The very first picture is me on 4/26/07 [7 months/29 wks]

This is my husband Barry!

Below is me at 24 weeks taken 3/22/07

Below is my belly at 29 weeks taken on 4/26/07. No stretch marks so far!

The ultrasound picture below is of our baby at 11 weeks!

Below is Faith @ 22 weeks. We can't wait to see and hold you baby girl!

This is Faith at 27 wks/4 days on 4/16/07

A positive HPT below

Hello beautiful pregnant ladies,

I am pregnant for the first time and very afraid. I am due 7/12/07. I can not wait to see and hold my baby but do not look forward to labor and pushing. I live in Philadelphia and have a wonderful husband. I love him passionately and can't believe I am carrying his seed. We will officially become a family once our baby is born. I found out it is a girl and her name will be Faith Gisele. I had no morning sickness in the first trimester but had just about everything else {serious fatigue, nose bleeds, sharp pains when sneezing or moving suddenly, headaches,stretching pains, etc.}. My 2nd trimester is great so far. A little stretching pains in the beginning but overall I am doing good physically. Now emotionally that is another story. LOL. I am a basket case. I am afraid of being a Mommy and pray I'll be a good one. I love children but never had one 24/7 in my care. I love this baby so much already. I am in awe with being pregnant. I actually like being pregnant right now [I probably won't feel this way in my 3rd trimester LOL]. Honestly, our bodies as women are amazing. Children are a gift from God.

No one told me about the nose bleeds and gum bleeds. I had no clue those symptoms would accompany my pregnancy. I am sure this list will grow as I go along. LOL!

I plan to breastfeed. Hope it isn't as bad as some people told me. Either way I am going to give it a try.

As of my last prenatal appointment on 6/20/07 I have gained a total of 20 lbs since becoming pregnant.

First day of Last Menstrual Period: October 5,2006

Approximate Date of Conception: October 19,2006

First Pregnancy Symptoms: October 21,2006

Positive Home Pregnancy Test: November 9,2006

Doctors Official Blood Pregnancy Test: November 13,2006

Due Date: July 12, 2007

First Prenatal Appointment: November 21,2006

First Heard Heartbeat: December 14,2006 [10 weeks]

First Ultrasound: December 29,2006 [11 weeks]

Second Ultrasound: March 12,2007 [22 weeks/ It's a girl they think]

3D Ultrasound: April 16, 2007 [It's definitely a girl!]

P.S.: I still can't believe I am pregnant! Am I dreaming?

I crave: White american cheese,fruit smoothies, sucking on ice cubes. Yummy!

How'd it happen: If you are not planning to get pregnant don't miss ANY birth control pills ladies. LOL!

My pregnancy challenge: RH incompatibility. I have a negative blood type [B-] and my husband is a positive [B+]. I will have to get a shot of Rhogam at 28 weeks and then at the babys birth both of us will have to get another shot.

4/24 - My doctor called! I do not have gestational diabetes! Yipee! My iron is low however. Oh well sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad.............

4/27 My lower back is killing me. Plus almost every time I bend to sit in a chair a sharp hot stabbing pain shoots down my behind. Lord the things we women have to go through.

4/30 - Had an emotional weekend. Saturday I was angry and Sunday I was tearful. I was hoping the emotional part was over. My little girl is resting so low in my belly and it is VERY uncomfortable. I literally have to firmly rub by lower abdomen lifting her up off my bladder and cervix. I can now tell where she is at by just feeling for her through my belly. That's cool. Through all the discomforts and ups and downs I wouldn't change a thing. I love her so much and can't wait to see and hold her.

UPDATE:I called the doc about the pelvic pressure and she told me to come in asap to check me. As it turns out my cervix has softened and I am 2 to 3 centimeters dilated. I am on strict bedrest. I am very afraid and saddened. My fiance is here for me though for support.

