I’m only 19 days late in wishing you all a happy new year! Sorry about that. Our Christmas vacation was an absolute whirlwind, and the start of January was a Bermuda triangle of obligations, professional challenges, and intense family events.

Intense family events like this one:

We’re having a baby in July!

I’m so glad to finally be able to share the good news with all of you! Our family and close friends have known for a while and they’ve done a great job of keeping the cat in the bag. Well, consider the bag fully open and the cat long gone!

I’ve been really well these past three months: no morning sickness, although pretty intense fatigue. I’ve been making an effort to sit down more when I’m teaching, but it’s a real challenge, especially for a music teacher. We’re up and down like yo-yos, fixing hand positions, posture, bow holds, embouchures… It’s tough to try to sit, but I’m making the effort.

Drinking more water has been a major game-changer for me. I always feel brighter and peppier when I’m hydrated. I take snacks with me and eat when I’m hungry, but I’m trying hard not to overeat. I don’t really show yet, but I’m not worried because it is my first baby, after all. I’ll let you know as soon as that bump pops!

Seeing those first ultrasound pics and hearing that quick, strong heartbeat was pure magic.

(Speaking of magic, I have to say that the baby looks a little like Voldemort. There’s an interesting idea: baby Voldemort. Did he cry? Did he already show signs of magic? Someone get J.K on the phone!)

We’re just completely elated by the prospect of this new adventure, and we cannot wait to be parents. I know there are about a million things to do before the little one arrives, but up to now we’ve really just been enjoying the moment.

Which doesn’t mean I don’t have the entire nursery planned in minute detail. 🙂 But that is a post for another day.

Which brings me to another important bit of news. I’ve decided to scale back my blog work for the next little while. Not to say I won’t be posting, but I definitely won’t be taking on as many challenges and major projects. We have a lot of un-blog-worthy house work to get done between now and July, so I will have to shift my focus a bit. I also have a LOT of work to do professionally, as the two schools I work at will be merging in September. Obviously, I’ll be on maternity leave, but I do want to get as much done before then to make the transition as easy as possible for my students and replacement.

That said, I have a pretty great DIY Create & Share project coming up shortly, and I’m looking forward to doing something for Valentine’s Day in the coming weeks. So you’ll be hearing from me!

Until then, have a wonderful week!