And we're off.......

We leave for Dubuque/Galena this afternoon. I'm really looking forward to spending an entire weekend away with my boys. This is only the second trip we've taken with Ace, the first being Door County last summer. This is also, most likely, the last trip where it will just be the three of us.

I have some very mixed feelings about this. I find myself really trying to savor all these moments of our family-of-three. We are so excited about the second Baby Pancake arriving this summer. Every day I enjoy the little movements and kicks. I enjoy my expanding belly. I look forward to meeting this little one and holding it and loving it the way I do Ace. It will be the start of a new chapter for this family. But it feels kind of sad leaving this current chapter behind. It's been awesome embarking on this journey of parenthood with Shawn. I've loved learning to be a mom and watching Shawn be an amazing father. I've loved being home with Ace during the day and having so much one-on-one time. I know this change is good but it's bittersweet at the same time. I went through the same emotions during my first pregnancy, when the due date was looming close and I realized it would never be 'just us two' again. That life was going to change forever and there was no going back. Would I change anything about that? Of course not. Would I change anything about this next baby coming? Of course not. But it's a little sad all the same.

But it's also incredibly exciting.