Throughout my pregnancy, I had no complications, despite a hefty weight gain (a little over 50 pounds). My daily intake of iron supplements, along with my prenatal vitamins, took care of my iron deficiency that was detected during my second prenatal checkup. Walking regularly became habit forming. Morning sickness was nonexistent. Although I was more tired than usual, I had high hopes for either Baby "Alexander" or "Aryana". Two weeks before D(elivery)-Day, I did, however, develop an awful, extremely itchy rash (PUPPPS, a hormonal reaction that happens to 1 out of 1000 first time mothers due to the stretching of the skin) that started on my stomach and spread to my legs and arms. I finally got it under control, which eventually cleared up with Aveeno soap and lotion. (This did/does not affect the baby).

After completing the long seven weeks of Lamaze class with instructor Cathy and her assistant, Robin, every Tuesday evening from 7PM-9:30PM, Ed and I thought we would finally be prepared to sit back and relax until D-Day. But it was mid-December, the most hectic time of the year…Christmas shopping was not completed, let alone the intended nursery.

Also, I did not have time to send out e-mails from work (and home) to let everyone know how I was doing due to all the office remodeling during the holidays. It was a good thing that I am not much of a packrat at work than I am at home. It was still quite a move, especially in my condition, but I managed to make the transition safely. Now that I have been off work since December 29th, I certainly had to find the time to prepare for Baby Perillo!

That time certainly came and went Being so busy and extremely tired during the holiday season, all I was barely able to do was get through school and Lamaze classes, plus the bare necessities, eat, work and sleep. It was the first time since living in Modesto that the apartment was not decorated with a Christmas tree and all the trimmings. To avoid the crowds, Christmas shopping was done one evening from one department store. I only shopped for my family, which consisted of my husband, mom, two brothers and sister.

New Year's Eve was quietly spent in the comfort of our apartment, with Dick Clark ringing in the Millenium, but New Year's Day was a blast! I had a wonderful surprise baby shower that day held at Aunt Lucy's house on behalf of my mom and Aunt Lucy including Antoinette and Arlene (another baby shower from work, which was not a surprise but wonderful as well, occurred previously on behalf of Pam). Upon the notion that the presumed New Year's Day party was instead a baby shower for me once I walked through the door, I was overwhelmed by the attention. Even Ed was secretly in on the surprise. I did not have a clue! Quite a few familiar faces surprised me that New Year's Day, and a few that I wanted there were not invited to surprise me. My mom and Ron set up the invitation list that consisted of close relatives and friends since it was held in Hayward. No regrets…I did enjoy myself and all the generous gifts received. It was a great shower, so great that my aunt had to literally throw us out of her house. Being a RN, she wanted me to rest as she noticed the late time...it was about 10PM when we finally left; I kept eating so she sent me home with loads of food packages since she did not want me to cook. It was about an hour-long drive back to Lathrop, plus an extra half-hour to Modesto.

Although I appreciated all the generous gifts, I wish I did not receive so many duplicate gifts...(4) tubs, (4) diaper bags, (2) baby monitors, (2) musical mobiles, and so many blankets and sleepers. I suppose I should have registered somewhere. Of course, I wanted to do that after the holidays, and besides, I was not sure if my mom was going to throw me a baby shower or baby baptism. I assumed it was one or the other.

With the duplicates received, I exchanged some of them such as one of the Disney musical mobiles for a Disney lamp (I'm into the Disney theme, which Ed hates). Now if I could only figure out where the tubs and diaper bags came from, I could exchange those. Anyway, when a new Babies 'R Us store had its grand opening here in Modesto earlier this year, my mom, sister, and I went shopping. Mom told me to get all the necessities: tons of diapers, diaper pail (no one got that for me), toiletries, etc. Once we did that, we just spent hours browsing. There are so many things that a baby could have. If only we had the room, and more money…

Speaking of room, it was decided that the baby stay in our room in the bassinet my brother bought us for the first few months. At this time, we do not have a crib, yet. I, myself, am interested in one of those cribs that convert into a toddler bed. We do want furniture, a dresser and maybe a changing table, too, but we simply need more space. My mom's generous gift to us will have to remain unspent until such furniture could be allocated accordingly. Xenobia, AKA Chicken Little, simply will not forego our second bedroom.

In order to make more room for the baby, we decided to seriously look for houses before D-day. We definitely need a place we could call our own, removed from certain ill-mannered individuals …our neighbor's boys below us are/have been getting on our nerves (the two young boys are a bit rambunctious. I told Ed boys will be boys; he hopes our child is not like them, or the way he used to be). We definitely need to get away.

That was not meant to be…not then, however. House hunting had to be put off due to an eager baby. Yes, Aryana Dominique Perillo made her way into the world, January --, 2000. I have to admit that she was a rather easy delivery. I labored at home which started very early one morning. I could not sleep, let alone eat, though I tried to nibble on some energy bars. Drinking a profuse amount of water was all I could handle. Feeling the time was near, I called my doctor's office to confirm that the contractions had to be three minutes apart before going to Memorial Hospital in Modesto. It was confirmed so I continued to wait. I figured it was better to wait at home than at the hospital.

