Happy One Month

One month ago today, I married my best friend

Happy One Month Anniversary

What makes me...ME!

1. Pink. Anything. Please
2. Sweet tea runs through my veins and soon it will have to stop :-/
3. I love football. Gator Football. I turn into a guy when it's on.
4. My favorite wine is Pinot Noir, but I'll drink any of it.
5. I had the most amazing job ever in 2008. I toured with the LPGA and was a market manager for one of their sponsors, Choice Hotels International. I met some amazing people, including Donald Trump.
6. My favorite stop on the tour, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach. I was invited to the awards ceremony at Trump's estate, dined on amazing food, and had an incredible time. Once in a lifetime.
7. I've visited wine country in a ton of states. My favorites would be Willamette Valley in Portland and the Cayuga Wine Trail in Upstate NY.
8. I have a bucket list. A few things are checked off.
9. My dream vacay would be to either Greece or Bora Bora.
10. I know very little (but some!) Brasilian Portuguese.
11. I'm not a huge martini girl, unless it's a Godiva Chocolate. I prefer Jack Daniels.
12. I feel most at home in old tore up jeans and cowboy boots.
13. I love sushi. Crunch rolls rock.
14. I'm a HUGE politically driven person. I try to leave it out of my blogs. But there's your warning. I'm a conservative.
15. I think more people need to get with it and do more for our military. They are incredible people. My husband may not make much, but he loves his country.
16. I've only been overseas once (excluding Bahamas). Spent two weeks in Rio de Janeiro. Fun.
17. I firmly believe in the "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" theory. I started a business back home in Orlando doing weddings and events. Being an event coordinator is my passion. I can't wait to get started again.
18. I lived in Florida my entire life...up until June 2009 when I moved to DC.
19. I am an only child.
20. Hubby wants 3 girls. I say 2 children is enough. I might compromise with 2 boys and a girl :) (like I have a say in the matter)
21. I'm Southern Baptist. LOVE and miss my Church back home.
22. My favorite subject in school was History. I rocked in English too.
23. I haven't finished my degree yet, but plan to get back in school this Summer. I'm majoring in Business.
24. My most favorite possession would have to be...my wedding rings. My engagement ring was my grandmothers. At the time, hubs didn't have the means to get my dream ring (cushion cut, micro-pave)...so for now...we're using this one :)
25. We were married on New Years Eve. Love that date. Planning our "REAL" wedding in 2012.
26. Hubs has about 3 years left in the Army.
27. I love dogs, but won't get one again until our kids are in school.
28. I'm a pretty independent person.
29. I believe in submission. Ask me about it. And no, not in the sexual way ;-)
30. I never learned how to ride a bike.
31. I've never had a spa day. Hopefully that changes with baby :)
32. I love anything organic. Whole Foods is my Disneyland. Ask my husband.
33. Kombucha is the shiz. 
34. Pickle chips are awesome.
35. I'm a fan of white chocolate.
36. I used to be awesome at basketball. When I was like 12, I placed 3rd in Marion County for free throws.
37. I love sundresses.
38. The beach is one of my favorite places to be.
39. I'm both a city girl AND a country girl. Give me Manhattan or give me farmland.
40. I'm uber proud of what my husband does for a living. Hooah!
41. I want to raise my family here in Northern Virginia. It's fabs. Hopefully after we are done in the Army, we'll come back.
42. I have been scanning baby magazines since I was in high school.
43. Posh Tots = Addiction
44. I love anything vintage, black and white, or damask print.
45. Classic movies are amazing. I want to name one of my daughters Ava Grace after both Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly.
46. I'm HUGE on documentaries. I've watched some amazing ones. Food, Inc is CRAZY AWESOME!
47. I am currently a nanny and have spent most of my career in the childcare field. I miss teaching, but can't survive off of that salary.
48. My fave stores are: Target, White House Black Market, Macys, and Nordstrom.
49. I love Coach bags. Who doesn't? Although, my Jane Wayne Gear bag comes in a close second.
50. I could stare at pictures of my husband in his uniform all day. SO proud!
51. I've been criticized for being TOO proud of my husband and for being TOO involved in politics. Can't please them all.
52. I have a fear of Garanimals.
53. LILLY PULITZER. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
54. I worked as a bridal consultant for almost 2 years. Fun & hell at the same time.
55. I sometimes put my hand on my belly and pray for a miracle.
56. I pray with my husband almost every single night. Once we are together, it will be every night.
57. I went to private school most of my life.
58. Secretly, I'd love to publish a childrens book about deployment. My friend Patty and I might be working together on that in the future.
59. I think Stiletto Spy School in Vegas would be the most amazing thing ever. If you haven't heard of it, google it! FABS!
60. On that note, I've been to Vegas twice. Not a gambler, but that place is FUN! Had the time of my life for my 24th birthday.
61. I want to go on a cruise for 25.
62. Old Navy has the best pajamas.
63. I did my first 5k in 2008 for the Susan Komen Foundation. It was increds.
64. My favorite TV shows are: Army Wives, Kitchen Nightmares, Hell's Kitchen, The F Word (see a trend), and Hoarders. I used to be OBSESSED with Laguna Beach. Dunzo.
65. The one dead person I would love to meet would be Princess Diana. Loved her.
66. I was never much into reading, but while hubs was deployed...it got me through. I'm reading the biography of Ava Gardner right now and a book called "Love and Respect" by Emerson Eggerichs.
67. If you look at my library, it's mostly comprised of self-help, relationship, and marriage books. I bought them all LONG before I was married.
68. I was baptized as a child and baptized again in 2006. Went from Lutheran to Baptist.
69. My grandma died of cancer when I was 8.
70. I'm in desperate need of a tropical vacation.
71. I love Twitter. @shanpando
72. I really want to live in NYC for a year...even 6 months. Depending on baby status, I might do this when hubs re-deploys next year. I just adore it there.
73. My RE had a non-profit called "Fertile Dreams." He's an incredible man. I did some volunteering for them for a while.
74. If I had a million dollars, I'd make us a baby...but besides that...I'd buy a nice Mediterranean style house, a BMW X5 or a Porsche Cayenne, and live happily ever after.
75. I lost two people to suicide within 9 months of each other. One was a close friend of Michael's from high school. He knew him better than I did, but it was still a tough loss for me. The other was a man who was like my second father. I miss him everyday.
76. We want to name our first daughter Emma Sophia. It's VERY Italian and goes FABS with hubs' last name.
77. For a boy, Anthony Michael. Again, very Italian.
78. Give me anything Greek. I could eat that food all day, everyday.
79. Thai food rocks too. Curry is yumzo.
80. I secretly want to go to culinary school. Hubs says I have to wait until I'm 50. I say maybe 40 ;-)

