Portrait of a Not-So-Perfect Pregnancy: Part Two

Let’s see, where were we? Ah, yes. I found out I was pregnant after an alcohol-laden trip to Italy, infection and epic allergic outbreak, causing me to be pumped full of powerful meds — prescriptions that were definitely not pro-pregnancy — on not one, but two different occasions. I was on pills, creams and ointments that…

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Reminiscing About Rice

Nat pours her heart out about Zach ending his paternity leave, worried about being home alone with newborn daughter, conflicted about being a working or stay-at-home mom. Zach (consoles her, then, without skipping a beat): I can’t believe my rice exploded in the microwave the other night.” Nat: Why are you still thinking about that? Zach:…

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Portrait of a Not-So-Perfect Pregnancy: Part One

My sister was the ideal pregnant woman. Twice. She planned her pregnancies, entered into them in the healthiest way possible, relished being with child, had no problem gaining weight, ate whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted (and it stayed down!), and breezed through it all with a patience and positivity that is now reflective in…

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Birth Day

You’re here! And you’re perfect. My heart is so full. This has been THE BEST day of my life. I’ve never felt more content, at peace or in the exact right place in life. Today, everything is clear. I am meant to be your mommy. I love you more than you’ll ever know, Mama

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Due Date

Flashback to one year ago today… My Baby Girl, Well, today’s your due date. April 30th. I’ve repeated that day over and over again for month’s on end. It’s usually the first question people ask when they find out I’m pregnant. Followed by, “Do you know what you’re having?” and then, “Is it your first?”.…

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Airport

At the airport… Zach: Give me your purse; I’ll carry it. (Looks down at himself.) I’m now carrying 4 bags. What are you bringing to the table? Nat (8.5 months pregnant): I’m carrying a HUMAN.

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I’m Pregnant… and Freaked Out

I’m pregnant… and freaked out. While being a mother has been on my life list for as long as I can remember, I did some serious soul-searching before I decided to embark on this journey. I even went so far as to tell my mother and sister it was off the table completely — partly…

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Nachos

Nat: I want nachos. Zach: The cheese is bad and the chips are stale. Nat: I want nachos. Pause. Zach: I’ll go to the store… Nat: Drive safely. Zach: You were supposed to say, “Don’t worry about it.”

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Goodbye, Hello, Goodbye…

I said I was done with New York. Over the weather, the small spaces, the hard living. Said I didn’t want to have children there. So, after 10 years of nomadic Manhattan living, my husband and I picked up and moved to Los Angeles. And, after a tough transition, I fell in love with the…

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Homeland

For the Homeland fans out there… Zach to Nat: You’re my Abu Nazir.

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Lasagna

April 2009. A month away from our wedding. Nat (to server): I’ll have the vegetable soup. Zach: I’ll have lasagna. Nat to Zach: I hate you.

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Escaping a Toxic Environment

We’ve all been in them. Situations so dire we lose hope, becoming the very person we pitied, dreaded, swore we’d never become. We talk of an exit like a dream scenario: a child running away with the circus, an adult winning the lotto and immediately quitting their job (not to mention the detailed disbursement of…

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