My name is Marcie.

I’m 31 years old.

My husband and I live in Austin, Texas. We have a two year old daughter and I’m pregnant with our second, a boy, who will be arriving in June.

We own our own business, an online hot rodding magazine for vintage hot rod lovers. We host car shows and drag races around the country.

I found your blog through Whoorl’s blog several months ago and have been reading ever since. Being in the same boat with a new baby coming, I’ve enjoyed reading about your concerns and expectations as they mirror my own. Hoping to receive some tips about life with a two year old and a newborn before I get there myself!

1. Melissa
2. 31
3. I live in Southern California with my husband. I work at a public university as a fundraiser (scholarships and the like). My husband works for a rival public unviersity in HVAC controls.
4. I’ve been reading for about a year and a half. I’ve never commented. I love your sense of humor and your ability to inject that into every aspect of life. We are trying for our first and I hope I can bring the same kind of honesty and hilarity to my future family as you do! Best of luck – you’re going to do great today!

My name is Bethany and I’m 22. I live in Northeast PA with my husband, and I work from home as a freelance copy editor.

I’ve been reading your blog for years and years, well before Riley was born. I’ve always liked keeping up with your life and your funny, refreshing, honest style of writing.

Good luck and Congratulations on baby #2!

Well, you’re probably holding a sweet baby boy in your arms right about now, so I don’t know if you’ll even get down this far in the comments, but I’ll add my 2 cents…
1. Kristin
2. 32
3. I’m a Mom of 2 from the twin cities in Minnesota. I’ve been married for 6 1/2 years, and live in a quaint little house with my family and our yellow lab, Murphy. I work full-time as the director of a rehabilitative Mental Health program for adults, but still manage to take Fridays off to be with my kids all by myself!
4. I found you through the Working Closet Flickr Pool, only a few months ago. I probably added you to my feeder less than a month ago, but I keep coming back for your honest and fun writing.
Congratulations on your new addition! :)

So late, so lame. That’s me. I’m Anna, 25, 3 kids (5 & 2.5×2), 2 cats(1 & 3), and 1 (away on military duty) husband. I’m about to graduate from massage school, and I’m a former Navy linguist. I have geeky-nerd issues too.

I came here a month ago from PD, where I became smitten with your writing. I hope all goes well today, and I look forward to seeing how uber-cute STP is (you have an absolutely fabulous good-looking family, btw). : )

1. Brenda
2. 39
3. Your life in a nutshell: Much like you will be soon, I’m the mother of two boys, 4 years apart. I’m a go-to-work mom, middle management, and have been married for almost 20 years
4. How long have you been reading this blog, and what keeps you coming back? I’ve been reading since a little after Riley was born, and I come back because you are hysterically funny. You make light of some of the seriously mundane things in life and make me appreciate them. That’s a gift–thank you.

PS-I hope you are NOT reading this and you are actively birthing smalltopus. Good luck–and think of having boys this way—there will be only one person having PMS, you won’t have to buy prom dresses, and with JB being such an outdoorsy guy, once they’re both old enough to tag along, QUIET TIME!!

1. Your name: Amy Wenzel
2. Your age: 25
3. Your life in a nutshell: I live with my husband, Josh in Oklahoma. He moved from Estes Park, CO to date-then marry me :) We have been married for 3 years. Josh is going to school and working full-time. I work full-time for the govt. We have a 4yr old dog, Josey and a 7 yr old cat, Zane.
4. How long have you been reading this blog, and what keeps you coming back? I have been reading since Diaryland days!! (I’m not sure how I found you…maybe a banner?) I think you’re hilarious and interesting; I’ve always enjoyed your pics and presentation of your day-to-day life. I’ve enjoyed reading your & JB’s transition to parenthood. I’m not sure I want children of my own, but reading your blog (and several other mom blogs I started reading b/c of yours) is reassuring. I’m not the only person who doesn’t know EVERYTHING.

Also, who drops movie references like you? (From Russia with Love — Snatch!) Nobody.

My name is Amy and I’m 29. I live outside of DC with my husband, cat and 3-month-old son Sam (which is why I haven’t been commenting much (or at all, since the boy is just now starting to take naps)).

I just quit my job a couple weeks ago to stay at home with the kiddo–before that I worked on a magazine for a national education association. My passion is singing–I sing in a community choir, and have performed at the Kennedy Center and on national TV. I also love to cook and molest the cat when she is trying to take a nap.

I think I found your blog through Weetabix. I’ve stuck around because of the humor and also now to get someone else’s experience on raising a boy. Also the pictures of Dog don’t hurt–I’m already training Sam to tell his dad that he needs a dog.

