My beautiful daughter was born on February 14, 2007. She was 7 pounds 3 1/2 ounces. 19 1/2 inches in length.

Now, don’t run away, this is not about my daughter, but this memorable moment, changed my life forever!

I was very sick for nine months of my pregnancy, most people do not think much of pregnancy and motherhood, but pregnancy is the very beginning of motherhood, and the end stage of non-motherhood.

For nine months I spent day in and day out vomiting, and in the hospital. Not every mother to be goes through this, but I did. I wondered what kind of a mother I was. I was “hurting” my child, and she was not even born yet. I could not eat and keep food down. All I wanted to do was sleep. After nine months of this, I was ready for her to be born.

I was induced February 13. I waited all day for the contractions to start, and for my daughter to be born. Nothing, by 7 p.m. I was hungry (I could not eat in case I was to need a Cesarean section), disappointed and just wanted to go home. My husband and I finally convinced the nurses that, since we only lived less than five minutes away, we would be fine.

I went home, promptly ate my 3 saltine crackers and went to bed. We were informed of an impending snowstorm, and were instructed to return to the hospital by 4 a.m.

I awoke to minor contractions, and became excited. We arrived at the hospital at the “scheduled” time, was lead to our room, an IV was inserted, and the blizzard began.

About 5 a.m. contractions began getting stronger, and by 6 a.m. I was in full labor. I will not go into the details of my own “wimpyness” (as the doctor so fondly called it) for this event, but at 2:10 p.m. that afternoon, my daughter exploded into this world. (100 stitches)

My life changed instantly. I did not immediately “bond” with her, but I did fall right in love. We began to learn the things about being parents. Changing a newborns cloths and diapers. Cleaning the baby, holding, breastfeeding, all the things that the new parents may, or may not know.

Nightmares were severe from that night untill she was about 6 months old. I was informed the nightmares were caused by hormonal changes, but nevertheless, they were terrifying.

Two weeks after she was born she finally got the hang of sleeping at night. She would sleep several hours, wake for feeding, then sleep, then eat. Much of baby hood is this way. Sleep, eat, poop, and the cycle continues.