The Last Vacation

This week Brian and I went down to Charleston for his Spring Break.  Despite the cold, rainy weather, it was a lovely relaxing trip.  We got to see Fort Sumter, see Grandma Zinser, and tour the aquarium.  We ate delicious food that I didn't have to prepare, and in the mornings and evenings we could look out over the harbor and enjoy the view.  It was a much-needed break for both of us, and the relaxed pace was great for my lower energy levels.

It was a bittersweet vacation.  This will be the last vacation where it is just the two of us for many, many years.  From now until our daughter comes, all of our other trips will be to visit and stay with family.  After our daughter comes, we will be bringing her along for many years to come.  We are so excited to start this new chapter in our lives, but we are still a little bit sad to see this one end.

And so we begin to prepare for our little bundle of joy to arrive.  We have already received some clothes and blankets and started to clear out the craft room (soon to be a nursery).  I have been feeling her move inside me, sometimes with gentle flutters, sometimes with strong, forceful kicks (those have been getting more frequent).  It took us a while to settle on a name, but we finally did, and now we speak to her and sing to her.  We decided to keep the name a secret until she is born for several reasons.  First, we wanted something to be a surprise when she is born.  Second, if people don't like the name, they won't be as likely to tell us if it's already done.  And finally, if we change our minds between now and then, there won't be any awkward questions.

Sometimes it seems like July will never get here, and sometimes it feels like it is right around the corner.  I have to think about time in terms of the next doctor's appointment (every 4 weeks), or I would go crazy.  I will miss these little vacations with just Brian.  I will miss being able to travel on a whim at the drop of a hat.  But I am more than happy to trade those things in for a life with our daughter.