All the difference that a year can make...

A year ago today, I had the insemination that eventually resulted in the marvelous Ocean Rae. It seems so long ago now, another lifetime almost. Neither of my friends who normally did my inseminations were in town, so I found an amazing homebirth midwife, who came to my house and performed them for me, one on November 10th, and one on November 11th. On the 11th, which is, I believe, the day on which I actually conceived, my friend Jonna came over to help out with the insemination- holding the flashlight, holding my hand, hanging out with me afterwards as I laid around on my bed, wondering if this was finally it. Jonna was there when I first began thinking about getting pregnant, going with me to clinics, learning about sperm banks, and figuring it all out. She was there when Ocean was conceived, and, nine months later, she was there when Ocean was born. I have always felt lucky to have been so loved and supported throughout this long process.

Funny to think that in just a year one can go from a little vial of sperm to this...