Single Parenthood

David is in Paris for the week. He went with a few other students from the MBA program as a way to complete his requirements for his Global Management Certificate, which is basically like a minor in international business. They do a trip to Europe and a trip to Asia each year but since he's already conquered Asia, David decided to do the Europe trip. This is his first time in Europe and he was a little disappointed to go to France (given that there are several other countries in Europe he wanted to visit first) but at least I'm not super rabidly jealous of him since I've been to Paris twice. He's enjoyed some of the sight-seeing and the food, but he's also been sick the last few days and the weather is just as cold there as it is here so it hasn't been the most pleasant trip for him. Maybe he'll share some of his experiences here when he returns.

He left last Friday and will return next Monday. I will be very glad when he returns. Even though David and I had a long distance relationship for the majority of our two year dating relationship, we haven't spent much time apart since we got married 4.5 years ago. We've tried very hard to keep it that way and this is the longest amount of time we've spent apart since then. It's been a lot harder--on both of us--than I think we both expected.

Zara misses her daddy a lot. Every day when I go out to get David's Wall Street Journal, Zara grabs it from me and then runs through the house asking, "Where's Daddy?" so she can give him his paper. She doesn't understand why he's not here.

The experience has given me great appreciation for single parents. I can't even really compare myself to them since it's only 10 measly days apart, but I really don't know how single parents do it day after day. My boss is an incredible example of doing it gracefully and successfully. Her husband died several years ago, leaving her widowed with four children, some still quite young. I know she may not always feel like she's got it all together, but I've been in awe of her and her ability to juggle a full-time career with full-time parenting. She really is incredible.

It's not just doing it alone that seems so hard, it's doing it without the constant support and companionship of someone else. Someone you can talk to, and complain to, someone who is right there in the trenches with you, trying to figure out how to raise a kid without having to send them to therapy for the rest of their lives. Someone you can relax with, someone you can laugh with, someone you can share every moment of your life with. And even though there have honestly been times when I have felt like a military widow or a grad school widow, that I've been shouldering most of the parenting by myself, I never really have. David has always been there to talk me off of ledges, to avert potential mental breakdowns and shower our daughter with his love and attention. He really is the best partner to have in this life.

Can it just be Monday already?

The Expanding Malones

When I was pregnant with Zara, David gave me a blessing where he basically told me that Zara had been watching us from heaven and had chosen us as her parents and was excited to be a part of our family. I've thought about that quite a bit recently and I would totally pick us as parents.....we're pretty awesome.

Apparently, another little girl has picked us to be her parents as well and she'll be making her appearance near the end of May.

I would post the requisite ultrasound image to prove it, but well, those things just look like giant blobs to me and even though the three pictures the ultrasound technician gave us are labeled with body parts and a clear proclamation of "GIRL!," you'll just have to take her [and my] word for it.

I had debated about when to make the "official" internet announcement. Close friends and family (particularly those who have seen my expanding belly in person) know, but I've enjoyed keeping this pregnancy quiet and inconspicuous.  A small (small) part of me wanted to not say anything until she was born and just post a picture with "Surprise! I had a baby!" But now that we know what we're having and the baby is moving and making her presence felt so much more, I didn't want to keep quiet anymore. But I wanted to post on the blog first before I took the announcement to Facebook.

We're very excited to have another girl, though I think David is a little apprehensive of what he's going to do with two daughters, especially once they hit the teenage years. I will admit that a small, small part of me was really hoping for a boy but only because we have a boy name picked out and ready to go and we cannot agree on a single girl's name. It's not even that we can't agree, it's that we can't even think of any good options to begin with. So if anyone wants to offer up some girl name suggestions (with the tiny hint of possibility that we may steal it from you), please do so. I am in a girl name rut and I need some help.


And for those who care about this sort of information, I'm currently 21 weeks and am planning to have a water birth with a midwife at a birthing center here in Provo. I'm very excited to be working with our midwife and am looking forward (yes looking forward) to having a completely natural and hospital-free birth. :)