I totally promised myself I would NEVER title a blog post with a hashtag, but here we are! I recently got back on TikTok after being away for over 2 years- more on that in another post I’m working on. But I’m having so much fun with it and decided to start a little series called #countdowntobaby, which is a 75 day countdown to my due date (@merrilymace if you’re curious!). I don’t know if I will actually make it to my due date because bubba is so big but it’s fun to see if I do, and I think later down the road I will appreciate having little videos of the last days of pregnancy.

My flexible goal for the countdown is to show how I’m using each day to prepare for baby, whether that’s finishing my registry or decorating the nursery, or doing a little workout. I say “flexible” goal because I’ve only been doing this for 5 days and I’ve already had a day where I didn’t do a single thing to prepare. Which, if I’m giving myself grace, is also kind of preparing? Because I’m relaxing and allowing myself a day without stress and pressure? *wipes sweat from brow lol

I have SO much to do, you guys, I’m freaking out. As I type this, I have no more than 10 weeks left. And he could come sooner if he wanted to. I haven’t taken any birthing or lactation classes, we don’t have a nursery, I haven’t done research on c-sections, I’m still adding essential items to my registry, we don’t have a name, there are so many house projects I wanted done before he arrives, and if I’m being super honest we don’t even know what hospital we’re delivering at. Help!

One thing I will say about being more present on TikTok is that I have somehow curated the sweetest most positive fyp, and I’m so grateful I got back on at this stage in my pregnancy. I see nothing but positive birth experience videos, women giving grace and advice to other moms, genuinely helpful tips and product suggestions for soon-to-be moms, and funny content that only women relate to. I so badly want to be this for others and I’m putting my vulnerability on full display to participate. I mean that’s always been the goal for me, right? I don’t claim the name Merrily Mace for nothing. I know not everything on the internet is this good, obviously my fyp is curated for me. But I’ve never been more proud to be a woman than right now, and if that means I keep living life through rose-tinted glasses, so be it!