In April of 2015, Zack and I found out we were going to be parents. It was a butterflies in your tummy feeling to say the least, but we were SO HAPPY you guys. We cried happy tears, could not stop smiling, and wanted to tell the world that very instant.

For days prior to finding out, I remember throwing up non stop. But, to be totally honest I thought it was just a stomach bug. It was going around at the time, especially with the seasons changing, I didn’t think too much of it. I’m not sure what told me to take a pregnancy test, but I did. The very first test I took came out positive. I took 5 (yes, you totally read that right)… 5 more tests following the first all to confirm I was in fact pregnant. Zack wanted to come to the pregnancy confirmation appointment I had scheduled with my doctor and sure enough our first sonogram appointment was underway to see our little peanut.

I remember friends, family, and even Zack swearing it was a boy. But, I knew from day one it was a baby girl. I had this feeling I couldn’t shake. “Mom instinct” I guess. At our 21 week appointment, it was confirmed – IT’S A GIRL!!!

I felt nausea every single day I was pregnant with her. But that didn’t stop me from wanting to shop for her all of the time. Lol. We decorated her nursery pretty early too. Her “theme” was pink and gray elephants. Passing that room, we’ve been guilty to stop, soak in the surreal feeling of being soon to be parents, and thinking “We are so ready to meet you baby girl” one too many times.

Our baby shower was beautiful, and we couldn’t be more grateful for all of those who showed up that day We felt so much love, and all of the baby blankets, clothes, diapers, and stuffed elephants had us in total awe!

We were 1cm dilated at our 36 week checkup. By week 38 + 4 days, at 2am I got up to go pee. When it seemed like my “pee” was done, I stood up, walked back to bed, only to feel a huge gush run down my leg. I woke Zack up as I was standing in a puddle of my own broken water… lol and we called my doctors office immediately. We didn’t feel any pain at all. So, we were told to walk back and forth in our house at a fast pace until we feel some sort of contractions going on. Well, we never felr any. We had a trail leading from our kitchen to the living room that I don’t think we’ll ever forget… At about 5am, we called our doctors office again and said “we’ve been walking back and forth non stop at a really fast pace. Still no contractions but still leaking amniotic fluids.

We were told to come in…

I remember the nurse saying “you guys are really happy to be having a baby soon”. We came into the room singing and dancing you guys. We were BEYOND excited, and still in no pain at all. They started giving us pitocin right away. I walked around our room, i remember squatting through some minor contractions. But nothing hit me harder until once offered the exercise ball. All of the pain I was long overdue to feel, once I started bouncing on that just a few times, PAIN like I never felt INSTANTLY took place. It was so intense, I screamed as each new contraction begun.

I was terrified of the epidural. Something about a needle going into my spine didn’t sit well with me. So, I really tried to fight it as long as possible. Zack was the best support system. Even during the intense pain I felt, I continued to walk back and forth around my room. As each new contraction begun, I give him so much credit because I probably made his hands black and blue with how hard I squeezed. He reminded me to breath because at that moment I absolutely forgot how too, and he kept me calm. There was a point where the pain became too much, and the nurses, and Zack could tell I needed the epidural. Knowing Zack couldn’t be in the room while the epidural was performed made me all the more scared. But the nurse that was there with me was the sweetest. And I knew Zack was just outside of that room door waiting for the okay to come back in.

Once the epidural set in, I remember being extremely cold. I had AT LEAST 8 hospital blankets on me and I was still shaking like crazy… I also remember being REALLY tired. It was a challenge to keep my eyes open for longer than 5 minutes. When the nurses would wake me up, and tell me to turn, my body felt like a semi truck. It was so heavy. Just the amount of effort it took to move only made me that much more tired.

Then I remember feeling this huge sensation of pain. It felt as if she was going to come that very second I woke up from a DEEP sleep crying. Zack tried to page the nurses and no one responded. So he ran out into the hallway, grabbed the first person he saw, and ran back to me. One of the nurses said “you’re crowning. Get ready mama. It’s time to push”. Those intense contractions I felt prior to the epidural, I felt all over again. But the excitement of meeting our baby girl, plus Zack being my breathing coach (literally) lol, time seemed to fly by. After an hour of pushing and 19 1/2 total hours in labor, Gracie Elizabeth Mikolajczak was born on Wednesday December 16th, 2015 at 8:28pm. She weighed 6lbs 8oz with the biggest blue eyes and not a single strand of hair on her head lol.