I sincerely had no idea how long I had to wait. My contractions were constant one moment then sporadic another. Frustration sat in. The twenty hours passed were more unbearable than the contractions. Actually, I was able to tolerate the contractions (They were not as unbearable as TV and movies portrayed). As they got closer together and stronger, they felt like an annoying, nagging backache, but quite manageable. Thank goodness for my little massager device that I placed right on the contraction as it was about to begin. The Lamaze breathing techniques helped, too. Yearning to alleviate and speed the process even more, I jumped into a nice hot shower. I stayed under with the soothing heat on my back until the water went cold. I almost forgot about the contractions until I stepped out of the shower. My contractions progressed rapidly thereafter. Immediately getting dressed, I told Ed it was time. Ed called my family. Before leaving, he wanted to make sure the contractions were three minutes apart. I just told him it was time, now!

Barely two steps down the stairs after leaving the apartment, I felt a pressure beneath me, as if the baby was going to fall out that second. I had to stop before I moved toward the car. Ed told me to relax and breathe. As soon as everything was somewhat controlled, Ed practically threw me into the back seat and sped off to the hospital. We were a convenient five minutes away, but I believe Ed got us there under three. Once there, he grabbed a wheelchair and wheeled me in. Another convenience…pre-registration; all I had to do was sign my name and I was admitted into the birthing room, around 8PM.

Looking at my face, the nurses reacted quickly. I undressed and got into the hospital attire. I was then checked to see how far dilated I was…ten centimeters and fully effaced! They wanted to know when my water broke. I did not know it had broken. I just remember urinating practically every minute before the contractions started (just a note to first-timers: water breaking does not have to mean a gush of water; it could mean a mere periodic trickle). There probably was no need to worry about the baby contracting an infection due to the length of time between my water braking to delivery (once the water breaks, hospitalization is immediate within 24 hours); the baby would be thoroughly examined (and cared for, if necessary) shortly after delivery. However, it was too late to use any medication. I had to grin and bear this one. As an IV was being placed on my arm for precautionary measures, my doctor was paged after no luck reaching her by phone. After 20 minutes of waiting with legs crossed, I anxiously lay as she rushed in already prepped in her hospital smock (she lived nearby).

Everything went by so fast upon her arrival. I was told to push and out came the head. Another push, but not enough oomph. Finally at 8:27 PM, with tremendous effort, out oozed the baby, literally (I could not believe that was all there was to it…"Piece of cake", was my first thought). Ed saw the whole blessed event. It happened so fast, his presence as a coach was meaningless; he did not even hold my hand; but his presence as a loving father was priceless. Having the loving father with me at birth was better than any coach any day!

Upon hearing that momentous cry just as the doctor placed the baby on my stomach, I pulled myself up and looked…a girl, not what was expected but a very pleasant surprise (mostly everyone predicted a boy by the way I was carrying). In my opinion, she was the most perfect newborn baby, beautiful in every 7 pounds, 12 ounces and 20 inches of her with APGARs of 8 and 9…and Wow, that full head of hair! She appeared very calm and alert after her initial exposure into the world, with shiny, cognizant eyes. With a newfound energy, I took her immediately and pulled her toward my breast after Ed willingly cut her cord. Fumbling at first, that little miracle began nursing. It was the most incredible feeling I had ever had. Moments later, we were told she was given a clear bill of health (she did not contract any infection that could have ensued from the time passed).

My family, including family friend, Jaime, but excluding brother Dominic (he was working), arrived at the hospital before 9PM. They thought it would be some time before I delivered, but they were quite surprised to come in to see me holding Aryana, not Alexander. They, too, especially "Grandma", were expecting a boy. Once they laid eyes upon her, they were ecstatic, despite the outcome. It's a good thing she came when she did…she would have been captured on videotape from the beginning by "Uncle" Ron (he likes his new title). Later that evening, Ed called his mom in Chicago to tell her that she just became a Grandma for the fourth time. She, too, was thrilled, maybe more so (she hoped for a girl).

The moment everyone left me alone with Aryana, motherhood sunk in. I was now responsible for that new life. The mere thought was overwhelming at first as tears flowed (I read that was a natural hormonal reaction), but gazing down at my baby, holding her close as I watched her sleep like an angel, I was determined to be the best mother I could be. I took advantage of being pampered in the hospital for 2.5 days, caring for and nursing Aryana. Ed visited every chance he could, while he finished preparing for our arrival home (my nesting period did not begin until my contractions were real).

I think pregnancy was remarkably easy (for me), but the labor and delivery was greatly anticipated. It was a challenge and it felt so miraculous to make it through without any medication. Under all the circumstances, Aryana was one labor of love. The end result is a beautiful, very attentive, healthy baby girl who brings a brighter light into our lives. I could now say that I eagerly await my next pregnancy, at least one more time!