Everyone comes to parenthood in different ways. The decision to become a Mom or Dad is often filled with excitement, butterflies of uncertainty, and a multitude of other feelings on any given day. The choice to become a parent is based in love, but the paths to get there are innumerable. I planned on a straightforward and traditional path: meet the right man, get married, and have babies. Perhaps like you, I always knew I was a Mom, and spent so many years waiting to do it the way I had pictured. At the end of 2019 I realized I couldn’t wait any longer, and  I started conversations with my family and the rest of my support system about how my path to motherhood might look. With their support, and a tenacity that comes with a decision made, by March of 2020 I had chosen my fertility clinic, started diagnostic testing, and entered a partnership with a wonderful donor. Non-traditional? Check. Remember how COVID threw any number of loops into being human? We pressed on though and have spent three years working to bring a little more joy into this world. Non straightforward? Check. For anyone who has gone through this process, you know there is a fine line between sharing what is going on in your life and feeling overexposed on what can be a turbulent path. So many people struggle on the path to parenthood, and often in silence. I’m guessing if you don’t know the feelings yourself, you love someone who does. And yet, bringing that baby home is more important than all of that. That’s why I’m sharing with you today -I have certainly learned that sharing all of the feelings, not editing or labeling which are good and bad, is the surest path forward. It’s also what lets me be fully me and welcomes you all to do the same! If you’ve read this far, you get it. The joy of parenthood, the massive feelings of becoming, and the need for support. My support network looks a little different than I imagined, but I am ever so thankful for family and friends that are on this journey with me. I’m calling on my village to support me as a Mom starting from the very beginning! The next step is embryo banking and IVF, and reproductive healthcare is wildly expensive. Starting in January, we’ll do three rounds of egg retrievals. Then, if all goes well, IVF. Here’s where I’m at: up to now, my savings and a couple loans have covered treatment and the deposit for embryo banking and IVF (for context, well over $40K.) Here’s where your gift would go: each of the three egg retrieval rounds carries an additional $5,000-$7,000 in medications and ~$5,000 in genetic testing (to find which embryos are most likely to turn into a healthy pregnancy). Knowing I am a Mom without a child, I will make this happen. And yet, I would love to spend the first few years of my child’s life focused on them growing instead of the interest on loans. And so, I’m asking for your support. Will you be a part of my baby’s life from the beginning? I have SO MUCH that a baby needs in the house given my ‘Aunt life’, I just need my baby and my village! I’m playfully considering this a Make-a-Baby Shower. If I’ve hosted or celebrated with you at your baby shower/bridal shower/engagement party/wedding, and you’ve been waiting to celebrate something with me, now is the time! If you are able to give any amount of money to help ease the financial burden, I would be very grateful. If you can share this post to others who understand, that would be amazing too! We have just the right amount of time to share December baby/first Christmas pictures next year!