It's a Girl!

Welcome to our baby Girl. Allison Marie was born June 2, 2008 at 4:06am. She was 6 pounds 7 ounces and 19 1/2 inches. She is quickly gaining her weight back and already a great sleeper. Do I chance it by putting that in writing? I am so thrilled to have her here here as I couldn't wait to meet her and we are so blessed to have a healthy son and healthy daughter in the house. When she was born they announced we had a girl and I couldn;t believe it and kept asking them "Really? It's a girl?"

And with this new chapter I move forward. I had a fast paced year as Mrs. Illinois. I learned so much about myself and others and met some amazing people along the way. You know who your are! Thank you to my family,especially John, and friends for their never ending support. Thank you to my new found friends who are proof that as women we can accomplish great things for other women who will follow. May those women carve out new paths as well. I wish the New Mrs. Illinois US the best of luck at nationals and more importantly, I wish you a year in which you can be part of great change and inspiration. It has been a honor to help represent my state and married women. I hope I have made you proud!

From here on out, you can find me via:

www.amygregorio.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/letsgotoajsterling

Illinois Galaxy

Thank you to Britt Harrison for inviting me to judge the Illinois and Wisconsin Galaxy competitions. It was such a great time, but a difficult one as these gals were very well prepared! I loved getting a chance to get to know each of the lovely ladies during the five minute interviews. Then is was show time! The production was very smooth and fast paced. To the new title holders, I wish you all the very best of luck as you get ready for nationals in Orlando this summer.

Something to Ponder.

Thanks to my very dear friend Michelle for this:

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.
You'll fight with your best friend.
You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone
you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

Hope is on the way!

My hubby and I decided to split for a few days and take a much deserved Babymoon. Actually, my wonderful OB suggested it this time around. With our son, she told us early on that fathers were only allowed in labor and delivery if they came bearing gifts-preferably jewelry. This time she told us a mini vacation ALONE was in store for us. Great idea! So we traveled to a little place called Little Palm Island. Imagine 20 huts surrounded with actual green trees. Just us and the island deer and a racoon who made a visit. It was a great way to close out the winter. Of course, winter was still here to greet us as we arrived home. But I believe! I believe it will eventually get warmer, or above 50 degrees. I guess we are all getting it one way or the other. Flights were cancelled out of Atlanta so we switched to Miami, only to have a major power outage in that city. Miami is not the place to be when the power goes out folks. But adventure is always good.
1)Welcome back home to winter!!!

All 50 states now have Safe Haven Laws!

On January 19, the Alaska State Senate passed the Safe Haven for Infants Bill. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin signed the bill on February 11th.

On February 7, the Nebraska legislature passed its own Safe Haven bill,making it the 50th and final state to enact this important child welfare safeguard. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman signed the bill into law on February 13th.

By offering the option of safe havens to desperate parents without fear of prosecution or loss of confidentiality, Safe Haven policies provide a safe, non-threatening alternative to illegal newborn abandonment or infanticide, allowing relinquished infants to be adopted into loving, permanent families.

We estimate that more than 1,200 newborns have been saved under these laws across the country.

Welcome 2008 and welcome little one

See ya 2007! It will be a year to remember and much has been learned along the way. I take those experiences with me as we head into 2008. This new year will be filled with many great surprises. One of which will be the arrival of our second child. Baby G is due mid June. Will it be a girl or a boy? We will wait until June. Unlike the first time with my son, this time I was laid out with all day sickness. So now that phase has passed, it is on to getting many things accomplished.

Speaking of, I hope you all have many goals to tackle this year and I hope you are part of great change. Sometimes it is hard to stand up for what you believe in when it would be easier to sit back. However, if it means it will help others in the long run, go for it. The SAB foundation has much work ahead. Nebraska is one of the final states to not have a Safe Haven Law. An old school Senator ERNIE CHAMBERS refuses to allow such a law. Well, that's what he thinks. Two states (Alaska and Nebraksa) are without such needed laws. Ernie, watch out. Time for change buddy.

And here is to my fellow pageant sisters who will be chasing their dreams. I wish you the best of luck with Mrs. America and Mrs. International. May the other delegates and the judges get to know you the way I know you. I will be the big pregnant lady cheering you along the way!
1)The belly at Christmas. Only 25 more weeks?? Thank god the all-day sickness passed in time for all holiday pigging out!

Two more babies.

The work of Save Abanondoned Babies and the Safe Haven Alliance is to promote both laws and education so newborns can be safely relinquished. All but two states have laws in place. We're still hunting down Nebraska and Alaska. It will happen. It must. Here in Illinois we had two more babies brought to Safe Havens this month. Those are two babies who are now with families who will fully adopt them within 60-days.What an amazing holiday gift! Thank you to these mothers who cared enough to make sure their newborns were safe. www.saveabandonedbabies.org www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org