Trying to Conceive Stories

mnbride1013: Alicea & Chris' TTC Story

Nest Kaitlin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:00:00 GMT

"Whether we conceive or adopt, we will have children. We just have to keep focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel..."

Chris and I have been together for over three years. We met online in December of 2004. We had exhausted all other dating avenues and went online as a last resort. Coincidentally, we both landed on the same site at the same time! We were married on October 13, 2007 and decided we wanted to start a family right away after being married.

When I first met Chris he was on the fence about having children, but I have known from a very young age that I wanted to be a mommy. I first started taking care of children at the tender age of 10 years old, assisting at a home daycare across the street from my parents' house. It was there that I learned to change diapers, feed infants, and generally care for children.

My love of children continued, and I babysat almost every weekend and many weeknights for families in my neighborhood. I'd even get referred to other families outside of my neighborhood. Eventually, at 16, I started working for a daycare center. I continued to work there for four years, until I graduated from college and moved on to the corporate business world.

Since those days of sitting for my neighbor's kids and taking care of the many daycare kids I watched grow up over the years, I have longed to have children of my own. Chris finally got on board with wanting children not long after we got engaged, and he's excited to become a daddy.

We have been trying for eight months with no luck, but if we find out after a full year of trying that we are not able, we will start the adoption process. Whether we conceive or adopt, we will have children. We just have to keep focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel.

> Read more about mnbride1013!
> Got a great TTC story of your own? Email it to kstanford@theknot.com!

LittleBlue1224: Elisa & Steven's TTC Story

Nest Kaitlin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:24:00 GMT

"We have all the hope in the world that we will, one day, be blessed with a healthy and beautiful little baby..."

Steven and I met almost five years ago on jdate.com (yes, we're an internet dating success story) and our three-year wedding anniversary is this October. It wasn't love at first sight for me, but if Steven tells the story, he'll say he knew right away. Boy, am I happy he was persistent! He is probably the most kind-hearted, warm, caring, funny, and genuine person I've ever had the great pleasure to be around. I honestly don't know what I'd do without him. Laughing and living with him every day is an absolute joy.

We got our BFP last summer, but tragically at seven weeks and one day, we discovered we had lost our baby. Naturally, we were both devastated and felt like nothing would ever be right again. After the hurt and pain began to subside, we knew we were ready to TTC again, and finally on our journey to becoming parents. I know Steven is going to make the most amazing father and I look forward ever day to making our dreams come true.

The best part about TTC is... well, you know! No, in all seriousness, the best part is knowing that once the TTC part is accomplished, we'll be one step closer to becoming parents. And that's something both of us have wanted for a very long time. We talk about names, traditions, family heritage, culture, etc. There's so much to look forward to and we have so much love to give! Hands down, the worst part about TTC is the stress and the waiting. Also up there on the list would have to be constantly being asked, "So, how's the baby-making coming along?" People mean well, but come on!

While we've been through so much already, we truly know our journey is just beginning. There is so much to look forward to and we have all the hope in the world that we will, one day, be blessed with a healthy and beautiful little baby... and if all goes well, several of them!

> Read more about LittleBlue1224!
> Got a great TTC story of your own? Email it to kstanford@theknot.com!

AlwaysMrs.S: Cari & Brian's TTC Story

Nest Kaitlin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:56:00 GMT

"I know Brian will be an amazing dad; I can just picture him holding our little one..."

A chance meeting

Brian and I met about four years ago on a blind date. I had planned to attend a friend's going away party and invited a guy my sister was trying to set me up with. The blind date and I did not hit it off, but the friend he brought along kept my attention all night. That friend was Brian.

Our life together has been just as unique as our meeting was. I am the voice of reason, more realistic and more emotional, while Brian is the carefree one who still makes me laugh, even when it seems impossible.

Dreaming about baby...

We just recently made the decision to TTC and it's all new and exciting for us. We talk all the time about the little blue-eyed kid we will have; whose personality traits it will carry (whether it will be shy like I was growing up, or mischievous like Brian was). We dream about whether it will be a boy or girl, and have already picked out names for both. I know Brian will be an amazing dad; I can just picture him holding our little one as if he might break it, pecking soft little kisses on the baby's forehead until both fall asleep.

We lay in bed and get lost in those thoughts, talking for hours about it. We reminisce about things we did growing up and how we would handle them with our child -- like the time Brian was three and played in the fireplace until he was covered in soot from head to toe. He got a bath and was put in clean clothes... only to go do it again!

We know TTC won't be easy for us, but we are ready for the challenge and know it will be one more thing that continues to make our story unique... starting from the first time we laid eyes on each other.

> Read more about AlwaysMrs.S!
> Got a great TTC story of your own? Email it to kstanford@theknot.com!

Nancy&Mark: Our TTC Journey

Nest Kaitlin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:00:00 GMT

"We understand that life will change as we know it, and look forward to a new life together as a family..."

