Pregnancy and a Pandemic

This was originally written in 2020:

In late August of 2019 we found out we were expecting our second baby. Not exactly the best timing but a blessing at the end of the day. As the new year rolled around we moved to a new city and I think as a whole my little family was excited for this new chapter. Then, three weeks after moving, news of the coronavirus broke and everyone went into panic mode. I'm sure you all remember the beginning of the pandemic. I struggled to prepare for a potential lockdown while Gabe was in a different city working and stay positive for our one year old and unborn baby. I can confidently say it was the biggest adjustment of my life.

As the country was adjusting to new mandates and new guidelines, I was also trying to adjust to the new regulations put in place for expecting mothers and the OB office I was going to. Do you know how hard it is to find a babysitter in a new town when you know no one and you will also not meet anyone? I struggled to convince the doctors to allow me to bring my son to appointments or schedule me on days I really wasn't supposed to be there. I ended up transferring to a midwife and it was overall a much more positive experience. They tried to keep things as normal as they could through the weirdness that was 2020. My heart goes out to all of the moms that went through pandemic mandates because man, they were scary at some points!

After being in prodromal labor for two weeks, on May 28th, I went in for a check up and they told me I was really close to having the baby. I was so ready for her to be here! I did everything I could think of... curb walking, squats, swimming... everything. She decided to stay cozy for a few days. We dropped our son off with my in-laws so we could get this baby earthside. On June 3rd, I was told I was dilated to almost a six and my water could break at any time. I begged them to induce me because we were running out of time with my husband being home. They sent me over to the hospital and after 10 hours of active labor our daughter was born. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. She had these thick lips and the biggest eyes and the cutest elf ear. I couldn't help but stare at her and take it all in. Our Baby Grey Ke'alohilani Wolfe joined us at 10:47 pm on June 3rd 2020 and was the best outcome of 2020.

Grey baby we love you more than anything.