As a new mother, I always held this romantic thought of how sweet it would be to have my child sleep next to me, nestled in bed. In the very beginning, after Jolie was first born, we did this: I couldn't imagine her not right next to me, after 9+ months of togetherness in utero. Those first months were rough- she was a difficult sleeper. Pretty soon, we had her transitioned to a co-sleeper in the same room, and slowly… Read More

Growing up, I always dreamed of being a flower girl. How lovely it would be to don a pretty dress and walk down the aisle sprinkling flowers like a precious little princess. I understood from an early age what an honor this was, and what an event full of glory.

I so wanted that glory.

I remember going to one wedding when I was about 4 or 5 and watching the chosen flower girl walk down the aisle and feeling the first… Read More

We just got back from a short trip (3 day) to Chicago for my brother's wedding, and my husband and I feel like we just hung in for 10 rounds during a boxing match, rope a dope style.

Traveling with a toddler is not for the faint-hearted.

We didn't expect it to be easy, I mean, our road trips with the Jolester have not been easy or painless in any way, shape, or form. So, suffice it to… Read More

(Alternatively titled, "Grandpa's babysitting!")

My father is retired and loves his granddaughter more than he loves anything. Even more than beer which is saying a lot. So, when we needed a pinch-hitter babysitter to watch Jolie for a few days while her school was closed in preparation for the new school year, we were so relieved when he offered to drive the 3 + hour drive to our house and watch her.

So relieved.

And things seemed to be going surprisingly well, aside… Read More

Scale Dread.

Definition: The doom you feel prior to a routine OB appointment when you know you are not going to be happy with the number that pops up on the Evil Automated Weighing Machine.

I suffer from scale dread.

In fact, this morning, prior to my appointment, I started mentally preparing myself for the possibility of seeing some numbers I haven't seen in a long time. Just so the shock wouldn't be so jarring. I was seriously stressed.

You see, the Evil Automated… Read More

During my first pregnancy with Jolie, I decided to give prenatal yoga a try. For one, I was feeling fairly stagnant having given up my daily pre-work gym work-out due to the absolute inability to get up early anymore. Plus, I had Lazy Pregnant Woman Syndrome, a disabling condition involving unrestrained eating and poor exercise habits. It was a severe case.

I've never been a yoga person. I wish I were. I tried a class or two in college and just… Read More