Happy Fall Y'all !!

Mason

A couple of weeks ago we meet up with K&S and the boys (GSx2) for a day filled of fun at the Pumpkin Patch.  We thought we were going to be rained out but actually we just missed the dreary weather and the sun came out for our get together.  There were animals galore of all varieties, Ryan and Mason loved watching them - especially the giraffe!  They cruised around in the stroller while my girls ran about exploring all the neat sites and activities.  We are definitely going to make this a yearly get together and I can't wait to watch the boys join in on the fun as they get older.

Ryan

The boys are getting so big and have been on the move for some time now.  They cruise around things without any trouble and have been taking unassisted steps as well.  They are both lil chatterboxes talking lots of jibberish but no real words as of yet.  They are hitting all their milestones and doing great!  K says she's been getting them out more and awhile back enrolled them in a play gym where they get to socialize with other little ones.  They keep everyone busy and on their toes.

Double Trouble - Mason (L) Ryan (R)

The family recently said goodbye to their Au Pair Jackie who has been with them since just before the boys arrival.  She was a great help to K&S as they adjusted to parenthood and took such good care of the boys.  Their new caregiver joined this bustling household a couple of weeks ago and it sounds like the transition is going well.

I just love spending time with these guys and I'm looking forward to possibly seeing them again over the holiday season and also hoping to connect with A&T and Giovanni (GSx1) soon too.

Be sure to check out the pictures.  You can find photos of our afternoon together under the RECENT album. :)

Happy Birthday Sweet Surrotwins !!!

36w2d - eve of their arrival

September 17th last year started out like most any ordinary day, well as ordinary as being 36 weeks pregnant with twins as a surrogate can be that is.  I knew the days of carrying K&S's babies were numbered but had no idea what the next 24 hours had in store.

Around 2 PM I got the first inkling that I might be in for a long night but wasn't ready to admit I was experiencing the very beginnings of labor.  I'd said it before when very pregnant with Giovanni (GSx1) that although I thought I of all people should know what labor would feel like, seeing as I'd been through it several times before, those last weeks bring so many aches, pains and twinges that it starts to become difficult to differentiate between what is normal and what could be labor.  Finally at 10 PM I let K&S know they should be on high alert, I was going to go in for monitoring and see what became of it.  Jason and I drove off to hospital and chit chatted about this and that and at some point realized, this very familiar trip had just become the norm for us. We arrived at the hospital and headed to our destination very relaxed and calm, nothing like our first experience doing this together more than 12 years ago.  I know however that back at K&S's Chicago home the atmosphere was very different.  Oh how I wish I could have seen their reaction when I called them right around Midnight and said it was time to get the car and drive - they were likely going to meet their boys very soon!!

The next few hours after that went by so very fast and early the morning of September 18th, 2012 Ryan Brady made is entrance into the world at 5:38 AM weighing 5lbs 6oz and Mason Andrew just minutes later at 5:41 AM weighing 5lbs 12oz. They were perfect in every way.  Living those moments as I watched K&S lay eyes on their sons for the first time were surreal.  If you'd like to read the birth story in it's entirety you can find it here, WELCOME BABIES!!!

I've been so very lucky over this past year to have been able to watch these two lil guys grow.  Since their birth we've been to one another's homes multiple times, we've vacationed with them in Mexico and we just recently visited them in Minnesota where we celebrated their baptism and birthday surrounded by friends and family. You ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you how very thankful I am that K&S continue to share these two lil munchkins with me and how very proud and blessed I feel.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN & MASON 

- Love, Miss Tiffany -

Mason  (L) & Ryan (R)

I've added lots of photos to the album.  Contact me for the password.

Making The Dream Your Own

I was recently asked by the agency I've worked with for both of my journeys, Family Source Consultants, to be the very first "Featured Surrogate" in their newsletter.  I was asked to write a summary of my journeys and an article of sorts to share with other women going through the process.  I was honored and excited to have the opportunity.  I decided to write about nurturing the surrogate/intended parent relationship in hopes to give some insight into the emotional connection a surro has with the couple she intends to help.  This aspect of the journey isn't always something that just falls into place, it takes effort from both sides to have a successful journey and I think I've been blessed to have what I would imagine to be the ideal relationship with both of the wonderful couples I've carried for.

Making the Dream Your Own - 
Nurturing the Surrogate/Intended Parent Relationship

Checking In With An Update

It's been a good week in my lil surro-world.  A&T and Giovanni came out for a visit this past weekend and we had a great time catching up and enjoying one anothers company.  I took a walk around our yard with Mr. G and we had a fun picking berries, checking on the garden and grabbing a few apples off the trees.  He then ran off to play with the girls and they had a fun time playing in our backyard or the "park" as Giovanni called it. Such a city kid. LOL

The twins 1st birthday is just around the corner!  They were 11 months old this past Sunday and party plans have been made and invitations sent out.  Wow that went fast!  I'm looking forward to joining K&S and many of their friends and family in Minnesota at Ryan and Mason's grandma and grandpa's house over Labor Day weekend to celebrate. The boys are also being baptized earlier that morning so it will be a full day.  Can't wait

I'm also hoping to see a few Minnesota area surro-friends while in town and looking forward to that - it's been too long.

The Itch & Looking Ahead

I have two  friends in the TWW right now, trying to conceive for themselves with the help of IVF and I'm so anxious for them!!!  I also have a couple of good surro friends in the matching and cycling phases of repeat surrogacy journeys.  I have to be honest and say, I've got the itch!!!  Talking about the process with them gets me excited about possibly either helping K&S complete their family or helping another couple have a child through the miracle of surrogacy.

As some of you know K&S asked last December, when the boys were only 8 weeks old, if I might carry for them again. I answered without hesitation and told them I absolutely would love to help them with a sibling journey.  We hadn't discussed a timeline so I chatted with K again the other day, 8 months after our initial conversation, and my impression is that she may feel she was overly ambitious to think they'd be ready for another baby anytime soon. LOL  We didn't come to any absolute decisions but, the game plan is to touch base about this again in March and see where they are at with the idea of adding to their family.  At the earliest we'd be looking to move forward end of Summer 2014.  If come early next year they aren't sure of a plan, I may look to help another couple but for now I am completely content to give K&S some time to decide what they want for their family's future.

My sweet surroguys are now 10 months old and on the move, crawling and "walking" with help.  K said they are always off in separate directions which keeps Mom, Dad and Nanny very busy.  The boys have been getting their share of bumps and bruises from pulling themselves up and falling down - it's hard to watch over TWO babies at all times but, according to a short article I recently read, 7 Surprising Perks of Raising Twins, it's a good thing.  Twin parents don't get to be "helicopter parents" so their children are more likely to be independent and stand on their own two feet (pun intended).

We have a visit with K&S and the boys coming up in a few weeks, can't wait to spend some time with them all again.

Goofy Lil Guys

The boys are getting so big and really expressing themselves these days.  I just love that K shares pics and videos with friends and family on a regular basis, I adore watching the boys and peeking in on their family moments.

Ryan and Mason are now 9 ... almost 10 months old!!  I can.not.believe that their 1st birthday is coming up so quickly.  They both have a couple of teeth, are on the move learning how to crawl and keeping their parents busy this summer for sure.

I knew having two babies would change the simplistically modern decor of
K&S's home but, this isn't quite what I had in mind. LOL

Ryan up to no good!

Silly boys