We have been together for seven years and married for six months now. We met through Instant Messenger on A.O.L. I instant messaged Mark because he was online at the same time I was and he was the only male of legal age that had the same interest as me -- hockey! We chatted for about an hour and then I had to go. A few days later, I received an email from Mark congratulating me on my hockey game win. Then we decided to meet each other formally at one of my hockey games... and the rest is history.

Before we got married, we would often discuss having children. We both knew that we wanted to have them and understood that we would try soon after we were married. We have just begun the process of TTC and are taking our time with it. It would be wonderful if it happened right away, but we understand that it could take some time and will accept the right time deemed by God.

We are both excited and nervous about becoming parents. The excitement stems from knowing that we have created a life and the nervousness stems from the challenge of developing that life into its own person with the love and guidance that only parents can provide. We can only hope and pray that God will give us the strength and guidance to mold this life into a successful one. We understand that life will change as we know it, and look forward to a new life together as a family.

> Read more about Nancy&Mark!
> Got a great TTC story of your own? Email it to kstanford@theknot.com!

Britt71884: Britt & Kevin's TTC Story

Nest Kaitlin — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:00:00 GMT

"Some days are better than others, but I wouldn't be able to make it through without the love of my life..."

A perfect match

Kevin and I met almost five years ago and it truly was love at first sight. We met the day after Halloween by mutual friends and dated exclusively from the beginning. I knew almost immediately that he was "the One." When Kevin went home for Thanksgiving, he told his mom and dad that there was something special about what we had, and he was right!

After two-and-a-half years of dating, Kevin asked me to be his wife and of course I said yes! We had the most wonderful wedding I could have ever dreamed of. We bought a house a year later and settled down into our lives.

The baby journey

We always knew that we wanted children, but it was never the right time. A year after we bought our house, we both decided that it would be a good time to start trying for a family. We tried and tried and tried...! Finally, after five months, on April 2nd, we got our BFP! We were overjoyed. We told family and close friends and waited with nervous excitement for our first doctor appointment. Unfortunately, we didn't make it that far and lost the baby at six weeks and four days. To say the least, we were devastated. But I firmly believe that we are not given any more than we can handle and that we will one day (hopefully soon!) have a beautiful baby to love. So we continue the quest that is TTC! Some days are better than others, but I wouldn't be able to make it through without the love of my life!

> Read more about Britt71884!
> Got a great TTC story of your own? Email it to kstanford@theknot.com!

MandyE-worth: Mandy & Matt's TTC Story

Nest Kaitlin — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:00:00 GMT

"It seems like everything we've ever worked for has lead to this major decision..."

High school sweethearts

I have been with my husband for almost eight years and married to him only eight months. As former high school sweethearts, it is hard to remember back to a time when Matt wasn't sweeping me off my feet. We had our first date on Valentine's Day and ended up getting into a car accident before we made it to our reservation. I got whiplash, and I guess you could say that I've never been able to look away. Since then, we don't celebrate Valentine's Day, we celebrate our Wreck-iversary!

Next stop: baby!

It seems like Matt and I have done almost everything together: graduation, prom, the wedding; and to cap it off, we now want a baby so badly. It seems like everything we've ever worked for has lead to this major decision. We have just started looking for our first house, which means hundreds of homes to walk through. It makes my heart flutter that ever time we look through a different house, Matt immediately goes to the backyard to see if it is big enough for him to build a swing set and still have room to teach his future sons or daughters to play baseball.

Wanting a baby is the strangest of desires. We have never felt so ready for something in our entire lives, while at the same time so naive. There is so much to learn and we have been preparing by reading all the books and charting. When you first feel that initial urge to have a baby, every month that goes by makes you that much more eager to get the plus sign, two pink lines, digital "pregnant" readout, or whatever other way a test can deliver that wonderful news. some couples say that calculating the right times to try and make your baby takes the fun and excitement out of the process, but to us, this is the most romantic thing we've ever done.

> Read more about MandyE-worth!
> Have a great TTC story of your own? Email it to kstanford@theknot.com!

DAuger: Danielle & Tim's TTC Story

Nest Kaitlin — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:00:00 GMT

"This experience has allowed me to see the struggles my own parents went through..."

College sweethearts

My husband and I met during our second year of college. I fell in love with his intelligence and sense of humor. We've been together for just over five years now and married for almost two. We were married in my hometown and had a wonderful Honeymoon in Negril, Jamaica. We bought our first house last July and it was then that we began talking about adding to our family. We had always talked about having children and knew that it was something we both really wanted, but it wasn't until we settled into our little house that we decided the time was right!

Growing stronger through TTC

Trying to conceive is a wonderful experience. It really makes you realize how much you love your partner. Since deciding to TTC, our love has reached a new level that I never imagined was possible. I am looking forward to so many things about becoming a mother and I am eager to see life again through a child's eyes. I want to see their excitement over a first Christmas and the joy of the first warm day of spring. I look forward to teaching my child about the world and sharing their responsibility with my husband. This experience has also made me appreciate the work that goes into parenting and has allowed me to see the struggles my own parents went through. We just can't wait for our little one to arrive.

candy_mandy85: Amanda & Joel's TTC Story

Nest Kaitlin — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:00:00 GMT

"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.