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I’m Going to Be a Mom #LifeIsaSpecialOccasion

mothers-day

Motherhood was always something I planned on. I took for granted that I would be a mom one day. It was just something I knew I was destined to be. Knowing women who have suffered through infertility, I realize how fortunate I am that I was able to fulfill that dream so effortlessly.

In my younger years, I babysat often to earn spending money. I loved “playing house” and remember holding those precious babies and rocking them to sleep, imagining the day that I would rock my own baby to sleep. My aunt had triplets when I was in college, and she lived nearby. I used to visit her once a week to help out, and there was always a baby to hold. One evening, the baby I was holding kept squirming and whimpering for my aunt, who had her hands full at the moment. I remember thinking that I couldn’t wait until I was Mommy and the baby I was holding wanted me above anyone else.

Fast forward a few years and I was a young married woman ready to start my own family. We tried to conceive for about five months — the longest. five. months. of. my. life. I actually “gave up” and decided to “stop trying” for a while, and naturally that is when I discovered that I was pregnant.

I had every intention of being a mom who stayed at home. While I trained to be a teacher (another role that I had always aspired to) and loved every minute in the classroom with my beloved third graders, I never thought twice about giving my resignation when I found out I was expecting our first baby.

This is a photo of me soon after we found out. We spent my Spring Break that year in Charleston, and my morning sickness was just setting in. I felt miserable the whole trip, but we were so happy.

JL-expecting

I got back from that trip and I gave my notice to my principal.

Mother’s Day arrived soon after that, and I received one Mother’s Day card that year. I will never forget it.

I’m sure most people don’t consider Mother’s Day cards for moms-to-be, but my Aunt Carol thought of me. I think receiving that card suddenly made the whole thing seem real. When I wasn’t quite showing yet and so sick that it was hard to get excited, that card somehow validated my new role as Mommy. Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures that mean the most.

Later that summer when I was feeling better, we snapped this photo at a Springsteen concert. I was about six months along as this point. Get a load of those shades! Ha!

JL-and-Paul-expecting

This is the second post in a 6-month sponsored campaign with Hallmark, and in honor of Mother’s Day coming up in just a few weeks, they sent me a box with a sampling of their cards and gifts.

happy-mother's-day

I can think of no sweeter gift to give a mom-to-be than a heartfelt card letting her know that her greatest adventure is about to begin.

the world is more beautiful

But they have more than just cards to help you celebrate the moms in your life. They have an adorable collection of gifts you can personalize too. You can never go wrong with handprint crafts. Those are priceless gifts.

hallmark-for-mothers-day

Whatever you’re looking for to make someone’s Mother’s Day special, you can find at Hallmark.

This post is the second in a six-month series sponsored by Hallmark. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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12 Responses

  1. Know several moms-to-be mostly with second child. But nominating one very special first time mom bestie. Thanks for sharing.

  2. I know a few new moms and I will go check out the contest. Hallmark has the nicest card and gifts!

  3. Oh, I remember how excited I was to give my husband a father’s day card when I was expecting – we found out after Mother’s Day – it’s such a sweet thing when you’re so excited about being pregnant 🙂

  4. By the name of your post, I first thought that you were announcing to us that you were expecting again!

  5. My husband and my parents both sent me Mother’s Day cards before I had my small girl. Such a treasure. Cards have always been something I love – both giving and receiving…. they have a special, intimate touch that sends so much love.

  6. I was one of those mothers that had a very difficult time sustaining a pregnancy. In my early 30’s, I had several miscarriages. In my late 30’s, the fertility specialist refused to help me, saying “I was too old and unlikely to conceive.” At 40, I got pregnant naturally with a son. He was born too soon, and he did not survive. I was devastated and told by the reproductive endocrinologist that I had less than a 2% chance of ever conceiving again, due to age. She insisted that I have my left tube removed due to a possible blockage. I was sitting in the chair, waiting for the anesthesiologist so I could have the surgery, when the phone rang in the patient room. It was my reproductive endocrinologist calling to say we weren’t doing the surgery because I was pregnant! It was a tough pregnancy. I had to have weekly progesterone injections, had a cervical cerclage to keep my cervix closed, but I gave birth naturally to a healthy baby girl on 8/25/09. She was 6 weeks early, but she was healthy at 5lbs. 2 ozs. and went home with me 48 hours later. I was a 43 year old first time mom. 🙂 She is now 4 1/2.

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