Starting off with a bang

I’ve learned a few things as I’ve worked with P&N over the last two years:

1. Pregnancies are taking place everywhere, every day.

2. Every pregnancy--and every baby--is undeniably unique.

3. Every mother has a story to tell.

For these reasons, the "pregnancy and newborn" material really never gets old for me. And just like every other mother, I have my own tale to share...

This pregnancy began like a storm. A whirling, vomiting, outfit-destroying tornado of a storm. I had picked up a stomach bug from my toddler on the night of a Christmas choir performance for which I’d been rehearsing for months. My choir directors don't take absences lightly, and I knew they would remember my transgression at the next round of try-outs if I didn't make it to the performance. So I threw on my purple polyester dress and pearls and headed out. About halfway to the venue, I had to make Shawn pull over so I could hurl in a parking lot, but I would not be deterred, so we pressed on.