It is hours later and I do not feel any relief. The pressure is still strong and I am having pain in my back and hips and bleeding. Just got off the phone with the doc and she said the bleeding is due to the internal exam [which hurt like hell] and do not panic unless it gets heavy like a period.

5/2 - I can't help but wonder what I did wrong. Did I walk too much? Was it b/c I'd walk for hours in the mall? Was it b/c I play around so much dancing around the house? Was it b/c I still carried grocery bags and the laundry bag? Why can't I be like the majority of woman who have normal pregnancies? I had planned on working as long as possible. I never anticipated any complications.

5/6 - I haven't been on here in a few days. I am sorry. I have not been feeling so good. On the bright side laying down is when I feel the best. When I get up to walk or try to sit up too long the pelvic pressure comes back. I have an apmt tomorrow at noon and will get the results of the FFN. I had a pinkish/orange stain today on the tissue and a couple bad contractions last night but they stopped and did not progress so I am happy about that. I miss being on the site every day. I hope all of you are ok and doing great!

5/7 - The fetal fibronectin screening came back negative. YES! I am still 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced which is good b/c it is still the same as last week and has not gotten worse. My cervix is anterior whatever that means. My doc tells me to keep doing what I am doing which basically is laying in bed watching Lifetime, CSI, The Baby Story, and Birth Day. No complaints here. I guess I am getting used to this. My job told me the date of my baby shower is 5/22. I have been given permission to attend my shower for 1 hr sitting only. Today was a good day physically. No pelvic pressue even while sitting.

5/14 - I am still pregnant and hanging in there. I feel much better. Still on bedrest.

5/26 - I am still pregnant! I am feeling much more confident. I made it to 33 weeks and 3 days so who is to say that I can't make it to full term? That's my goal. I had 3 biophysical profiles and she scored an 8, 8 and a 10 which is normal. Whew! Still on bedrest. Can't get on the computer like I used to. I really miss conversing on this webpage but I do not have a laptop.

6/1 - Had another little scare over the Memorial weekend. I started having real contractions again and spent the night in the hospital. They were able to stop the contractions with a drug called procardia thank God and they gave me betamadone [probably spelled wrong] to mature the babies lungs. I am soooo happy to still be pregnant but July can not come soon enough. It is really beginning to drag. I have another baby shower coming up in less than 2 weeks. That is about exciting as my life gets while on bedrest.

6/5 - Hi ladies! I have been having period like cramps and heat in the lower uterus for about a week now. I am down to once a week apmts no more tests thank God. When my baby moves her head it hurts my pee pee hole. I know I know TMI. LOL! I guess I did not lose my mucus plus yet. I have seen a little mucus on the tissue here and there but not a huge blood tinged glob like some women describe. Barry set the crib up. I can not wait to see the baby sleeping in it!

6/13 - I had a prenatal appointment today. I am now 4 centimeters dilated on the outside, 2 cm's on the inside, cervix is soft, 50% effaced and her head is at zero station. Based on those numbers I doubt if I make it to July but my doc says it is ok. My goal is to make it to week 37 which is full term.

6/15 - I think I lost my mucus plug! Ok I am not really sure. I have been losing a little mucus for about 3 weeks now but this time there was pink and some blood strings entangled in it. But because I had an internal 2 days ago I am not sure if the blood came from that. Plus people say it is a huge glob. This was not huge. I wiped like 4 significant amounts with the tissue within an hour. I do know it had pink mixed in with the mucus. At my last internal I spotted brown blood a day later but there was no mucus involved. Oh well, if this wasn't it I guess I will know it for sure when it happens.

Also, for about a week now I have been having menstrual like cramps, heat sensation in lower abdomen, sharp stabbing pains that shoot down my butt and diarrhea every day. TMI?

6/18 - I can't believe I only have 24 days to go. That sounds really close. I am now positive that I lost my mucus plug on Saturday. A huge glob with as much blood as mucus came out.

6/20 - Had a prenatal this morning. No changes. I feel discouraged. All those contractions and pelvic pressure didn't change a thing this weekend. I am still 50% effaced, 0 station, 4 cm external os and 2 cm internal os. Well at least I only have 22 days left either way.

