On May 1, while at a monitoring appt for my gestational diabetes, I "watched" my real first contraction happen. I had been having Braxton hicks for weeks and started to feel like they were changing and getting serious, but I wasn't convinced till I actually saw it happen! The number climbed as my belly tightened, and I knew my body was preparing once again, to deliver a precious soul earth-side. But this was only the beginning of 4 long weeks of contractions, getting ready for baby girl!

August 13, 2016 was set as my due date! Based on my last period, that's the day we could expect to welcome this new baby we'd learned about! Already, I felt like I had so much love for this baby human before I knew if it would be a girl or a boy! All of those things about not knowing if you could love number 2 as much as number 1 until you meet them were true! I felt a sense of missing my "new mom" life already! I was gonna be a momma of TWO!

WARNING: There is absolutely NOTHING glamorous about birthing a baby, no matter what the story. So if you are not okay with somewhat graphic terms/explanations I suggest you not read! Nonetheless, this story, like many more, is miraculous and beautiful and something I will treasure forever and ever.