I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season!  The McGinnis clan celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas, which this year, over lapped.  It was a very hectic week but one filled with love and laughter!

Ultrasound -- baby girlThings have been pretty intense the past couple of months for my family and I.  When it rains it pours is what I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older and I shouldn’t expect anything less.  Our house was on the market, unsuccessfully, I should add, we bought a new house, we’re in the process of trying to rent our old house out all during the Holiday Season, all with a 3 year old who doesn’t handle change well.  Oh yeah, I left one huge thing out…I’m pregnant!  This minor detail has made all the above even more intense and emotional than normal.

So, now that the cat is out of the bag I can breathe a sigh of relief.  It feels more real now that people know.  I’m 20 weeks along and starting to feel good again.  For those of you who don’t know me or didn’t keep up with me during my first pregnancy, let me tell you that I hated every second of every minute of being pregnant.  I gained 50 pounds, felt terrible from beginning to end.  This pregnancy for me the second time around has been a totally different experience.  Physically and emotionally. I’m half way thru and have only gained 8 pounds!  Sure, I’ve been exhausted, my sciatica has been wicked, I’ve been nauseous, etc.  but I just feel better about being pregnant in general.  Which is a welcome change compared to last time.  I don’t know if it’s because I know what to expect and feel more confident about my mothering capabilities or if I feel more prepared and don’t need anything but diapers, but either way, I’m ready for May 13, 2012 when our second little bundle of joy is expected to arrive!  Every night we read Ella stories before she goes to bed and at times when Ella has her head on my chest and we’re snuggling reading Pinkalicious or one of her gazillion princess books, our new little baby will kick.  I can’t help but smile thinking in a short time we’ll be reading to 2 beautiful little girls and our family will be complete.  Oh yeah, there’s the second cat out of the bag…we’re having another girl!

There are officially no more cats in bags:)