6/22 - Had painful contractions today that had me in tears. Since 2pm I have been experiencing hip pain, menstrual type cramps and heat in lower abdomen, dizziness, serious back pain, pain shooting down to my legs and a headache. It feels like my vagina is on fire.

6/25 - MY CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCE can be found on my babies page!

7/2 - My newborn is being real good to me. Making this a lot easier. She only cries when hungry, wet or needing to burp. Other than that she just sleeps. No unnecessary crying so far.

7/10 - Faith is now 6 lbs 11 oz! We have had a few rough nights and alot of broken sleep. Forget the comment I made above. That was then and this is now. Whew This is hard work! I have been solely pumping my milk. She will not stay on the breast and my let down is sooo slow that she gets frustrated and cries. Not giving up on it though. I will have to go back to work at the end of August. Not looking forward to separating at all. That is going to be rough. I have also been having the blues for the last couple of days.

8/2 - Faith is now 8lbs 7oz! I love her soooo much. She is not sleeping through the night yet although she is doing better. She wakes up maybe twice during the night instead of 4 times.

8/16 - Faith is now 9lbs 7oz! 21 3/4 inches long. She has a hernia of the umbilical cord and cradle cap. She got all her shots today. My poor baby hollered and currently has a slight temporary fever. I felt so bad for her having to feel that pain.

8/28 - Faith is definitely the light of my life. I can't wait to get her ears pierced! I'll have to wait until she is 3 months. I started work on 8/20. Breastfeeding is going great. I am pumping enough at work [thanks to Fenugreek and the LaLecheLeague] so that I do not have to supplement with formula. I still do not have a period. I started the mini pill this week. She is not sleeping through the night. She wakes up twice for feedings. She has forgotten the pain of her shots thank God. She also has less bowel movements. Maybe only 3 times a week but she has tons of gas.

10/03 - My September comments dissappeared for some odd reason LOL. I just scheduled Faiths 2nd set of immunizations. She will be four months on October 25th and that is the same day as her appointment. Not looking forward to this again. However, I will give her Tylenol before we get there.

10/08 - Someone asked me if I ever got those stretch marks. The answer is no. Not a stretch mark on my belly or breast. I used Palmers Stretch Mark cream faithfully 2x a day. It worked for me! I hope I get this lucky with my 2nd baby. Because I only gained 20 lbs during my pregnancy, when I went to my appointment 3 weeks after giving birth I was back to my prepregnancy weight minus 3lbs.

10/12 - Barry is going to come with us to her aptmt on the 25th. He's holding her legs down this time while she gets her shots and not me. Whew! I am so glad he is going to be there. I do not want to see them give her the needles again. Faith still wakes up twice to eat during the night but then again she will not take a pacifier. She uses my breast to soothe her instead. She only has a bowel movement once a week. I do not know if this is normal so I will discuss this at her next aptmt. Her cradle cap is gone. I bought Selson Blue and most of it cleared up the 1st shampoo.

10/25 - Faith is 4 months 2day. She got her second set of shots 2day as well. She weighs 12lbs 13oz and is 24 inches long! She handled it a lot better this time. I gave her tylenol about a half hour before her appointment. I put a picture of her at 4 mos on her page.

10/30 Well we got Faiths ears pierced on Saturday. She only cried for about 15 seconds. She did great and looks so pretty! She still has only 1 bowel movement a week. Still has tons of gas.

I love my baby so much it hurts. Sometimes I just stare at her, squirming and laughing and squealing and I can't believe this little round butterball has my heart in such a strong hold. I wish I could take her with me everywhere I go. I never tire of her. I never need a break from her. She is me in a baby form. I can hardly put her down. When Barry looks at her his eyes light up and this little inward grin moves across his face. I know just what he feels when he looks at her like that b/c I feel that little thing too. I want to protect her and just hold her for the rest of my life. I feel so protective. My last line in the poem I wrote "To Love Me is to Love My Child" is so true. I do not like anyone who doesn't like her and if you love Faith then I love you automatically. The thought of someone doing or even saying something bad about my baby stirs up some feelings of anger on a level that I have never felt before. I love her with a serious passion :)!