Fave thing my hubs says...

"Get to Texas and we'll have a baby"

I love when he says that. I feel so blessed that I'm married to a man who is eager to be a daddy. I don't have to beg, borrow, or steal to try to convince him that being a mom is exactly what I need.

For those who don't follow my Army blog, hubs and I got married on New Years Eve. He's stationed at Fort Hood and I'm stuck in DC...trying to find someone to take over my sub-lease. I think I've found my golden ticket and she's supposed to move in mid-February. If so, I'll be baby-makin' bound soon after. I won't have to worry anymore about countdowns and we can give this baby thing the shot it needs.

Pray.

Fertility Diet - Anyone tried it?

Okay, so I've been somewhat of an "eat freak" for a long time. Once I was told of my "issues" and as time went on, I decided to start getting more and more serious about eating for my someday baby. Last year, I cut out high fructose corn syrup. That stuff is in EVERYTHING! Completely disgusting. I eat as organic as I possibly can. It gets expensive, so until hubs and I are combined to one household...I have to be selective. I hardly eat things like candy and chips anyway and I try to stay away from white bread. I don't drink soda at all, mostly water and...dare I say...sweet tea. EEK! I've pretty much given up alcohol and sushi. That way when I do get preggers, I'll be fully prepared.

But, now that hubs and I are in full swing for baby making...I want to REALLY kick my dieting into overdrive. I have heard of this book, "Fertility Diet," and I'm sure a lot of you have too. Has anyone had any experience with it? Having PCOS, I know I should stick to a diet similar to Atkins. My good friend Reina sent me a link to an overview of Atkins. The last thing I need right now is another book to read, especially one about dieting. UGH. Not fun. MilitaryOneSource offers some online library resources to us military spouses, and while I'd prefer not to stare at a computer screen to read a book...I plan on browsing through it over the next few weeks since it's one of the titles offered.

Anyway, if any of you ladies have tips out there on proper dieting for baby/PCOS, please holler!!!

Privacy Please :)

I've noticed a lot of my fellow TTC blogees have asked for privacy from their readers. I think I will do the same. So here goes...

Although our family and close friends know we are thinking about baby, we are not going to announce it to everyone due to the nature of our circumstances. So, please...if you know me outside the blog-o-sphere, please don't post my link for all to see on Facebook and other social media outlets. Leave that to me. If you are a member of our family or one of our friends, please keep what you read here to yourself. We want to have the joy of letting everyone in on our journey when the time is right.

Thanks for your support and understanding :)
~Shan

Dear Baby

I wrote this letter a few months ago in hopes that one day I would read it to my child when they could understand :)

We prayed for this child and the Lord has granted us what we asked of Him.
I Samuel 1:27

November 17, 2009

Dear Baby,

You were a prayer spoken long, long ago. Before your mommy and daddy ever even met, I had dreamed of you. Would you be a little girl splashed in pink from head to toe? Would you be a boy all bundled in blue? What would your little face look like. Would you have my eyes or your daddies nose? How would it feel to hold you and bring you home for the first time?

Mommy spent a lot of time with other babies and children and knew for a very long time she couldn’t wait to have one just like you. She prayed, and prayed, and prayed. Sometimes she would cry because she just couldn’t wait for you. She wanted you to come so badly. And then one day, God brought her and daddy a miracle. That miracle was you.

Not only has mommy waited a long time for you, daddy has too. He loved you long before you were born also. There was a piece of us always missing until you came. Now that you are here, mommy and daddy couldn’t be happier.

