Tashaobrien's TTC Story

Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 11:37 AM

"We're still beginners in our TTC journey and anxiously await the day that we'll be able to announce that we're going to be parents..."

How it all began

My husband Dale and I met at a  house party that a mutual friend was having in Brooklyn, NY -- shortly after I got back from my friend's wedding in St. Lucia. It was October,2007. We quickly hit it off and he gave me his number to give him a call. Now,anyone that knows me knows that I would NEVER call a guy when he gives me his number. Maybe it's my pride; I'm not sure. But, lo and behold, the following night, I called and we  talked on the phone for what seemed like hours. (We even had our first disagreement and to this day, we still haven't agreed on it: "Is a fig a part of the banana family?") I'm usually very quiet and don't talk much especially around  people I'm not very familiar with.But I felt like I'd known Dale forever. It  turns out that his father, who had passed away two years earlier, was actually born in St. Lucia, where I had just been. Is that a coincidence or what? And if that wasn't enough, his  mom actually lives about 10 blocks from my mom. I was definitely blown away and  knew from that night that Dale and I were meant to be together. I've always believed in the  concept of soul mates, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would meet mine.

Two weeks after we'd met, we had our first official date. Dale drove to New York from Connecticut, where he'd been living for the last 4 years, and we met at a spot in Brooklyn that we were both familiar with. As I was crossing the street, I saw this guy in these dirty blue jeans, a tee shirt, and a NY Yankees baseball cap turned backward. I said to myself: "That can't be him." But of course, it was. (I couldn't believe that's what he wore on our first date!) I put on a happy face, though, and we hopped on the train bound for Times Square. During our ride on the train, we still couldn't decide where to go for the date. He said he'd leave  it up to me and by the time we reached our destination, I knew exactly where we  would go. When we hopped off, we headed over to the famous "Ripley's Believe It Or Not."

I'd been living in New York for almost 4 years by now (and worked there for just as  long) and had never been to Ripley's. Neither had he. Of course we "ohhhhed" and "ahhhhed" at the exhibits and took a few pictures for memories of our night out. All in all, it was a great first date. And that evening, Dale hopped in his car and headed back to Connecticut. Fast-forward to Valentine's Day. We had been dating for what seemed like an eternity but was actually only a few months when Dale got down on one knee and popped the question on Valentine's Day 2008 at a park near my mom's house. There was no doubt in my mind at this point that he was the man that I would grow old with. And one year later, on April 26, 2009, I married my best friend.

Our TTC  Journey

Since I had to relocate to Connecticut after we married, Dale and I decided to wait until I found a new job and was all settled in before we started to TTC. So, our timeline was set at a year and a half after the wedding. Well, we got bitten by the baby bug sooner than that and decided to change that date just as our first anniversary was approaching. By then we figured we were in good shape  and ahead of the curve.

So in April 2010, I went off of the Nuva ring, which I  had used since 2004, when I had had a miscarriage at 16 weeks (while in another relationship prior to meeting Dale). I visited my OB/Gyn for my annual check-up and  informed her of our decision to start a family. She ran a few tests and gave us  the green light since I was very healthy for the most part. We're still beginners in our TTC journey and are anxiously awaiting the day that we'll be able to announce that we're going to be parents. I've read many of the posts on The Bump boards of the hardships some of the couples endure during their TTC journey and  they are in my thoughts and prayers that they'll be able to conceive a little one very soon. I also pray that Dale and I won't ever have to endure a similar struggle during our journey. I think the worst part of our TTC journey so far is the anticipation of waiting to achieve a positive result. And, the best part is the thought of being able to bond with our little one when he or she makes their debut into our life.

Over and over, I've thought about  what my first words would be to our baby and, I am stumped. But all in all, I can't wait to make my husband the "World's Most Incredible Dad."

> Want to share your TTC story? Email it to kstanford@theknot.com.