I always knew I wanted to be a mother. It was a natural feeling for me. I always knew I wanted to love, nurture, teach, protect, and respect my child. Naturally, my “plan” for my journey to motherhood would have been a little different than God’s plan for me, but during the last four years of being Chase’s mom, I believe that God knew best. The evening of 11 July 2010 was the moment that I found out I was about to begin my amazing journey and new chapter in my life.
I always had this preconceived idea of how wonderful pregnancy would be. I had so often heard of the pregnancy “glow”, having crazy cravings, being able to eat anything I wanted because, of course, I was now eating for two. I grew up hearing my mother tell me how she loved being pregnant. I was so happy to be starting my new journey. My pregnancy didn’t quite go that way. When I was pregnant with my son, it seemed as if those nine months dragged on forever. Morning sickness began 24/7 the day after I found out to the day I went into labor. I talked to so many people, read so many articles and books, and just kept looking and waiting for that “Honeymoon Trimester,” the second trimester, when everything was going to get better, and it would be the best experience ever. I was one of those rare cases that, until my son was born, the sickness wouldn’t stop. I ended up at nine months pregnant being thirteen pounds less than my pre-pregnancy weight because of being so sick every day. At one point, I remember thinking I would give anything to do an “I Dream of Jeannie” blink to make that time disappear. Because of that, I started having doubts that I would be a good mother and even be able to handle the responsibility of it all.
Finally, the time came. I went into labor the evening of 26 February 2011. Not only was I finally not going to be sick every day anymore, but I was going to finally going to meet the little man I had been so anxiously waiting to meet the last nine months.