...and so it begins!

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection." - Anais Nin

Our family story starts in November 2005 at a Glencliff High School play where I met Stephen for the first time. After the play, we went out with friends to eat at IHOP. Stephen was with his friend Gabe and cousin Mary (who had been my friend since Kindergarten!) and I was with my friends Heather and Amanda. Let's just say, though, that we didn't truly start there. Stephen tried to invite me to a Predators game with everyone, but I decided to go see Harry Potter instead. Oops! Then, he called me on New Year's Eve to go out with him and some of his friends, but I already plans. Oops again! Stephen had lost hope that we would ever have a chance. However, God had a plan for us and we met randomly again at Steak-N-Shake one night. And so our love story begins from that day in January.

We were married on November 29, 2008 at Scaritt Bennett in Nashville, TN with all of our closest friends and family in attendance. Over the past 3.5 years, I had wondered what it would like to be a Mommy, but the timing wasn't perfect to bring a baby into the world. I was still in college finishing my teaching degree (Undergrad and Masters) and Stephen began his career at SCRI.

In September 2011, we decided to have a baby, and found out we were expecting in early October! We were ecstatic and overwhelmed with happiness -- and nervousness! :) The first trimester was full of exhaustion, weight loss, and morning sickness. However, we loved telling our family and friends about our great news! The second trimester was the best because we felt Oliver for the first time, really got to see him (he looked just like Stephen in his 3D ultrasound), and found out he was a boy! Oliver loved to kick Mommy late at night, especially when it was bedtime. He even began to develop his personality and we absolutely fell in love with our little guy. My favorite memory during the second trimester was when we went to an ultrasound one morning earlier than usual and Oliver was not a happy camper. The tech had to keep trying to get him to move to do all of the measurements, which forced him to wake up. He yawned really big and then turned his head to face the monitor and stuck his tongue out at his parents! :) He was already silly. The third trimester was definitely the toughest for me. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and was on a strict diet -- I could eat any pizza, bread, or cheese -- all of my favorites! Then, at 34 weeks, I began to have high blood pressure and was hospitalized twice to monitor Oliver and me. The following week I was placed on bed rest to try to keep my blood pressure down so Oliver could stay in the womb for a few more weeks to finish developing. However, my body began to work against me and I could no longer keep my blood pressure down at a normal rate, so I was hospitalized to be induced the following morning. I struggled with this because I did not want Oliver to have any respiratory problems or other issues.

We started medicine to thin out my cervix at 9 pm on Thursday, June 7 and the following morning, at 5 am, we started on Pitocin. From 9 pm on Thursday to Friday at 10:30 am, I did not dilate at all -- so the doctor decided I either wait a little longer and be placed on a higher dose of Pitocin or go ahead with a C-section -- I chose the C-section. At 11 am we went back for the C-section, and Oliver was born at 11:25 am :). The first day was the toughest for baby Oliver. He had to be put on oxygen and monitored the whole day. The next day we were able to visit Oliver in the nursery, and even read him a bedtime story! Oliver came home on June 11, 2012 and our family of three, plus Norie, started! :)

Oliver Henry Gannon

Born June 8, 2012 at 11:25 am

5 lbs. 7 oz.

18.5 inches

Daddy dressed for the OR in his Aloha shirt. You will come to find out he has a crazy style! ;)

Getting cleaned up to come see Mommy.



Look how precious you are! You held onto Daddy's finger most of the time! As soon as you were delivered, you cried and cried until you were placed into Daddy's arms! :)



You came from heaven, oh, so sweet
A precious bundle of joy
And here on earth we finally meet
Our beautiful baby boy!
Some people say you look like your dad
Some think you look like me
But either way is OK
You’re all that we hoped you would be.
Now every night before we sleep
We thank our Father above
For sending us a special gift
That fills our home with love. ~ Unknown