Seventeen years ago. I was a nine year old little girl unbelievably excited about something special. My Mom was having another baby. I was much older than Cameron was so I understood that it would take time for this new little baby to grow inside my mother. I knew when she was due and I counted…
Dan
Anti-Gravity
As my belly has grown larger and my pregnant days continue to tick off, gravity seems to be my worst enemy. Everything seems heavier. I have never been so conscious of the natural phenomenon that attracts my body to the center of the earth as when I am pregnant. I have never been more aware…
Pregnancy Plateau
I have made it. To that pinnacle of pregnancy. My due date. And still my baby is snug inside of me. Sigh. Today is precisely why I hate due dates. Because even though everyone knows that babies are rarely born on their actual estimated date of delivery, a due date feels more like an expiry…
Welcome to the World, Nameless!
As little girls grow up they dream about being an adult and doing adult things. They dream about staying up late and watching whatever television show they want and grocery shopping for whatever food they want to eat. They dream about accomplishing big things and changing the world. And, at least in my case, they…
Make-Down: Faces of a Family
Since I was a little girl, I have always had a stash of make-up for when I really needed it. It started with a simple play set which included lipgloss, blush, and probably loads of lead. As I matured, so too did my make-up materials. I started using eye-shadow, foundation, mascara, and in time eyelash curlers and eye-liner….
Any Other Day
This morning I woke up to the sound of my alarm ringing at 4:45am, just like any other day. I took a deep breath and cringed as my blankets were pulled back and the cold air embraced my body. In the dark, I scrambled to tie up my housecoat and find some semblance of a…
Takes the Cake
There is a lot to consider when starting a family. So many of the unknowns and the possibilities are exciting. Some are unnerving. Others are downright frightening. But mostly, the idea of starting a family and doing all sorts of family-things together is pretty darn wonderful. But I have always been worried about one family-related…
I Was Home – Faces of a Family
I was so excited about this past weekend. I was finally going to meet my new niece Ella. And although this brand new baby was the primary purpose of our trip, I was mostly excited to bring together my entire family in its current form. My parents, two sisters, one brother-in-law, my husband, one toddler, and (now)…
Faces of a Family: Week 2: Sick Blessings
Fridays are tough for me. As the week draws to a close I find myself getting more and more exhausted and more and more ready for a break. I usually find myself trudging home tired and ready for the weekend to start. This past Friday was no exception. It was raining, my boots had all…
In the Delivery Room
I could talk about my childbirth experience all day long. It is probably the best story I have. It has everything a good story needs. Action. Conflict. Blood and Gore. Sweat and Tears. Pain. Hard Work. Agonizing Suspense. Climax. And finally, a perfect resolution. But if you’re thinking about having a baby any time soon,…
The Big Reset
Last night, as we sat on the cusp of 2012, my husband asked me if this had been a good year. I teared up. There is one memory that hasn’t left me all year. One memory that was created exactly one year ago from last night. As the clock on 2010 started to run out,…