What I'm Missing Out On In 2018

             Hey folks! Sometimes we have an incredible knack for getting pregnant and expecting babies at not-such-great times, don't we? As I've mentioned before, with baby #3, we were kind of taking the “let's see what happens” approach...And lo and behold, we got pregnant a lot sooner than we expected! As my due date approaches, though, it's been sinking in more and more what a terrible time of year for us this baby is coming at. Lol So today I am sharing a few things that we'll be missing out on completely or will be much more difficult due to baby's timing.

            Brown County State Park

*Much less camping trips

I know, I know. Camping with a baby is totally doable, but a newborn? AND two other young kids? No thanks! Baby will only be 3 or 4 months around the time we would normally go camping. I'm pretty sure I'm nowhere near capable of or willing to deal with that many diapers and feedings while in the great outdoors. (Especially if Ripley is still not potty trained by then. Oy!) So it's kind of a bummer that we won't be able to do much camping this year...Not that we did much last year, but I was hoping to change that this year. Oh well.

I am still keeping my fingers crossed we can swing a longer trip to at least one place at the end of summer/early fall. After all, we have another state park pass to use this year that came with a campground gift card! And I fully intend to use it, gosh darn it!

                Aboard the Southern Belle in Chattanooga, TN

*No Tennessee Trip

Are you seeing a theme here yet? I enjoyed utilizing our state park pass so much last year and the few camping trips we did take, I was really hoping to do some more traveling this year.

Aside from local trips, I got the idea in my head that we needed to visit Chattanooga, Tennessee. John and I used to take trips to Tennessee all the time before we had kids and we keep talking about how it would be nice to go. We have only been to Chattanooga once together, but we only spent an afternoon there, so didn't really get to see or do much. Other than that, I haven't been there since I was in middle or high school!

Anyways, why Chattanooga? There are SO many things to do both in and around the city, especially kid-friendly things! With camping, waterfalls, caves, and other nature attractions nearby AND such places as the Tennessee Aquarium, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and Southern Belle riverboat rides, it seems like the perfect family-friendly vacation for us...Without anyone getting bored! Again, oh well. One day. Until then, I can wistfully daydream... :)

*Spring Project and Garden Planning

This year should be very interesting. Pretty much as soon as it starts getting warmer out and there are less and less days below freezing, we get the itch to start working on things outside, add more animals, start seeds indoors, etc. We tend to get too ambitious with this year as no exception, what with wanting to start a Christmas tree farm area, build several chicken tractors, etc. I have a feeling we'll be lucky to get the normal stuff done, but one can dream, right?!

             With all that being said, I wouldn't change it for the world, of course! I am happy we will be completing our family and can't wait to find out if we're having a boy or girl! But, it's fun to reflect plus, I'm hoping by confessing all of my “would have beens”, it makes some of you moms out there not feel so bad if the same thing has happened to you and you felt guilty about it!