I Was Born To Be A Mom #imbornto #sp

Almost 24 years ago, I gave birth to my first daughter. I can barely wrap my brain around that number. I kid you not, it feels like it should’ve been just yesterday I was holding her as a newborn baby in my arms.

Next month has not only Mother’s Day, but also the day my oldest will graduate with her Master’s Degree in Social Work. I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone from her being in my tummy to her going into the working world full time, doing what she was born to do.

When I think back to finding out I was pregnant with her, I remember not believing it was true. lol I had only been married a month! She was a honeymoon baby. There was so much newness in my life at that time. I’d only been a Christian for a few months. I’d only been married for a month. Now I was going to be a mom.

I didn’t know much about being pregnant. I was only 22 and very ignorant. Even though I’d taken a family life class in high school, it certainly didn’t prepare me for pregnancy. Thankfully I had a wonderful doctor who educated me along the way.

When I was about 24 weeks along, I started having contractions. I was working full time, and on my feet all day long. I had started to dilate, but not to the point of the doctor needing to do anything drastic. I was required to sit at my job, and was put on medication to stop the contractions. Let me just say, as a first time, and young mom, it was pretty scary.

As we got to the end of the pregnancy, I had an ultrasound and it showed a mass inside of her. We even have it on video tape! The doctor sent us to an ultrasound specialist a week or so later, but we and friends prayed over her, and when we went to our appointment, there was nothing there!
My daughter’s original due date was supposed to be August 11th, but she decided to come early on July 27th. We’d just gotten done with a day on the water, and I had a feeling my contractions were starting. She was my smallest baby, and the only one I ever had an epidural for. Go figure! If I remember, she was 6 lbs 13 oz. Yep, she was pretty tiny.

I wish I had pictures of her as a newborn with me. In just a few months I’ll have them with me again as we bring all of our belongings out to Maryland! When I get my hands on them I’ll try to remember to come back and post some of those pictures.

In the meantime, I’m one of 39 bloggers (representing the length of a full-term pregnancy) joining The Motherhood to share about the importance of the March of Dimes. I know first hand how important a healthy pregnancy means to mom and baby!

Did you know for more than 75 years, the March of Dimes has
been helping families? Check out these staggering statistics:

In the United States:
• 1 baby is born prematurely
every minute
• approximately 72 die each
day before reaching their first
birthday 

Worldwide:
• 15 million babies are born
too soon each year

This year, you can partner with the March of Dimes in a variety of ways! You can make the March of Dimes your charity of choice for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day (can’t forget those dads). You can also make purchases that will benefit them as well.

Here’s who you can shop with to benefit the March of Dimes and help make sure more babies are born healthy!



• Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

o Chef Emeril Lagasse has teamed up with Martha Stewart Living to help raise at least $30,000 for the March of Dimes by giving patrons the opportunity to add a donation to their check at participating Emeril Restaurants in New Orleans, Las Vegas, Orlando and Charlotte. This runs from 4/26 to 5/10 and from 6/7 to 6/21.

o Fans can also participate by joining the #thx2u movement and sharing what their thankful for (visit www.marthastewart.com/thx2u to learn more; please share starting MONDAY APRIL 13). For every baby photo uploaded with a caption about what their thankful for with the hashtag #thx2u, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Meredith Corporation will be making a $10 donation.
• Bon-­‐Ton (and www.bonton.com)

o Customers of The Bon-­‐Ton Stores (and any of their other 7 nameplates) will receive a $10-­‐off coupon for every $3 donation to the March of Dimes made at checkout.

o When the donation is made online, instead of a $10-­‐off coupon, it will be a 25% off coupon.
o In addition, when a customer makes a $1 donation with a women’s fragrance purchase of $75 or more prior to Mother’s Day, they will receive an atomizer filled with the fragrance of their choice. 
This will run from April 30th to Mother’s Day and will be revisited again in June for Father’s Day.
o Link: www.bonton.com/marchofdimes
• MudPie

o MudPie will donate $2 to the imbornto campaign for every Bella Bar, Mom Bar and Mommy and Me jewelry item purchased for Mother’s Day.
o In addition, MudPie will donate 10 cents from each baby headband or sock purchase to the March of Dimes throughout the year.
o Link: http://www.mud-­‐pie.com/march-­‐of-­‐dimes-­‐imbornto
• A&E Jewelers

o Will be donating 20% of the purchase price from each brand new twinkling Swarovski encrusted sterling silver March of Dimes Enchanted “Healthy Beginnings” Necklace that was designed for this campaign.
o Link: www.aejewelers.com
• eBay Giving Works
o Visit eBay’s Charity Shop for Mother’s Day gifts where proceeds from your purchase support the March of Dimes. Also, from April 30 – May 11, you’ll be able to make a donation to the March of Dimes in checkout when making purchases on eBay.
o Link: www.ebay.com
• Kmart
o Celebrate mom with a gift of puppy love! From April 15 to June 21, Kmart will donate $1 from the purchase of each mother/baby puppy ornament to the March of Dimes.
o Link: www.kmart.com
• ALEX AND ANI

o ALEX AND ANI have designed their Special Delivery Bangle to honor all mothers. The Special Delivery Bangle is available in pink or blue both in copper and silver. 20% of each bangle sold will benefit the March of Dimes.
o Link: www.alexandani.com/pink-­‐special-­‐delivery-­‐charm-­‐bangle.html

What are you hoping for your children as they grow up?