Dear Baby,

I always swore that I would never compare my children, but I already catch myself comparing this pregnancy to my last. I can’t help it — I’m so scared!

I’m majorly concerned that I have had practically no symptoms. My breasts aren’t sore, my nausea is minimal, and I’m not even peeing that much. All of these symptoms were rampant just 3 weeks into my last pregnancy, so I can’t help be paranoid that my baby must not be progressing well.

Please continue growing and be well, baby. I love you too much already.

Love,
Your Concerned Mother

I recently came across photographs of a German book called Where Babies Come From. I can’t tell if it’s meant to be a children’s book or not…because the illustrations are enough to make even adults blush!

I only wish I knew German so I could understand what the book says.

Would you show your kids a book like this?

Parker Brothers will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of Monopoly with the release of a special edition: Monopoly Revolution!

Not only is the new board circular, the currency is digitized — way to teach kids about credit cards! Gone are the days of hiding colorful Monopoly money under your butt to hide your true wealth from your opponents (please tell me I’m not the only one who’s done that). The iconic Monopoly man also seems to have disappeared from this edition.

J and I have four — yes, four — Monopoly games between us: the Deluxe Edition; the Nintendo Collector’s Edition; the Star Wars Limited Collector’s Edition; and Ghettopoly. Monopoly Revolution looks high-tech and geeky enough for us to add to our collection when it is released this fall for $35.

Via Gizmodo.

Did anyone else see this earlier this week?

Women Lose 90 Per Cent of ‘Eggs’ by 30

I know that plenty of women have healthy babies in their 30s, 40s, and even 50s. However, I can’t help but notice that within my social circle, the rate of conception and trouble-free pregnancies are highest among the 20-27 crowd.

My friends who are having trouble conceiving, or have suffered miscarriages, are all over 28.

I am not saying that everyone should get crackin’ and start trying for a baby NOW because time is a-tickin’. However, we, as humans, have only recently started to have children at later ages. Are our bodies “optimized” to have kids in our teens and early 20s? If women have the choice to have a baby earlier (and are physically, emotionally, and financially ready), should we take it?

Just something to think about this cold Friday morning.

A cold front has hit NY.

This morning saw our first snow of the new year. The sky filled with fat, fluffy snowflakes that reminded me of the quote “Snowmen fall from heaven…unassembled.”

As with most dog owners, I usually do not like walking Comang in bad weather. Even snow leaves his fur wet and dirty, filling the apartment with the ever-so-delightful wet dog smell for hours afterwards.

However, a part of me loves walking him in the snow.

Because as we near the end of the walk, his excitement at being outside dissipates and his joyful trots turn into slow, hesitant steps. His little paws and stout legs become downtrodden from the wet snow as coldness seeps in.

He stops.

I tug at his leash.

He refuses to budge. He lifts up one paw and gives me the most pathetic look you can imagine.

His eyes plead with me. “Mommy, will you carry me home?”

I gladly lift him up and carry him back.