Epilogue. Let's Go Home
The day we left the hospital, my dad pulled the car around while my mom came up to our room to help us pack.
Two Dads To Be
I live with my husband in New York City and am chronicling our journey through the joys, hurdles, and hopes of surrogacy.
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Chapter 45. Becoming, Beginning
The final chapter of our story.
Chapter 44. Let's Go Have a Baby
On June 27th, we headed down to Arkansas —this time, it wasn't just for a checkup.
Chapter 43. The Shape of a Name
Leaving 'JaiDan' behind to finally choose a name for our child
Chapter 42. Why I Became a Surrogate
As our surrogacy journey comes to an end, Marina reflects on her side of our story
Chapter 41. The Final Stretch
As “twenty-something” weeks became “thirty-something,” the last stretch of Marina’s pregnancy turned into a bit of a numbers game.
Chapter 40. Certified, Barely
What We Learned Taking a “How to Survive a Newborn” Class as a Gay Couple
Chapter 39. Us, In the Making
One last trip as a family of two, and the last stretch before we become three
Chapter 38. The Shape of What We Keep
Zelman narrowed his eyes against the glare.
Chapter 37. Joy, Jitters, and Jurisdiction
On baby registries, court orders, and the slow formalization of a family
Chapter 36. Bro, I Can't.
Building our registry and our understanding of the world we're about to enter
Chapter 35. Waitlists and Windows
Navigating the craziness of NYC childcare —one waitlist at a time.
Chapter 34. Unboxed and Unscripted
Navigating the difficulties of parental leave policies as a same-sex couple
Chapter 33. A Place for Three
Doing the math on a bigger life
Chapter 32. Square Footage
Coming home after the twenty-week scan felt like we had turned a corner. Suddenly, Jaidan was no longer a possibility — he was a countdown.
Chapter 31. Meeting In the Middle
Our twenty-week scan and a visit to the hospital where our baby would be born
Chapter 30. The North of the South
The day we visited the town in Arkansas where our child would be born
Chapter 29. Trees, Turns, and Traditions
A Season of Change and Anticipation
Chapter 28. Sizing Up
During the first weeks of pregnancy, Jaidan grew rapidly. So did our questions.
Chapter 27. In a Heartbeat
Of small flickers and big changes