In honor of Labor Day… here’s a bit of insight to, my labor. My son is my absolute Life’s Joy and I could not imagine a day without him! He just turned two years old a few weeks ago, and already he is SO grown! Enjoy!

1. WAS YOUR PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Yes and no. We knew that we wanted to have a family together, but we weren’t “planning” planning on exactly when. So when it happened, we were both ecstatic!

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
No. I had been married before, and we didn’t want the complications of marriage. But we did get married before he was born due to unchangeable circumstances.

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
A little scared, but absolutely thrilled! My dream of a lifetime was to be able to have and raise a family… and I have been MORE than abundantly blessed with a great husband and PERFECT Angel of a son.

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
Absolutely NOT!!

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
23.

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
As weird as it sounds, I knew the exact moment that we conceived. I figured I was going to have to wait a while to take a test, but I took two tests four days after conception and they were both positive.

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
The hubby.

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
Yes!! I knew it would be a boy about a month before we found out the sex and everyone kept telling me that I couldn’t know for sure. So we found out at 18 weeks.

9. DUE DATE?
September 3rd, 2007.. LABOR DAY!! He was born exactly two weeks early on August 17, 2007.

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Not once.

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
MEAT!! Steaks, chicken, sausage – it didn’t matter! And it HAD to be drowned in Worcestershire sauce. Which, was VERY weird for me, because I really can’t stand condiments or BBQ sauce…

12. WHAT IRRITATED YOU?
Not too much, really.

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD’S SEX?
All boy!

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
Absolutely not! We were beyond thrilled for a boy. I’d love at least one little girl, but if I get blessed to be outnumbered, then that’s just fine with me.

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY
25, or 30 max.

16. Did YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
No. Several former “friends” said they were going to throw a shower for me, and then they all canceled them about a week before they were supposed to be. I was pretty upset at that!

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
Oh, I knew, ha.

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
Nope. Wonderfully healthy. Walking is a GREAT help!

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Inanna Birth Center, Denton, Texas.

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
Active labor start to finish was 4 hours.

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Hubby drove me to the birth center, at 4:30AM. Poor guy was so tired. Neither of us had slept that night, or the night before, so I told him to sleep on the bed while I was having contractions.

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Hubby, my midwife and her assistant. My parents, hubby’s Mom and a friend’s parents were in the next room waiting.

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
100% natural.

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Nope, nothing. Not even an IV. And it was great!

25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
6 LBS, 15 OZ.

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN
August 17, 2007 at 8:25AM.

29.WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Angelo Kole C.

4 hours after birth. We were allowed to go home after only two hours.

And, today…