candy_mandy85: Amanda & Joel's TTC Story

Posted Thursday, May 15, 2008 12:00 PM

 "I can't wait for the first time we'll be able lay eyes on our little one..."

Love at first blog

Joel and I first met online in 2006. I had read his blog and thought he sounded interesting, and he only lived an hour-and-a-half from me so I sent him an email. This was completely out-of-the-ordinary for me and I was not looking for anyone at the time, but I was just overcoming a difficult period in my life and thought it would be nice to make some new friends and start fresh.

Well weeks went by and I forgot I sent him an email, but one day while I was on MSN in the university computer lab, he started messaging me. Unfortunately, I was on my way to Chem lab, so I said I would be back on later that night if he was going to be around. That night when I got home and went online, Joel was already on. We started chatting and before I knew it, four hours had passed. It had felt like he was a long-lost friend and I had not talked to him in years. Weeks went on and we decided to meet. However, I chickened out at the last minute because everyone was telling me horror stories of meeting stalkers and murders online and then disappearing. So I told him it would be better if we didn't meet. Well a couple of weeks went by and I felt like I had made a huge mistake, so I called him up and said I was on my way over (stupid mistake, I know -- I could have been killed). So we met at a department store, as a safe place. We then rented some movies and hung out in his apartment for the evening. This was one of my favorite nights with Joel. There was an instant connection and on my drive back home I thought to myself that this relationship will probably be my last.

Taking the next step... 

Our relationship progressed pretty fast from then on out. A month later we exchanged I love yous and six months later we were talking about marriage and children. But it wasn't until 13 months later that Joel proposed, on the coldest night of the year, during a walk through the park (which I thought was just the craziest idea, but I went along with it anyway). Sure enough, it was a magical night that I will never forget. And it was eight months after that on a beautiful day (August 31st) we exchanged our vows among our closest family and friends.

Joel had wanted to get pregnant right after we got married, but I wanted to wait for a couple of years and have our careers and finances in order. It was around Christmas time, after watching PS, I love you, and listening to a great sermon by our pastor, that I realized you shouldn't always put off the things you really want in life, because you may never get a chance to experience them. So it was then that Joel and I decided to start trying. We haven't gotten our BFP yet, but are putting it all in God's hands and know he will bless us with a baby when it's our time.

Looking forward to baby 

Right now we are proud parents to our fur baby, Finley, who is a 14-week-old West Highland Terrier puppy. He brings us so much joy. Watching Joel with Finley is what has made me want to have a baby with him even more. 

What I look forward to most about being a mommy is knowing that I was able to create a beautiful person with Joel, and that I will be able to help our children blossom and grow into adults. I look forward to experiencing the joys of life with them; kissing them when they fall and scratch their knees, helping them bake cookies, going shopping with our little girl (if we have one), being there when they score their first goal. There is so much I look forward to, but most of all right now I'm just focusing on getting a positive pregnancy test and experiencing the changes my body will go through for 9 months. I can't wait for the first time we'll be able lay eyes on our little one -- that will be the overall greatest thing I look forward to.

The truth about TTC 

The best part of TTC is knowing that we might have created a little baby; the worse part is that at the end of the month we are not successful, it's always disappointing. Society puts such stigma on getting pregnant that it is a normal, natural thing, and that it shouldn't be that difficult. So as an adult, when you are finally ready for a baby, you expect to become pregnant right away. I think this is what has been the hardest part. But joining The Nest was the greatest thing; it's awesome to know that there is somewhere to go where many couples are in the same boat as we are.

Read more about Nestie candy_mandy85!

Have a great TTC story of your own? Email it to kstanford@theknot.com!