jennifer patel

Months ago, Alex and a friend were playing upstairs one afternoon when I heard Alex say, "My Mom say we can't take toys downstairs..." Yes, we once had firm expectations in this house. The no toys downstairs was something I read about in a magazine article about not letting your kids take over your spaces...maybe Martha? Sure, V and I are sleeping less with a new baby in the house. It's not as bad as everyone, dramatically, forewarned us about, but it is, slowly, making us (me) dumber. Maybe more unaware? I'm patiently waiting for the things I think I can get done in a day to unite with the actual number of things I can get done in a day, once again. Old Expectation: No toys downstairs New Reality: Old Expectation: Start the day with a fruit and veggie smoothie! New Reality: No more smoothies! It takes way to long to make and I started doing dumb things like this! Do you know what else takes a really long time? Pre-washing produce after a grocer...

How many things should be taken out of this Pack 'N Play to eliminate the risk of SIDS?

Originally written 3/19/17 After mild panic attacks that we are starting too late to think about actually caring for a newborn, we decided to start on easy things like paint and bedding...you know, the really important things. Forget that we have not read one book or taken a class. The adoption agency made us read at least 12 books between us for Alex; No one is making us read anything or sign up for anything in preparation for this baby. I stopped by Pottery Barn Kids today to pick up a quilt for baby boy. You can totally cover a newborn with a really warm quilt while he sleeps at night, right? I mean I know you can't with some cheap quilt, but a fine, overpriced quilt from Pottery Barn Kids? It's fine, right? I was approached by a sales lady and she asked if she could help me. I told her that the baby's room is a Navy Blue theme. She looked at me, trying to assess my mental capacity. I explained...you know...like, there will be some cute baby things in i...

Originally written October 2016 We hired a gestational carrier. She is one of the sweetest women I have ever met and has three beautiful children of her own. She also carried twins for a couple before us. She is textbook selfless and has agreed to try and do the job that I can't: carry our son to birth. It would be a total lie to tell you that I gracefully and thankfully walked into this new journey. After the last miscarriage, I went into a dark place...as dark was when I lost my Dad. All I wanted to do was work out, eat carbs, work on odd/random jobs around the house, and travel...far, far away to beautiful places that made me forget everything and everyone. I didn't want to talk to or hang out with any of my friends. I quit social media for months (and you know I love social media more than most people), blaming the political sh-t storm. I made sure that every bit of energy I had went into making Alex's life normal and happy. If he was getting every bit of good en...

Dearest GC, There will never be a way for me to tell you how thankful I am for you in a way that you could completely understand (especially trying now, in my sleep deficient state). For most of the process, I was cynical, distant and trying at all costs to protect my broken spirit from being broken even more. As much as I fought it, I eventually needed to rely on your calm, patient and faithful demeanor. You just knew things would work out and if you were ever worried, you never showed it. That long stretch of time where we had to wait between visiting the specialist and getting the fetal MRI brought the most fear I've ever felt. You were so reassuring and I believed you, for lack of, literally, being able to do anything else at that point. And you were right. Everything was fine. You lovingly nurtured and cared for our son before we could ever be in that mindset. He knew your voice immediately. I believe we share a mutual understanding of how beautiful and difficult ...