Most women dream of the day they grow up, get married and have children of their own. They even play out this future dream with their dolls and Barbie dream house.

As women grow older and decide what they really want out of life, that dream either manifests itself, gets put on the back burner, or withers away in the shadows of other goals and dreams.

My name is Shameka Conwell, and every month I am going to share a piece of my dream turned reality through this column about first time motherhood.

Some background: Just three weeks ago, I gave birth to a beautiful 9 lb. and 22-inch long baby boy.

Nothing could have ever prepare me for that moment when the doctor placed him on my chest and I saw his messy wrinkly face for the first time. Talk about a piece of heaven!

Thinking back to when I first found out that I was pregnant. I had been vomiting for a week straight, unable to keep anything down. I thought for sure it was a stomach bug, even though in the back of my mind I kept thinking you might be pregnant.

I didn’t seriously consider pregnancy because I had taken four tests already - two at home and two at the pregnancy center - the month
before. They all showed up negative.

I talked to my husband and then went to the urgent care clinic to get treatment for this “stomach bug."

They asked me a few questions and gave me a stomach exam.

The doctor left and returned within 10 minutes with news that I was in fact pregnant, and the vomiting is simply morning sickness.

He predicted that I was about eight weeks along already. He wrote me a prenatal vitamin prescription and said that I should see a OB doctor as soon as possible.

As I sat there on the table barely listening to him, I felt so many emotions. I was shocked, excited, nervous and scared. Life as I knew it was definitely about to change. A tiny life was growing on the inside of me - someone I would be responsible for, take care of and be connected to forever.

The dream of starting my own family I had since I was a little girl was less than nine months away!

The doctor and nurses congratulated me as I left the clinic. I got in the
car and called my husband several times before getting an answer. As I broke the news to him I unexpectedly burst into tears of joy.

He was in shock and totally caught off guard. We originally planned to wait another year before having children, but I guess God had a different plan.

He calmly assured me that there's no turning back, so let's go.

After speaking to him I called my mom, dad, god mother, and mother in law. They were all so excited and happy for us.

The next few months would prove to be one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Check back for the second installment of this column in mid-August.