Nobody told me that when you grow up you have to grow alongside your responsibilities.
As your income increases, most likely your expenses will as well.
I just had to pay to get a new windshield, fully out of pocket, because my car insurance doesn’t cover it. Well you know how that makes me feel?
Grateful.
Bet you weren’t expecting that. Yeah it sucks that I had to take a hit to my savings but I’m still grateful that I can afford to pay my bills AND take care of incoming unexpected expenses. The mark of “making it” in my opinion.
Tove has spent more time alive outside my womb than she did inside at this point and wow have I loved her journey so far.
16 pounds later, she’s somewhere in between nine month old clothing and one year old. She’s tall like her pappa but she’s also a skinny one.
Tove is great at eating food. We’ve gone from breastfeeding four times a day to only feeding once in the morning. She’s eaten everything we’ve given her so far… and she’s enjoyed it! Broccoli, corn, rice, chicken, salmon, pasta, bread, blueberries and bananas; to name a few of her favorites.
She’s starting to babble a bit and she’s enjoying walking with the help of my poor back 😅.
This month we took our first flight together and Tove took her first swim in the ocean.
I am so grateful that Tove has changed my life in the way she has. Tove feels happiness with her entire body and she really shares her joy with the world around her.
Current events had me starting my day very grateful for my health and my family. I shed many tears for the families that lost their loved ones due to gun violence recently.
It gets harder every day to want to continue to live in America when it seems like all anyone ever wants to do is offer thoughts and prayers.
But I’m focusing on the fact that I am able to care for my daughter while working from home since our nanny didn’t show up today. I’m focusing on the delicious lunch my mother made for me this past weekend. I focusing on the positives because I have to in order to keep going.
Protect your loved ones and hold them close because we never know what is on the horizon.
… just kidding. But for real, I am grateful. I have been on a rollercoaster of emotions these last two weeks with my new role at work and today it’s finally starting to click.
Not that I know what I’m doing, but it’s clicked that I am grateful to have this job! I am grateful to get to work from home. I am grateful to be employed.
We went on a family walk with Tex this morning and it really just helped set my mind right. It’s not “ugggggh woooork is hard” anymore, in fact I’m happy to have a job.
My boss asked during one of our meetings if I had planned on having a baby shower. I told her no, in Sweden it is not customary, and I’d never even attended one before. So Megan took it upon herself to encourage me to start my baby registry and host a shower for us! I’m so thankful she was willing to plan and host our baby shower with the help of some of my radest colleagues.
Not only were the cookies the CUTEST things ever, I loved the color and Tove’s name on them, but they were also delicious. I got to take home 4 of them and I ate them within 2 days… oops, I would do it again. Megan had 3 different games prepared for us as well, the first was a plastic baby you had to hold in your hand, not pocket, and whoever had the most at the end of the shower won.
The second game was to guess what baby item was in the paper bag. Not to brag but I won cause I got all the items correct- MOM TO BE POINTS! The third was different kinds of chocolate bars melted in diapers and we had to guess what type it was. I did poorly with guessing, needed my chocoholic dad to be there I guess.
After the games the ‘shower’ began and Ben and I got to open presents from all our friends who came. You can see Ben proudly looking and counting his babies at the start of opening presents.
So appreciative of all the useful gifts we received, we felt so loved during opening them. I will say Brit had the Spice Girls onesie custom made for me and Ben already knew about it but actually managed to keep it a secret for MONTHS.
My sweet colleagues had also helped blow up balloons at work and then set up the backdrop for photos! I handed the camera to Sabah and got photos with all our attendees 💕 sweet sweet memories.
Megan, the hostess with the mostest! Not only is she a mom of four kids, but she also runs two businesses. #GirlPower
Me and Michael! He was actually one of the interviewers when I applied for my current position. Now 1.5 years later, I’m his boss 😛 but only technically because I don’t believe he would let anyone be boss over him truly.
Sabah and I, another beloved colleague. Not only is she an immigrant like meeeee but she’s just a badass in the cannabis community as well. Love having her in my corner for support. Plus she’s pretty damn good at buying presents that fit me to a T!
Dream team from work… or as our group text says, Hoe$
Sierra, my assistant manager at work, and I. She’s been a favorite of mine for a while now. Not only is she such a pleasure to work with but I just adore the crap out of her as well. Like I would love to just go on a hike with our pups and drink margs after one of these days! I’m excited for her to get to run the show while I’m away on maternity leave.
Ben, Sierra, I, and Quez
Hannah and her son Avery.
Mady and I
Sweet Kyla. Another mom to help field my millions of questions!
Ben, me, Brit & Tobin. Our first OKC friend couple!
Forever my best friend! Was happy Ito was willing to drive up from Dallas to spend the night before with me and also attend the shower. Plus now my colleagues know I didn’t just make up having a best friend from Canada 😅
The only blood relative we had at the shower was my brother, Rob. Him and his girlfriend, Helena, drove up from Dallas; I felt so bad that they got caught in traffic coming up, making it a 4 hour drive for ~1 hr of the baby shower only to then drive back down. I really wanted Rob to come in person though because Ben and I met through him. My brother invited Ben to celebrate July 4th with Ito and I and here we are 5 years later about to have a baby!! We also asked my brother after the baby shower to be the god father, and he happily said yes 🥰
Happy parents to be.. the second one is when Ben realized our daughter’s due date was a month away.. lol jk JOKESSSSssss
So happy and grateful for those who decided to come celebrate with us! Had a great time and wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Ecstatic and blessed to announce we’re having a baby girl late July/early August of 2021!
Currently halfway through the second trimester so things are definitely looking up compared to the first trimester where I spent the majority of the time with my head in the toilet. After the loss of our pregnancy last spring, I have been dealing with some health issues so combined with the morning sickness we were unsure how we were going to fare this time around. I decided to keep the pregnancy to myself for the entire first trimester due to sheer fear of not having a baby to announce after all. Look at us now! Ben + Me = 3 😉
Ben and I both cried the first time we heard her heartbeat. During the sonogram it was mind blowing to see her spine had begun to form. And those cute little feets 🥰
From Dad to be: We just know it takes a village and are thankful for any and all help we’ve received in this journey and just know we can’t thank you enough for the wisdom, advice, and items that will help us in our newfound daily lives.
Super excited for this next chapter and to finally be able to share with you all my pregnancy among other things to come!
Pinksaint 