My first blog!

Wow.  I can't believe I actually have a blog....  I don't think I've ever even read a blog until middle of last year!  So if I commit some sort of heinous blogger-crime please feel free to call me on it.

I'm creating this blog to document my journey as a gestational surrogate.  My hope is to have a place where I can share my anxieties, fears, joys, and new-found knowledge during this crazy ride.

Right now I'm still really early in this process.  I submitted my initial application yesterday afternoon and now I'm working on finishing my complete application.  I was surprised by some of the questions I've had to answer.  I expected the straight-forward stuff, like medical history, education, employment, etc. But "describe my personality", "what is my philosophy on life", "what is my fondest childhood memory", "letter to the IP's (Intended Parents)...  These are the things that have stumped me.  But, I'm getting through it slowly.  I'll probably have the full application in by tomorrow.  Can't wait to see what comes next!


My friends have been nothing but supportive when I shared the news yesterday.  They've asked lots of good questions that I thought I'd address here as well:

1. What are you going to tell the kids?
• I haven't thought much about this one...  at only 2 & 4 years old it's hard to anticipate how they are going to feel/think.  As of now I think we'll be explaining that we're helping a couple to "build" a baby (as my son would call it).  
2. Am I just the "incubator"?
• Yes, I am going to be a gestational surrogate (as opposed to a traditional surrogate) which means that I will have no genetic relationship to the baby.  I'm just the oven for their bun. 
3. Do I get to choose where I deliver?  
• I have no idea yet...but it better be in water!
4. If I do it once, and it goes well, would I do it again? Or do I think it'll just be a one time deal? 
• Right now I'm leaning towards a one time deal.  But we'll see...
5. What is my motivation? Do I just basically want to be pregnant another time, or did someone inspire me to do it? Or am I just feeling led to help a family in need?
• I'm not sure how to answer...  I wasn't inspired by anyone.  I just really loved being pregnant.  I loved how I felt and I adored feeling a baby grow inside me.  I have had easy pregnancies and my baby girl's birth was just so amazing that I've felt I wanted to experience it again.  Also, I've found so much joy in experiencing what it is to be a mother that I ache for people who can't carry their own baby.  If I can help fill a void in a couples' life and enjoy the miracle of childbirth again, then I'm all for it!  The other thing that motivated me is that I did not want to look back, 5 or 10 years from now, and talk about how I wanted to be a surrogate but never quite got around to it.  I would have regretted that.