Life is about to get more interesting

Back when I first pitched the idea of writing a weekly column, I couldn't think of anything else to call it other than "That's Life."

Since then, it's been fitting so many times: The baby pooping in the baby pool? That's life. Spilling milk all over the car trying to take breakfast to-go when you're already running late? That's life. Dealing with the loss of my first pet? Life. Sharing some stories about growing up with my dad? Life.

Life is bittersweet and full of surprises. If anything, it usually manages to outsmart us.

On Dec. 6, nervous and emotional, I told my boss here at the Daily that I planned to resign to become a stay-at-home mom. The numbers were finally lining up to allow my family to afford it. And even if it wasn't always my goal in life, the two years I've had with my son have convinced me I like him enough to spend all day -- every day -- with him.

I agreed to a final work day of Jan. 6.

In the days between, I had been crossing my fingers for many things. Namely, that the weather would stay agreeable until I didn't have to commute daily with my son any longer. The drive on the secondary roads near my house and up and down I-81 each weekday was one thing I promised never to miss.

At least once a month I get stuck in traffic making it home, and the occasional rain or snowstorm can bring severe delays.

The weather stayed great for me, until Tuesday when at just about Winchester the threatening skies turned instantly from black to white -- taking traffic down to about 10-20 miles an hour for most of the rest of my drive.

Finally arriving home, I was immediately faced with my second least-favorite thing about being a working mom: a kid with a fever. My son, flushed cheeks and hot forehead, was at 101-something. Later in the night, it went up to 103.

Day care, understandably, has a no-kids-with-a-fever policy. Three days left of work and I had a kid that needed to be babied at home. Working out the logistics of who stays home with a sick baby, I definitely won't miss.

As if all these thing weren't enough to make it clear for me I was making the right decision, just days after turning in my notice, I got the much-longed-for news that we are finally pregnant again! The son that's been the center of my world, and this column, is going to be a brother.

With a drastic change to our daily schedule coming and a new one on the way, life is about to get a lot more interesting for us in many ways.

Thankfully, the current leadership here at the paper has agreed to let me keep writing about it.
While I won't be here at my desk anymore, I'll be out on all new adventures trying to keep my son stimulated, entertained, educated and happy all the while preparing for a baby.

I have lots of goals for my time at home: plenty of organizing, a baby book to catch up on and, ironically, maybe I'll actually keep up better with the news. Delving more seriously into couponing and meal planning are also on my to-do list.

I'm excited about the future, but glad I'll still get to share it with you.

• Contact Jessica Wiant at jwiant@nvdaily.com.