11/9/07- Still no period. I am still breastfeeding through the night so I assume that is why. My last period was October of 2006. Wow. I am loving this. I stopped the mini pill. I am not trying to get pregnant or anything I just want to try natural family planning to prevent pregnancy. I read that since I am breastfeeding through the night I only have a 2% chance of getting pregnant.

11/26/07 - Faith turned 5 months yesterday! WOW! Time is moving way too fast. She's been acting really clingy to me the last couple of days. Maybe it is a growth spurt? She is also fussy. I hate leaving her to go to work. I bought her a my first Christmas red velour outfit with a matching hat. I got her name engraved on her hat. We have a Christmas party at my job and she will wear it then :)

12/4/07 - Nothing new really. Still no period. I am loving this. Faith is grabbing everything she can. She loves to bounce all day which is very tiring for me but she just squeals and laughs. She never gets tired of it. She is basically sitting up but still needs a little more strength to do it 100%. Barry's uncle is a photographer and we took family portraits with him. He will not give them to us until Christmas though :(. Barry tells me last night he wants 4 children. Thats funny. Nice but funny. I had my 1st pap smear since giving birth. I think my cervix is still tender and I had a few blood spots for 5 days after the exam. It hurt a little.

12/14/07 - Faith is completely sitting up now. We bought her a walker. We have no stairs so it is ok. She can only walk backwards in it. I began giving her cereal in a bowl this week. The first time I tried she rejected it but last night she went crazy over it. I couldn't put it in fast enough so she kept grabbing the spoon and putting it in her own mouth. Lol.

12/28/07 - Christmas with Faith was great! She is the joy of my life. She had her 3rd set of shots yesterday and she is 14lbs and 12oz. She is also 26 inches long. I can't believe she is 6 months already! I just wish she could stay a baby :(. She now walks forward and from side to side in her walker.

1/10/08 - Faith's first tooth showed up on 12/27. Now the second one just showed through. She now has 2 bottom teeth. LOL.

2/25/08 - Faith is 8 months today! I can not believe it. I am still nursing. Pumping while at work. It is really a challenge but I am trying to hang in there for her. I made it this far.............Faith is very active. If she is not screaming and singing then she is bouncing and bouncing and bouncing. She can crawl backwards. She enjoys standing up and climbing down off our lap as if she can walk away. I love her every bit as much as the day she was born if not more!

3/19/08 - Hello ladies! Faith is waving goodbye and says Hi, OK and Dada. She is not interested in crawling but would rather stand up, walk with our assistance or bounce all day. She has this fix for paper. Tearing it up or trying to eat it. She loves paper. She loves smiling at herself in the mirror. She is still the love of my life! On the 25th she goes for her 9th month shots. I dread her getting those needles. I am still breastfeeding and my period has returned. Boooooo. This weekend her top 2 teeth cut through her gums. She ran a fever for 24 hours because of it.

4/8/09 - Hi! We took Faith to her 9th month appointment on the 27th of March and she weighs 16lbs 14 oz on that date. She is 27 3/4 inches long. Her top 2 teeth are coming down and she tries to eat anything we eat. She is walking around with the help of that baby walker. Not the one she sits in but the one she pushes around like a shopping cart. It is hilarious to watch. My love for her has not wavered or calmed. I love her with a passion that I think about everyday [especially when we are apart]. I never knew a love like this until I had this baby. I love her so much I could cry right now just thinking about her! I know I know I am killing you with all this cheesyness.....

5/2008 - Faith took her 1st steps. She is 10 months!

6/12/08 - I am preparing for her 1st birthday party. Her theme is 1st b-day princess. She is walking really good now. She has 8 teeth. She loves to hollar out dada but has yet to say mama. That sucks. She is also very affectionate and loves to give kisses.