I want you to know I will always love you. Always. There is nothing you will ever do to change that. I will be there to kiss your boo-boos when you fall. To wipe your tears when you cry. To hold you when you’re scared. To snuggle with you and read you your favorite stories. Daddy and I will be there for everything because we love you so very much little one.

Always remember that Jesus loves you and gave you a mommy and daddy who have waited so very long for you to come.

Love,

Mommy

Our Story

This is the story of two high school friends, who never knew they'd end up married. Yep, the hubs and I go wayyyyy back :)

Michael and I met in high school when we were just little things...Freshmen. We had a class or two or three together during high school, but I was in a steady relationship all throughout. We were never more than friends and I never thought anything more of it. I always knew he stood out from all of the rest of the guys and I really loved that about him. Never the less we graduated in 2003 and lost touch. It wasn't until 2008 when we would re-connect, through of all ways...Facebook.

He had always wanted to join the military and when we got back in touch, he had just finished at Basic Training and AIT. He came home to Orlando for leave and asked to hang out, but I blew him off. I was sort of seeing someone at the time, but I was about to end it with the guy. I spent a week in New York City around Christmas-time and he had already left to go back to Fort Hood. Again, didn't really think anything of it.

We started leaving casual contact on Facebook back and forth and I found out he would be deploying ASAP. So, off to Iraq he goes on his first TOD (Tour of Duty) with the 1st Cavalry Division. I am a HUGE troop supporter and I was so proud to have a friend going overseas. I had to do whatever I could to encourage him and get him through the tough times that lay ahead.

At first, it was a few messages every now and again. Then, it turned into more and more and with every message I grew more and more excited to hear from him. I fought it for a while, but soon realized I was falling for him. Then one day, he called...and I missed it. I felt AWFUL! I had no idea what his living conditions were like or if he was able to use the phone often. I felt so terrible that he had taken the time to call me and I wasn't able to answer. UGH! I seriously cried. But, eventually he did get to hear my voice and those calls began to be so very precious to me. I'll never forget when he told me he loved me for the first time...ever. We had said it casually before, but this time was different. I laid on my bed and froze for a good 15 minutes (no lie) after we hung up. It was then I knew he was the one.

He had been planning on using his two weeks of R&R to go to Thailand. The Army would fly him anywhere in the world so he figured he'd go some place exotic. Well, that soon changed for him. He called me one day to let me know he had a surprise. I honestly had no clue what was in store. Was he going to fly me to Thailand too? Nope. He was coming to DC to spend his two weeks with me. I couldn't believe it. I was stunned. So in a terminal at Dulles airport on September 27th, I shared my last first kiss with my soon to be husband. We hadn't seen each other in 6 years! Crazy, I know! Those two weeks were incredible but flew by so quickly. Saying goodbye and sending him back to Iraq was one of the hardest things I ever have had to do.

Flash forward a few months and he made it home safely. I can not begin to thank God enough for that. It truly (in my mind) is a miracle he came home to me. I try my hardest to never take that for granted. Prior to him coming home, we discussed where our relationship was going and we both knew we wanted to spend forever together. In my mind, it was just so crazy though. How could we really do this? With his rank, the Army would not allow us to live together until we were married. So, guess what? We got married.

I'm a wedding and event coordinator, so weddings are my thing. Well, we didn't have the time or money to have the wedding of my dreams. So, we went home for the holidays, got hitched at the courthouse on New Years Eve, and there started the journey. Everything has gone so rapidly, it's no surprise we aren't waiting for baby. Here's where it all begins...

I started my period at 13 and it was extremely painful right from the start. The vomiting, heavy bleeding, extreme pain...I knew something wasn't right. Not to mention, I got my period a few times a year. My OB/GYN just told me to "stay on birth control," which we have all heard 1,ooo times. I wasn't satisfied with that answer but being so young...what was I supposed to do? Finally, at 19, I decided to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist who helped me determine what I had known for so long. I have Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome combined with a few other factors that make it seem like an anomaly of reproductive problems.

I remain prayerfully hopeful that God will bless us with the baby we have both longed for since we were small. We didn't even have to spend longer than 10 seconds on a name. We were both stunned when he asked me my favorite name and it had been his favorite for as long as he could remember...

Emma Sophia...we are waiting for you.
~Love, your mommy and daddy <3

Oh, and PS...To our little boy...we have a name for you too...Anthony Michael :)

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome to my Blog!

I have been inspired by some amazing blogs I've recently seen, to begin my own on my journey from 2 to 3 in the Pando house. I struggle with infertility, PCOS to be exact. I feel that documenting my journey will help me to remain positive and be able to share with others going through the same thing.

I am no stranger to the blog-o-sphere. I have a blog called "This Army Life" on Wordpress that receives, on average, 800 views per month with my highest so far being 1,475 views for the month of January 2010.
I love blogging!!!

Please feel free to contact me at any time either on Yahoo Instant Messenger at: ShanPando

or

By e-mail at: BabyMakes3Blog@yahoo.com

I look forward to sharing my journey with you and connecting with all the other amazing women who are TTC!