I’m trying hard to remember the smaller things that would ordinarily get buried under bigger, more memorable things. I want to remember the whole sum of what makes up our lives and be able to look back at these posts with happy nostalgia and gratitude. Summer 2021 is particularly worth remembering as it’s our last as a family of two! Here’s what I’ll remember from the summer of 2021.
Finding out I’m pregnant with our first baby
Admittedly, this isn’t a small thing. But it is worth remembering. I was convinced it would take us a long time to get pregnant, so having it happen so quickly was both exciting and disorienting. I still can’t wrap my mind around the fact that there’s going to be a tiny human forever joining our lives next Spring, but I’m working on it!
Getting fully vaccinated
I’m extremely thankful for modern medicine and for living somewhere where I had the opportunity to get vaccinated. I was surprised by the overwhelming relief I felt after getting my first shot. I hadn’t realized how much worrying about my health and others’ had been weighing on me.
Feeling more freedom and community after over a year of living through a pandemic
As things started to open up and we got to do more in-person gatherings, it felt like we were coming out of a really long hibernation. And it was wonderful. While the pandemic wasn’t over summer 2021, the world definitely felt different.
My trip to Charleston, South Carolina
I joined a friend’s bachelorette trip and made a bunch of new friends in Charleston this summer. I really enjoyed the city and can’t wait to go back and explore more.
Reading on the bench outside during my lunch breaks
I’ve been reading a lot about the positive benefits (and absolute necessity) of Vitamin D. It can be tough to get outside during daylight hours when working from home, so I made it a point to go sit outside for at least a few minutes during my lunch break. It felt so good. I usually read a book, which is always a positive addition to my day. And the midday sunshine really helped prevent afternoon slumps too.
Charles graduating with his Master’s and starting a new job
Charles graduating was such a milestone! It feels like he’s been in school forever since he basically went straight from undergrad to his graduate program. We were both so excited to say goodbye to paper-writing and (mandatory) reading on the weekends! And he’s been enjoying his new job a lot, so that’s been exciting and also a huge relief.
Early morning gym sessions before work with Charles
Charles and I were pretty consistent about getting to the gym before work when the gym was less crowded. It was brutal waking up earlier, but it always felt so nice to get our workout done at the beginning of the day.
Hanging out with our cats
If you’ve spent more than ten minutes with me or Charles, you’ll know we’re pretty obsessed with our cats. One of the perks of working from home and slowing down in general is all the time we get to stay home and hang out with our cats. They’re quirky and clever and funny and sweet and endlessly entertaining. Truly. And we enjoy almost every minute of them.
Seeing our baby in an ultrasound for the first time
Being pregnant mostly felt like make-believe, especially since I didn’t have much morning sickness. But seeing our baby girl on the ultrasound made her seem so much more real! It was really fun to experience.
