sweet Fin, 17 months

Ron and I are moved into our new home in Salem, OR — a city, honestly, I didn’t think I’d ever move back to. But oddly enough, something is clicking for me in Salem. I’m feeling happy, alive, secure, and so grateful to be 5 minutes away from BOTH sets of grandparents (a blessing I still praise every day). We are living a couple blocks off of the Willamette river in a cozy blue cottage, much smaller than our last place, yet beaming with a large front and backyard. From here on out, a yard is my new favorite thing. Finley and I spend a lot of our day watering flowers, taking walks to the park up the block, and exploring our new city. I have to say, it’s been an adequate adjustment to leave the liveliness of Portland. The constant to-dos, OMSI, the zoo… we had some amazing adventures around every corner and Salem, albeit quaint, doesn’t have a lot of options. I’m working on it.

About two weeks ago Ron and I found out we would be having another baby. Unfortunately, I have bad-timing with taking pregnancy tests. With Fin, I found out we would have her in the bathroom of Starbucks. Immediately I regretted my decision, and wished I had waited to be close to Ron. Before leaving for a work trip to Seattle, I was at a friends house in Portland prepping for our drive. As I twirled through my instagram feed I listened to Samantha mumble something about being on birth control. I stopped. Huh, you know what? It’s June isn’t it? I think I missed my period… Samantha picked up the pace, ran to her bedside and said, You need to take this. Living up to her always-preparedness, she handed me a first response test, and I anxiously walked to the bathroom, counting the days in the last month, trying to remember if it’s possible to be pregnant, thinking of being a mom again… I took the test.

As the line began to slowly appear, without hesitation my pregnancy hormones kicked in. TEARS. OH MY WORD. OH. MY. HOLY. GRAIL. It’s positive. I jumped up and down with Samantha, and instantly felt the same way I did when I found out I was pregnant the first time. Dang it. Ron isn’t here!

I called Ron from our hotel suite overlooking Elliot Bay. Watching ferrys ride in, and listening to seagulls cry, I shared my news with Ron who was insanely happy and responded with, “Oh my word, ANOTHER BABY!!”. The weekend away from Ron was a little brutal, but there were lots of celebratory texts sent back and fourth, trying to bridge the physical gap between us for the moment. That night, in Seattle, we were given a complimentary meal at Six Seven, a fine-dining restaurant in the hotel we were staying at. I enviously watched Samantha drink free cocktails and was graciously given a celebratory virgin chocolate martini (it was a chocolate milk in a martini glass and I was feeling FLY) after Samantha, a few drinks in, announced my pregnancy to the waitress who ran to the bartender to mix me an alcohol-free dessert. Love that girl!

Since I’ve been home, Finley now says, “Eye… Wub… Bay-bee!” and kisses my already showing belly. I hear the second time around a pregnant belly is more visible from the get-go. I’m rolling with it, but a little taken aback that I already feel more comfortable wearing my belly band. As for being symptomatic, I am tired and a little nauseous here and there. Both symptoms prevalent throughout my entire pregnancy with Finley, so I’m adapting easily.

I had to laugh at the difference of cities (between Portland and Salem) when I spoke with a Salem nurse on the phone about my pregnancy. In Portland, choosing an OBGYN to deliver our child was a VERY intense process. We were given biographies of our doctor-choices, and were asked to “think things over” for a few weeks before we made a decision. When I called our clinic for an appointment in Salem I was randomly selected with a doctor and it took less than 5 minutes to set up the appointment. In the phase of life I’m in, I call that a mini-blessing. Less decision making for us, and straight-up getting dates on the calendar. Funny how relaxed we already are this time around. Another one of those “second time around” things I’m sure.

June is going to be a great month, and I’ve been giddily sneaking peeks at my calendar looking at all the fun things planned. This weekend Ron and I get to stay in a suite in Portland for Oregon Bride Magazine, which is a night away from Finley in our favorite city. The end of the month is a family vacation to Sunriver, OR — where I will be soaking up sun and quality time with loved ones. Alongside those two adventures, I have several coffee dates in the next few weeks, and the ability to see a movie when we want (heads up, just saw Prometheus with Ronaldo… UH-mazing) because grandparents are near and willing is dance-party worthy. Throw those palms to the sky and pump if you feel me.

At this point, I feel less excited to weekly post about my pregnancy like I religiously did with Fin, but I will try to update with bump pictures and details when I can. This week in Salem it’s sunny and 70′s all week (good weather is blog-worthy in my book) which means I will plan on being out of the house the majority of the time playing with Finley. Tomorrow, we’ll routinely walk to the Riverfront Park dock and feed the ducks.