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March 12, 2003
Again, this entry is some memories of mine before Hannah was born, but they are important for me to remember so that one day I can share them with my girls.
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Before we decided we were ready to start trying to have children, we wanted to take a trip together, as a married couple. So when his sister announced for her college graduation, she wanted for everyone to go to Los Vegas, we were excited and ready to go. I have never traveled out of the South so I was excited to see more of the USA, even if it was through a plane window. It was my first time to see mountains, and the drab terrain of the west. Everything is so green at home, and the west was, well, brown. But the sunset was gorgeous. At one point at our hotel, we could look away from the strip, ans see the mountains and the different browns and reds of the west as they fade into the blue/pink sky. When we were getting off the plane, a woman who we had befriended told us, “get ready for the heat wave.” Honestly, Los Vegas was not hot, in mid-June, we were warm, at night we needed a light sweater or jacket—Texas gets HOTTTTT! When we came back home, and stepped off the plane, our good ole Texas air was so thick, it almost took our breath away.
We were off for our four-day get away, and we could not be happier! Gary was ecstatic, a weekend trip of gambling, gambling, gambling, although it defies every bit of his southern Baptist religion, he was ready to tempt lady luck. I on the other hand, was happy to get away, see the Los Vegas sites, and was praying that I would not be stuck in the casinos the entire time. I am not a gambler, not by any stretch of ones imagination. My hard earned dollars, are much better spent on shoes, and clothes that I will never wear, in a size that is only a memory, rather than hand over my measly chip to some unforgiving hungry slot machine. The blinkety blink, clunkety clunk, just isn’t my dream come true—but it leaves Gary mesmerized!!!! He is completely entranced by the lights, sounds, the screams of victory hailing from the craps tables, sometimes I think maybe they are sending him subliminal messages that are drawing him in.
We stayed at Circus Circus because my husband’s family enjoyed the gambling there on their last trip. Although, Circus Circus is not a five star hotel, it had clean rooms and was perfect for the time that we spent there—sleeping.
Our flight arrived later than the others, because I had to work that morning, so we met the group at the casinos. The girls were gathered a round a blackjack table trying to befriend a dealer to teach them the tricks of the trade. Gary kissed me on the fore head and set off to find his fortune, and the guys that were gambling “seriously.” We were able to gamble a bit before we all grew hungry and ready for a change in scenery, and then we were off to see the lights and dazzle of the Los Vegas Strip. If you haven’t seen it, I think everyone should at least go once, at night, Los Vegas is absolutely gorgeous. The lights, the sounds all are almost overwhelming. And the food. . .again, no one can cook a steak like you will find in my native Texas, but it was satisfying. The amount was just unbelievable. Buffets the size of Florida, and varieties for every pallet.
Our first full day in Vegas, we went walking to see the different hotels and what they had to offer. The Paris was neat, and so was the Venetician. But, my favorite was The Bellagio. It was huge and magnificent and the wealth of those sitting in the private poker area was almost the way the movies depict it. Sheer opulence. . .
One of the goals that I had set for the trip was to see a Los Vegas show. I wanted to see a true Los Vegas Show. We went to make reservations, and were told that almost all shows after 8:30 p.m. were topless. . .WHAT?!* (Note: I think the woman’s body is a beautiful thing, in all shapes sizes and colors, but I am not a fan of someone shaking their ta-ta’s in my face) The “hostess” was extremely candid and explained that most shows are done with such taste, that you hardly notice, there is so much glitz and glamour, that “ta-ta’s” are just a minor detail. Well, we are all grown-ups, and we decided, that as long as it was tasteful. . . We chose a show that was smaller? But offered a variety of acts, and had enough seats for us all. . .Off we went. First of all let me say, Sigmund and Roy and the White Tigers—vacationing, Bellagio Oh—booked for months in advance. I forgot the name of the show that we saw, but let me just say—3 show girls, a monkey, and a dwarf comedian. Thank goodness that “hostess was on vacation the next day, because I was ready to write a letter to my congressman, and anyone else, who would listen we were misinformed and I was angry. However, the guys thought this was hysterical, and were very amused by the entire event. The women, well we managed to drink our complimentary beverage, and take some abuse from our husbands, and we watched, tried not to choke, and planned our speeches for the hotel hostess.
