do this thing. We were home a total of 4 days between London and New York.

So here I am, in a furnished rental in White Plains, listening to the Metro North train roaring by, doing a bit of a therapeutic brain dump because I need it. I am so grateful for this opportunity to keep my family together for the month, but it's not all dreamy traveling fun. Last week there was definitely an adjustment period and I felt pretty lonely and unsure of what to do with myself and Everett everyday, while Stevie worked extremely long hours in the office. We've been figuring out a new routine in this place, the areas of town where its safe to get out and walk with a stroller and how to use the train and - oh my goodness - how to drive up here! The drivers are intense! It's been an experience, I'll say that. But I wanted to give this little update because I think that sometimes social media can create an unrealistic interpretation of what's happening. Obviously, we all post our favorite moments to social media and I am a sharer by nature for sure, but I also wanted to give the flip side of what this adventure is - it's still real life. We are figuring out what our budget looks like when none of our expenses feel normal and we are figuring out how to cook with like 3 kitchen utensils in this rental and we are figuring out how to get Everett to sleep a normal amount with this train zooming by his window at night. The truth is, I could look at this experience and say, this is so hard. Or, I could look at this experience and say, this is an exciting adventure, and opportunity for my family to make memories together. And I'm saying it's both. Attitude really is a choice, and attitude really does make the difference in the outcome of experiences. 

I'm thankful for this forum to share this myriad of thoughts. I love this blog so much and I love interacting with other families and mamas that read here. Thanks for listening and being such a wonderful, rich, honest community!

Over the next few weeks, there will be a mix of London and New York posts happening here, along with some more sponsored content that I'm super excited about. Actually, all the sponsored content you see is always stuff I'm super excited about - I don't work with any brands or products that I don't actually think are cool. Ha. And don't forget, I'm running a giveaway with Pink Blush Maternity right now - if you haven't entered to win, you totally should! Happy day to you, friends!

Off to London!

We have a dear friend getting married in jolly old London next week, and I am so excited to dive across the pond and spend time celebrating this wonderful wedding! It is a 3-day Indian wedding, so I know the festivities will be gorgeous and lively and I am just so excited to be able to experience it! While it would be a blast to bring Everett, Stevie and I are treating this as our babymoon and leaving him in good hands back home. We are also going to be in 3 days of wedding events, which doesn't really scream "toddler friendly" - though I'll admit, I am getting reeeeeeally sad about leaving him. He's just so wonderful and funny and tender and the thought of spending a few days so far away from him is a little unnerving. Say a little prayer for my mama heart :)

Even though we will be really busy on this trip, I wanted to ask all of you if you have suggestions for places to go/see/eat/do. The last time Stevie and I were in London, we did a lot of delightful touristy things, like having high tea at Fortnum & Mason, seeing A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe Theater, touring the London Natural History Museum, visiting the Tower of London, shopping (and eating!) at Borough Market, riding the London Eye, drooling at all the dresses in Harrods, lounging in Kensington Garden and trekking around Notting Hill. I would gladly do all of these wonderful things again because truly, this is a magical town, but I'm sure there are a slew of other places we should visit while we're visiting. I would love your suggestions!

Below are a few of my favorite pics from the last time we visited London. Oh, we were just babes then, living the adventurous pre-baby life and traveling like hippies around Europe with two backpacks and a Rick Steves travel guide. I wouldn't trade my life now for what we had then - but I'll admit, our Euro Trip was the best, most fantastically adventurous trip of my life.

Note our odd outfits - we were seriously running out of clean laundry.
 

I am so excited about this trip I am almost itching. I am such an anglophile (in other words, a typical American girl) and I am excited to don a Kate-Middleton-esque hat and get my tea on. Seriously friends, trip suggestions are appreciated! Thank you in advanced! XOX