July is the month our baby girl is expected to arrive and we have some exciting news to share!! We’re going to Chicago to have our baby girl!! Yes, it’s a bit extreme but after so much brainstorming we feel it is best to give birth to our girl in Chicago for many many reasons. I plan to arrive in Chicago at 37 weeks…eeek I know I am cutting it very very close but I just had so much to do in Tucson to prepare. I wanted to somewhat finish the nursery and have everything washed and ready for when we come back with our new bundle of joy.

One of the main reasons we decided to attempt this “birth plan” was to give baby girl bragging rights; to be able to say she was born in Chicago! I mean her older brothers were born in San Diego, we just couldn’t do her like that and had to give her something to brag about too. HA! Kidding!! Just kidding….well sort of, we’re definitely glad that she’ll have a cool birth story but the main reason we’re doing this is, of course, to be surrounded by family and friends.

I feel very excited and a bit crazy in doing this but it will be absolutely amazing to be surrounded by loved ones. When the boys were born we were blessed enough that our family came out to San Diego to help us adjust to our new bundles. This time around there’s two active toddlers and a very tired mama and daddy, so a little extra help means the world to us. It’s been about 9 years since we’ve moved out of Chicago. The struggle got real once we started having kids and date nights became so rare for us because of the lack of babysitters. We are extremely happy with our growing little family and we absolutely DO NOT regret leaving Chitown but lets face it…we really do need a break once in a while. So we just can’t express how grateful we are when our family and friends give us the opportunity to be us again.

One of the things I am extremely nervous about our birth plan is hubs not making it in time for the birth. He unfortunately can’t take that much time off work so we plan to play it by ear and hope to nail it with the dates. One way that I am coping with this is that even if, worst case scenario, he misses the birth I know I will have plenty of support out there to kind of fill in the gap.

In the past, I have struggled with the newborn phase so I know being in Chicago is the right thing to do. I didn’t realize it then but I’m pretty sure I went through post partum depression with my first born. It wasn’t until we had our second baby that I realized things were different in my mood and recovery. I will blog about that one day but it saddens me how the signs were all there but I wasn’t able to recognize them at the time. One day, years later, I was reading my personal journal and was so shocked to read my entries during that time. So to, hopefully, prevent any similar stresses, Chicago is definitely the best option.

So hopefully I don’t end up on the news as “Pregnant Women Gives Birth in the Air” and I make it to Chicago still nice and fluffy and so very pregnant. HA! That would make a heck of a birth story but no thanks, I’m not that crazy! Baby girl…we’re excited to meet you but please wait until we land to make an appearance. Thanks!

Love,

-Mama Bear Mimi