Dear Readers,
I have a confession. And no, this time it doesn’t have to do with cheese, pueblos or even cute Spanish grandpas. No, nothing even close. This time I must come clean as to why I’ve been so completely missing from my blog in the last months.
Photo courtesy of Gabriel Saldana via Flickr
If you haven’t guessed it already: Tortuga’s having a tortuguita. That’s right, I’m pregnant and expecting a little boy (I’m still thinking it could just be a giant tortilla española) toward the end of the year. Jacobo and I are positively elated!
As you can probably imagine, these last months have been a bit disorienting. Apart from the physical and mental intensity involved with the whole growing-another-person thing (I still can’t believe this is happening!), I spent five head-spinning weeks in the States, followed by a quick trip to Malta, and all while my freelance writing workload somehow managed to quadruple (never mind the size of my stomach – eek!).
I’ve been in such a pregnancy haze, actually, that I spilled olive oil all over (and incidentally in) my laptop last week, and it has since ceased to function. (I’ll have you know that the Mac service people here in Madrid didn’t even flinch or crack a smile at the olive-oil incident, as if it were totally normal. I’m going to pretend that olive-oil spillage on anything is entirely commonplace in Spain.) The good news: By some stroke of luck, I had gotten a backup laptop of sorts while home, and it was my old laptop that suffered the tragic – albeit quite tasty – accident. Consider this my PSA: Olive oil and laptop innards are not friends – take note.
Basically, it’s been a crazy, beautiful and largely blog-free time, and I’ve hated having to keep the big — and getting bigger! — secret from you all for so long. But, believe it or not, I still haven’t even shared the news with my Facebook friends (gasp!), so now you and the probably five other people who’ve hung around through my silence are still among the first to know. Surprise, Mom and Dad!!! I kid, I kid.
Times might be changing, but going forward I’ll do my best to keep you all up to date on my continued adventures – the ones that involve tasty travels, not diaper changes. I do hope you’ll still come along for the ride. And thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Tortuga and her soon-to-arrive Tortuguita
September 23rd, 2013 at 5:14 pm
Felicidades! Praying for a healthy pregnancy and delivery…we’ll look forward to seeing the little tortuguita when he arrives! I hope you find time to blog every once in a while, but it’s more important to spend time with your family.
September 23rd, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Aw, yay! I’ve missed reading your posts, but that’s a pretty good excuse! Congrats again! Besos!
September 23rd, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Thanks, Robyn, for your kind words! It’s definitely been a wild ride so far, but certainly the most exciting months of my life. I can only imagine how life will change once the little guy arrives – I can’t wait.
September 23rd, 2013 at 5:49 pm
So excited to hear about the new man in your life! My dream is to somehow sometime get to Spain. So reading your blog and taking notes is really fun and exciting. Why is it that I think in the very near future instead of talking about olive oil…you will be talking about little Jacobo, Jr. Being a woman is so good…we make babies!!!! God Bless You and the life you are growing with much happiness, health and joy!
September 23rd, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Wow congratulations! What exciting news! I sometimes find it hard to concentrate WITHOUT a little person growing inside me. Take care of your family, and we will be here when you have time to post.
September 23rd, 2013 at 5:58 pm
Yay! I’m so happy for you!
Parenting is easy peasy. 🙂
September 23rd, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Aww, thank you so much for your thoughtful words, Robbin! Given my relationship with olive oil right now, I’d much prefer to talk about Jacobo Jr. Ha! In all seriousness, though, I feel so fortunate to be embarking on this adventure — hopefully I’ll still be able to keep up my travels, but I imagine they will come second to the new little guy….and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
As for Spain, I hope you make your dream a reality!!
September 23rd, 2013 at 6:05 pm
Christine, Kay and Erik — thanks, chicos! Lucky to have the support of fellow expats like you (especially Erik, whose hilarious posts and updates always keep me giggling about parenthood!).
PS – If I had any extra brain cells left right now, I’d figure out how to nest these comments properly. Until then, pardon the weird order of my replies!
September 23rd, 2013 at 10:03 pm
To be a parent is the greatest adventure of all. Enjoy EVERY moment and relish all the memories that you’ll make. Enhorabuena.
PS – My run in w/ olive oil occurred just last night. Just a wee bit too much oil in the pan when I went to flip my Tortilla Española & it landed in the sink. All we can do is laugh & move on.
September 24th, 2013 at 6:40 pm
Congratulations! Welcome to the weird world of raising your kids colour-coded. Just don’t let the doctors push you around during labour. Everyone thinks they’re God, including them. I had to fight for the labour I wanted; maybe it’s changed now, and Madrid is probably aeons ahead of Seville in this.
September 24th, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Yay congratulations!! So exciting 🙂
September 24th, 2013 at 10:55 pm
I agree with what Fiona says – stick to your guns, I hear horror stories! Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy – congratulations!
September 25th, 2013 at 9:43 am
Thanks, everyone!
@ Ann: The tragic loss of your tortilla is seriously almost just as painful as the loss of my computer — that’s how much I love tortilla! Hope it turns out better next time!
@ Fiona and Cat: I’m lucky in that my doctor is a friend (Spanish) and she’s been tremendously accommodating with all of my requests and concerns. I expected people to be a lot more close-minded to me wanting to do things a certain way (something complicated by the rods in my back which *may* prevent an epidural from being an option, if I want it to be), and so far everyone I’ve encountered at my hospital has been as flexible as I could have hoped them to be. Fingers crossed that it stays that way!
September 25th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Congrats, you two!! Here’s to enjoying this time as much as possible–and even more with the tortuguitas are three!
Thanks for sharing the news, Erin 🙂
September 25th, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Thanks, Cassandra! Our paths still need to cross over some tortilla one of these days!
September 25th, 2013 at 7:52 pm
Congratulations! I know nothing about parenting so have nothing constructive to say. But yay!
September 25th, 2013 at 9:23 pm
That makes two of us, Josh 😉 — I have no flippin’ clue. Fingers crossed that that changes!
September 26th, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Wow, congratulations!!! So exciting. 🙂
September 27th, 2013 at 8:35 pm
Congratulations – one of lives greatest adventures!
September 30th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Thanks, ladies!!
September 30th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Felicidades! I had a suspicion that this news would be coming sooner or later… 🙂 I’m having a little girl in January, so I see pregnancy around every corner! I’m very happy for you, and I hope for your sake that you are having an easier time of it than I am – I blame it on my rubbish English genes 😉 Enjoy your tortuguita!
October 6th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
Mil gracias, SV! I’ve been so negligent about checking everyone’s blogs these days, so I’m ashamed that I’ve missed this news – CONGRATS!!!! What a couple years you’ve had – I’m so happy for you!
October 12th, 2013 at 11:50 pm
Congrats for the tortuguito!
I’m sure he will be as cute and lovable as the one in the picture! Take lots of coare until he comes.