Sorry we haven’t posted too much lately! We turned off the server for a couple of weeks while my mom was visiting, and we were too lazy to turn it on. 
Life after our travel to Massachusetts and my mom’s visit has been pretty normal. I run errands with Sean in the morning, we eat lunch, he takes a nap, and we run more errands.
Nat has been busy working on a conference paper which is due on Sean’s birthday. 
He’s been working so hard and thinking so hard that his body is starting to take a toll. He’s been feeling sore from sitting at the computer so much. Luckily, he had a big breakthrough with his paper last Friday, so it’s been less stressful (or at least a different kind of stress) for him. Now, he just needs to plug and chug away at his paper.
Nat has also narrowed down his preliminary exam date for September 3rd or 4th. The preliminary exam is an exam where he submits a 20 page paper that outlines how his research contributes to the field, a background of existing approaches, the research he has completed with regards to the topic area, and what he plans to do to finish up his PhD. For Nat’s department, most people pass. I feel like it’s more a negotiation of what needs to be done in order for him to finish. I’m so proud of him that we’re approaching the finish line.
As for me, I’ve been feeling pretty good. I’m not very keen on my gestational diabetes diet, but it’s not too horrible to bear. My doctor was happy enough with my blood sugars at the last visit that he said I could just test every other day. I will say, the days I don’t test, I’m a little bit more lenient with the carbs that I eat. As far as I can tell, the baby is doing fine–moving great, size is good, and I’m measuring about where I’m supposed to be.
Next Friday is Sean’s 2nd birthday, so Nat’s parents will be coming into town. We’re going to have a small birthday party at the pool, so that should be fun! I can’t believe my little boy is already 2! What a big boy he is!