The following day, we met for breakfast, the guys gambled, the girls shopped for souvenirs, and we relaxed.
The flight home was fine, the food was blah, and we arrived home safe and sound. None the richer, and a tad poorer. But I am able to tell about it, so that was good.
Little did we know, we just got our one and only trip in, before we would find out, soon we would be increasing our home by two feet. . . .
A family is born. . .
On Saturday, July 8th, 2000 we found out I was pregnant. Gary and I had been “trying” and I was ecstatic! Gary was asleep. I made the deal with him that I would take the test in the morning when he was home so that we could share the moment of finding out together. I wanted everything to be just right, so when I woke up at 4:45 am having to go to the restroom, I woke Gary up, knowing that I was about to test.
Once I saw the faint pink line, I yelled to him, and he responded; “Great, now come back to bed.” Sleep. . .no way! I went to get on the couch and just think of what the next nine months would bring. As I was flipping through the channels, I found “American Baby” TV program on, and watched so intently, you would think I was studying for an exam. This morning I knew my life had been forever changed, and I felt so peaceful, yet so uneasy. A wave of responsibility hit me and suddenly I was concerned with the oysters that I had had the night before for dinner--what was their nutritional value. I needed to pack my meals with nutrition and vitamins to aid this growing child. I needed to cleanse my system with water to wash away impurities, and I definitely needed to start walking, because fitness is key to losing all of the weight that I was sure to gain. I was in control; I was going to get through this with flying colors, and no more empty calories for me!
Can you tell that I am Type A personality? I must always have a plan, a list, a schedule. I have to research things, and feel comfortable before I experience them, so that little is left undetermined. Gary jokes, that while he was peacefully sleeping, thinking of our unborn child safe in my womb, I was gathering my questions to interview universities so that I would know exactly how this little life will unfold. Truth be told, my head was racing with all different thoughts, but those first few hours after I had found out I was pregnant I spent rubbing my tummy, dreaming of the wee little babe I would cradle in my arms in 36 more weeks. I thought about how I would tell my family, and how we would tell his. I wondered how my sister would take the news, she had been trying for years to have a baby.
We were supposed to meet Gary’s family at their cabin that day, so we got an early start to our day. The drive to the cabin was so nostalgic to me. We talked about our plans for this life, if I would continue to work, would we find out the sex of the baby, what names we thought were nice, and of course our own predictions of what our new son or daughter would look like. Of course we already had the first names picked, Hannah for a girl and Trace for a boy.
We had thought we would wait and tell our families together, but we just could not wait. We went over half the day with his family, and then all of a sudden, Gary looked at me, and I looked at him, and he said, “Mom, Dad, what are you planning for next spring?” The nonchalantly answered, “Nothing.” And Gary replied, “Well, you think you might want to be grandparents?”
We stopped by my parents house on the way home, just to check in on them, and they were spending the normal Saturday, Dad was watching the golf tournament, and mom was doing laundry. The conversation was much of the same, my dad jumped out of his recliner, and yelled “Oh, Jamie that is fabulous!!” My mom just sat and cried, happy tears of course. We called my sister who lived in Houston and then my grandparents. Everyone was so excited. Bless Julie’s heart, she cried. I know she was happy for me, but I also understand she was probably a bit hurt. She had the whole gamut of fertility issues, and here I am successful on almost the first try.
Gary and I were proud of ourselves. We felt all grown up. We were ready, and anxious for the next nine months. According to our records, we were only 5 weeks pregnant, but it was very real already. In our minds that baby was already a part of our family.
Blessings to all,
Jamie
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