Tuesday, October 15, 2013

We're Expanding...


We're expanding! Or, more precisely, I'm expanding while John and Jack go about their normal routines. But some time in late April of next year, we'll be adding a new member to our family!

It's a little early for an announcement like this (I'm 13 weeks pregnant), and believe me, I have debated when and how to share the news a lot over the past few months. But since the news doesn't just stop at "we're having a baby," and things are getting down to the wire, I figured it made sense to let people know what was going on now, rather than waiting.

So, to make a long story longer, Jack and I will be leaving Russia in ten days. Permanently. It's a complicated topic and one I will explain in more detail later, but for now, let's just leave it at: I didn't feel comfortable getting the majority of my prenatal care in Yekaterinburg. I also didn't love the idea of spending another winter here, pregnant, or waiting until I get put on bed rest again to make the journey back to the States with Jack in tow. So Jack and I will be spending December, January, and February in Montana with my parents, and then we'll meet John in DC some time in March.

I'm obviously thrilled to be returning to the US next week, but it's a little bittersweet, because I feel like I didn't quite finish my time in Russia. I wanted to see St. Petersburg, go dog sledding and horseback riding in the mountains, and maybe get just a little less terrible at Russian. I'll miss my job and our Consulate family, the Russian friends I made, and this glorious, massive apartment, the likes of which I'll probably never see again.

But this pregnant lady is also beyond excited about the prospect of being with family, seeing good friends, and eating all the amazing delicacies I have missed so much these past 13.5 months. Wish me luck packing (I have to decide which clothing I won't miss for the next year and a half, since the majority of our stuff will go to storage next year and remain there until we go to Peru in June of 2015), pray we get our upgrade on the looong journey to Chicago next week, and above all else, THINK PINK!

9 comments:

Claire said...

Congrats Mara Rae!! That's great news :) Really happy for you that you will be going back home even if it sounds a bit complicated. And good luck for the packing, tough decisions ahead :) (I'm thinking pink!)

Rachel Schieffelbein said...

Congratulations! Wonderful news! :)

Unknown said...

Congrats Mara, John, and Jack! How wonderful for you all! And I know it's bittersweet to be leaving Russia, but my how time has flown for you and think of all the adventures you've not only experienced, but chronicled. In addition to being a great writing platform, Scribble Babble will continue to be a wonderful memoir of all misadventures your family has had in Yekat.

Unknown said...

Congratulations, Mara, John, and Jack! So happy for you guys. And while I know it's bittersweet to be leaving Russia, it's so wonderful that you've had all these crazy adventures and misadventures together. Plus you've chronicled all of them, which will be so great for Jack to look back upon some day. Best wishes for a healthy and smooth pregnancy and great time in Montana with your family.

Anonymous said...

Oh, my...Mara, John and Jack......such exciting news...Dick and I send our congrats and best wishes for all that the Rutherfords are looking toward. Your US family will be very happy I'm sure to have you with them but as you say, you will miss Yeta and all that you have experienced there. In the meantime, stay well, travel well, and yes, we will think pink :-)
The Cutlers

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Mara!!!

L-S-E said...

Oh yay! Congratulations! Enjoy your time back home and best of luck with everything!

L-S-E said...

Oh, yay! Congratulations! Enjoy your time back home and best of luck with everything!

Lynne said...

Can't wait to celebrate the announcement and your return to the USA in just a short while! (And I can only imagine how much you have "expanded")