6/24 - Faith turns 1 tomorrow. I am a little sad but happy. I can't believe it! A year already. I put her picure online at cbs3 and she is going to be on local TV NBC10 tomorrow.

7/1/08 - Her party was successful! A little shakey in the beginning. The tent just wouldn't stay up so eventually we had to say forget about it. She had a good time and everyone told me they did too so that is all that matters to me! Dora, Diego and a clown showed up. They had face painting and balloon sculpting and ALL our family showed up. Both Barry's and mine. I am very happy with the outcome.

7/7/08 - Husband and I had the discussion regarding baby #2. We decided to not actively try but we will not do anything to prevent a pregnancy.

7/8/08 - Faith had her 12th month doctors appointment yesterday. She is 18lbs 14oz and 28 and a quarter inches long!

One of my co-workers overheard a conversation about me TTC and she says, " Are you aware of what your getting into? That will be 2 in daycare." I feel that her comment is rude. I am not stupid. I have thought out the pros and cons. I do not want to wait 5 years to have another baby just so one will be in school and one in daycare. i do not knock anyones elses decisions so no one can knock mine. Me and my husband are the only ones who will have to take care of our children. I am really irritated with negative people. Last week I had my blue nursing bag and this irritant says incredulously "ARE YOU STILL NURSING?" Now if I would have asked her ARE YOU STILL UGLY? I would be called a monster. Mind you I would never ever say that to anyone. People really need to think before they speak. I had to deal with so many negative comments about my size, weight, shape, etc when I was pregnant with Faith that I thought these things wouldn't irk me so much but they still do.

7/18/08 - Faith finally began saying Mama this week! I love hearing it come from her little lips! She finally validated me as her mother. It took her long enough afterall I have been up for hours comforting her when she was sick, nursing her for a year through breast blisters and all, providing and caring for her every need.

7/21/08 - My hubby bought us a laptop so I am so happy I don't have to wait from 9 to 5 Mon thru Fridays only to check out this site. I AM SO HAPPY!

8/4/08 - I took Faith to Sesame Place on Saturday. It was so fun.I felt like it was just me and her there having some special mother and daughter time. My hubby was away this weekend. We missed him so much. I took pictures to show him.

8/6/08 - Its my BIRTHDAY!

8/7/08- Last night Faith was saying momma so clearly last night. She kept calling me over and over. I love her so much!

8/8/08 - Faith is just amazing! She sings 3 songs now. She sings her grace b4 she eats, Ring around the Rosey and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Lol. Sometimes she just hums the melody to each of these songs.

FAITH

When I look into your eyes I see me

I feel a love that will last forever and a day

You are the most beautiful thing I have ever done

For once I feel like I've won

You light up me and Barrys world

We've found an angel in our little girl

No one means more to us than you

Protecting and cherishing you is what we plan to do

I'm always on your side

We'll never let anyone hurt you

I'm your best friend girl

I'll never desert you

We have years and years to be together God willing

And I will appreciate every one of them

Teaching you how to be a woman and wife to that special him

I love you so much there are no words to describe

All I know is I can't live without you in my life

To love me is to love my child

Baby's Conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"
God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."
Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will tea ch you how to speak."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."
"Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."
"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."
God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
God said, "You will simply call her, "Mommy."

TTC Month #3 CHARTING: (DPO = days past ovulation) (CM = cervical mucus)(BD = baby dance)

TTC month#1 - said we will let whatever happen happen.

TTC month #2. BD every other day during fertile period. This was our first active attempt to conceive.

TTC month #3 - 8/24 AF came on CD27/Aug 24th. Last month it came on CD29. So I will use the average of 28 days. My next expected AF is 9/21/08. According to the ovulation calendar I enter my fertile period on 9/3 to 9/8 with an ovulation day on 9/7. This month we will BD every day during fertile period.

Make an ovulation ticker