Table of Contents
Introduction xiii
Baby's Choice Colleen M. Story xv
1 We're Pregnant
It Will Change Your Life Dale Hanson Bourke 2
I'm Ready Kristen Cook 5
It's a… Father! Stephen Harrigan 8
The Journey Begins Jim Warda 14
Inner Sight Ami McKay 16
Delayed Gratification Patricia K Cameransi 20
Enjoy Your Baby Heather Black 24
Breaking the News Helen Colella 29
Great Expectations Liane Kupferberg Carter 32
2 Nine Months and Counting
Did You Just Eat a Watermelon? Anna Wight 39
Flying Nicole Smith 41
My Baby Brother John Conklin 44
The Eleventh Hour Melanie L. Huber 45
Garbage Day Gil Goodwin 48
Notes of an Expectant Father Scott Cramer 49
My Hero Patricia Franklin 55
I Know What You've Been Doing! Becky Walker 58
A State of Bliss Jan Butsch 59
Hair Raising Susan Everett 63
A Mother's Journey Elizabeth Butera 65
Expectant-ness Barbara Warner 66
3 For Expectant Fathers
A Crash Course in Epidurals and Diapers Gary Thompson 72
Father Hens Hugh O'Neil 77
Deep in Dadland T. Brian Kelly 83
Love Letters Robin Silverman 87
The Mercedes Ken Swamer 90
Daddy's Girl Nancy M. Surella 92
I've Never Been So Scared David E. Mittman 95
4 Challenges Along the Way
The Baby's Stash James A Nelson 100
A Precious Gift Kelli S. Jones 103
My Unborn Baby Saved My Life Elisa Kayser Klein 106
A Gift of Love Phyllis DeMarco 112
To My Child Heather James 116
How Bubba Lukey Got His Name Del Doughty 118
The Mouth That Roared Barbara Hoffman 121
Tears Bonnie J. Mansell 124
Miracle Baby Bill Holton 129
Lesson in Courage Ami Fox as told to Dianne Gill 136
Dads Will Be Dads Susan M. Lang 140
A Life or Death Decision Heather Black 144
Cute, Cuddly and Calls All the Shots Ray Recchi 149
5 Special Delivery
A Trusting Love LeAnn Thieman 154
Why Our Son Is Named Fox Mary Jane Strong 159
Baby on Board Allan Zullo John McGran 164
Baby Mall Carol McAdoo Rehme 168
Pre-Parenthood Jeanne Marie Laskas 169
The Labors of Love Claire Simon Laisser 172
Two for One Elisabeth Sartorius 176
Our Story Judy Ryan 180
Letting Go Kate Andrus 184
6 Small Miracles
Blessed Laughter Susanna Burkett Chenoweth 188
Grandpa's Precious Gift Sharon Crismon 191
My Father's Tears Robin Clifton 193
Miracle of Life Antoinette Bosco 195
Love, Friendship and Miracles Debbie Graziano 199
Book of Dreams Barbara Mackey 202
Sickest Baby in the ICU Cindy Anderson 206
7 Memorable Moments
Generations Sherrie Page Najarian 214
I Was Chosen Tucker Viccellio as told to Susan Alexander Yates Allison Yates Gaskins 217
Keeping the High Watch Eileen Davis 220
Grandpa's Surprise Ruth M. Henshaw 222
Love Notes Debra Ayers Brown 224
To Our Baby Girl Audrie LaVigne 227
Baby Toys Lynne Murphy 229
A Friendly Face Jennifer Reed 230
Unexpected Blessings Cynthia Hummel 234
Man in Labor Brenda Ford Miller 236
The Decision Cindy Barksdale 238
Fingerprints Mary Ostyn 242
Baby for Sale Marsha Priesmeyer 246
For Now Caroline Castle Hicks 247
Love in the Rearview Mirror Jim Warda 249
Breathe Lynn Noelle Mossburg 251
8 On Motherhood
My Previous Life Gayle Sorensen Stringer 254
Good to Be Home Jackie Fleming 256
Everything Old Is New Again Francoise Inman 259
They'll Be Fine Patsy Hughes 262
Rhymes and Reasons Antionette Ishmael 265
The Beholder's Eye Carol McAdoo Mime 267
The Hug Martine Ehrenclou 269
Alone Time for Mom Crystal Kirgiss 272
Let Me Michelle Mariotti 275
Happy Birthing Day to Me Deborah Shouse 277
Seems Like Yesterday Lynn Plourde 281
A Perfect Gift for a Not So Perfect Mother Kyle Louise Jossi 286
That Day Ann Mainse 289
I Wonder Now, What Moment Lori Elmore-Moon 292
9 Expectant Wisdom
If I Were Starting My Family Again John Drescher 296
Children Are… Meiji Stewart 300
Fantasy and Reality Clash with Birth of New Baby Jan Butsch 302
United States of Motherhood Joanna Slan 305
Surviving the Early Years of Momhood Jacqueline D. Carrico 308
Who Are Harder to Raise… Boys or Girls? Erma Bombeck 312
On Being the Mother of Twins Marion Bond West 315
So You Want to Be a Mother? Erma Bombeck 321
Growing Up Pains Liane Kupferberg Carter 325
Love Letters to My Daughter Judith Hayes 328
Guilt-Free Parenting Sharon Linnea 331
Who Is Jack Canfield? 337
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen? 338
Who Is Patty Aubery? 339
Who Is Nancy Mitchell? 340
Contributors 341
Permissions 353