We’ll be sure to update you on Rylan’s birth story once he arrives 💙🤰

Until next time…

XOXOXO

Jess, Zack, Gracie and Rylan

Hey everyone 👋☺️

So, we’re 32 weeks and 2 days pregnant, and all I can think about is the non stop pain this little babe has brought me so far 😭

I have to be honest with you guys: with Gracie – my pregnancy was a breeze. I didn’t feel ANY of the pain I am experiencing and have been experiencing thus far until I was in the hospital with her. With this little boy however, pain since AT LEAST 20 weeks that has progressively only gotten worse…. Sciatica and varicose veins are just a couple of my everyday struggles you guys… It’s AWFUL! Especially at night time… I just want to sleep little dude. Lettttt mama sleep. PLEASE 😩

At our most previous doctor’s visit just a few short days ago, we found out baby boys head is really low. I know I’m not full term, but I could swear he wants to make his presence early lol. We’re praying however that that isn’t the case and that he is brought into the world as healthy as can be. Our doctor won’t check for dilation until we are 36 weeks pregnant (even though I wishhhh they could check sooner), so we’re hanging in there. We were advised however to be put on bed rest. Which means our traveling has been put on a short hold. We do have mini getaways planned. But they aren’t any longer than a day to two days, and our doctor is fully aware.

Zack and I have come to, kind of a major decision if you will. Once baby Rylan is due, we have agreed to – Zack getting a vasectomy, and I getting my tubes tied. We feel two babies is the perfect number FOR US! We absolutely love being parents, and we adore every stage of pregnancy, but we love the idea of being a family of four. Plus, our two kitties and our puppy (although he’s not really a puppy. He’s seven – Gracie just likes to call him her puppy 😅🐕🐾).

They are totally best friends you guys ❤️

So, as hard as this pregnancy has been for us mentally, physically, and emotionally even, we’ve been cherishing every second.

We’ve been experiencing intense Braxton Hicks contractions, and a whole ton of pressure, and we’ve been just trying to smile through the pain. It’s always a guessing game these days. Is he coming? Is he just pulling a prank on us? Lol, so we’re extremely thankful for contraction trackers. We have an app on our phones that allows us to keep track of the contractions duration and intervals between each new set, and it is a MAJOR lifesaver 🙆🤰

Some things we’ll really miss being pregnant though: for one: all of the baby wiggles and kicks. It’s the most beautiful thing feeling those little flutters and movements. And then as your belly and baby get bigger, SEEING those movements. Zack and I will literally lay in bed at nap time or night time, and watch his little butt move from the left side of my belly to the right, then back to the left again. Or watching my tummy just go up and down because Rylan is kicking and we can see his whole foot print literally. Another thing we’ll miss is totally the belly itself. I’ve always loved having a pregnant belly. They are just the cutest. I really love dressing the bump. Give me all of the bodycon dresses please since I was pregnant BOTH ✌️ times in the summer heat 👗😅

And what makes this pregnancy extra special is now, rather than just Zack kissing and talking to Gracie in mommy’s tummy – Gracie and daddy are both kissing mommy’s tummy and talking to Rylan. Gracie is going to be the most amazing big sissy. Every single day… It never fails – she will ask “mommy, is baby brother coming today?” She cannot wait to show him the world. To play with him, sing to him, take care of him, teach him new things. She cannot wait to tell him alllll of her stories (this girl has a lot of stories believe me 🤚), make up new and exciting games with him, and literally just be his little best friend. Our hearts are so full. She has the most beautiful personality inside and out, and we’re so anxious to meet Rylan and see what he will be like ♥️ is he going to be outgoing, energetic and full of non stop energy like sissy? Or, is he going to be more quiet and reserved? Is he going to have an explosive imagination? Will he love to sing and dance? Will he LOVE Disney movies as much as we do? Will he be artsy? And then the more obvious questions like: will he have hair? Lol, big blue eyes like Gracie? Or, big brown eyes like mommy and daddy?

Little boy, no matter your looks, personality, interests, or whatever else – we will love you endlessly. Mommy, daddy, and Gracie cannot wait to meet you. We cannot wait to travel the world as a family of FOUR! We cannot wait to kiss your little face, hold you super tight, sing to you every night, and watch you grow into an incredible person. 54 more days to go ♥️♥️♥️

Zack took some Incredible maternity pictures, but we’re hoping we can get a few more shoots in before baby boy arrives.

Here’s just a few so far 😊🤰

The one of Gracie is just a bonus 😁

Shoot one of four (hopefully 🤞), one of which I want taken at the hospital not to long before we meet Rylan so that we can forever remember and celebrate the beautiful joys of pregnancy, and moving forward – Growing our little tribe ♥️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🐕🐈🐈

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog post. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Or, simply say hi 🙋 we would love to hear from you.

Dress is from @motherbeematernity – I had the pleasure of working alongside this gorgeous maternity brand. If you’re an expected mama to be, or if you know someone who is, I strongly suggest checking them out. They are affordable, GREAT quality, and the owner – Nicole is a doll ♥️

Photographer – @zjgphotography – (better known as Zack, my husband 👨‍⚕️📷). He is a travel photographer and loves taking maternity and family photoshoots. And his heart is set on landscape photography. Take a look at his work. It’s stunning and I think you’ll fall in love 🤗

Until next time…

XOXOXO

Jessica, Zack, Gracie, and Rylan Mikolajczak