GOOD LUCK!! I hope you’re not waiting too long at the hospital.

1. lori
2. 30
3. I’m a part-time child psychologist, full time mom of 2-year-old and due with baby #2 in April. Married for 7 years. Living in upstate NY.
4. I’ve been reading for about 2 years now. I just love your writing and check your many sites daily. Ditto to an above comment – you should totally write a book – you’d have so many readers even before it was published. My husband always make fun of me when I’m checking my blogs and thinks I need “special help.” I woke up this morning actually thinking of STP – I had a dream about the delivery!! Dude, WHAT is my problem!! I guess I think of your life like a soap opera and this is a cliff hanger. Good luck :) Will continue refreshing . . .

Oh, I really hope you’re not still waiting! I’ve had planned C-sections with both of mine, and the waiting, it is so…AGH. (I have no idea what time it might be there, I am many time zones away.)

1. My name is Johanna
2. I’m 32.
3. I live with the result of the above-mentioned planned C-sections ;-), their father (my husband!), and a cat. I work 60% and spend the rest of my time with the kiddos. (I’m the web…person in the editorial office of several medical journals.)
4. I’ve been reading for…years. Um, probably since before Riley was born, and before my first was born too (2004.) Since the early Diaryland days.

OK, I’ll get back to refreshing your flickr page and waiting for my THIRD scheduled c-section (early April!).

1. My name is Amy.

2. 40….and it’s not so bad except I have 2 small boys : )

3. My husband and I live in Sacramento, CA, with a 3 1/2 yo boy and an almost 6 yo boy, 2 dogs, 1 cat and some fish. My husband drives a truck and I am a claims rep for a dental malpractice insurance company (oh the stories I could tell).

4. My mom sent me an entry from Purple Is A Fruit…something about shopping at Home Depot and dragging your screaming child across the parking lot….I laughed so hard I cried because I have been in just that predicament. And then when you talked about wanting to stuff Riley in a freezer and run away, well, I was hooked. I’ve been reading your entries because you are frickin’ hysterical and say all the things I’m thinking. I know this is a little late, but I hope it helps with the distraction if they haven’t already sliced you in two! If not, welcome smallotopus!!! If you ever feel overwhelmed, read my friend’s blog mcnultyquads.blogspot.com!

1. I’ll stick with the first initial for now. I should probably come up with a good internet pseudonym.

2. 26. My father-in-law just turned 50, and we had a party for him, though truthfully I don’t see the big deal in turning a number that ends in “0.” It seems like celebrating not dying. Even if you’re 100, everyone gets excited because you didn’t die. Woo!

3. I live with my husband and our delicious six-month old son. I go to school part-time, getting a BA in English literature and linguistics. I don’t like school, and I never have, but I can’t rid myself or my mother of the idea that I have to have a BA to get a decent job/ be a contributing member of society. I live in Israel, and moved here 5 years ago. I’m really proud of how good my Hebrew is, and I try to hide how much I love getting compliments on it.

4. I’ve been reading you for somewhere between one and two years. Found you through Amalah. I read Purple is a Fruit and your blog at Parent Dish. Reading you is like real life, only filtered to be funnier/ more poignant/ more exciting. And you take great photos.

Good luck with Smalltopus! I hope you all adjust well and that you recover easily (from the surgery, anyway; being a mother of 2 little boys is probably permanently tiring). Congratulations!

My name is Stacy.

I’m 33.

My fam and I live in Snoqualmie (figured I could get that specific since you live here too). I have a 3 year old and am due w/#2 in May. I work for a marketing firm, full time, couldn’t hack the SAHM thing even if I tried. Hubby is a 5th grade teacher, unfortunately guaranteeing that even if I wanted to, I could probably not stay at home w/out some major life changes on our part.

Found your blog through a friend of mine awhile back – like over a year or so ago. Been hooked ever since. I love your style of writing – LOVE that I’m not the only one who thinks the way I do.

I’ve especially enjoyed recently, glad to see I’m not the only one completely addicted to a bowl of ice cream at night while pregnant and the worries of having 2 in the house. Thanks for your site – I do love it!

1. Bethany
2. 27. Not a lie.
3. Married for 4.25 years. 1, 16 month old boy. Student in law school. Husband is almost-fresh-off-the-boat from Pakistan. We live a half-Pakistani life, which is completely different from the very WASP-y childhood I had.
4. Maybe 2ish years? I first found out about blogs when I was furiously googling every pregnancy symptom I was experiencing and found Amalah, and the rest of you soon after. Yours is one of my favorite blogs to read and I save you for last in my Google Reader. (Well, next-to-last, now. On your recommendation I started reading Swistle and now she’s got that spot. But you’re a close second!) I love the way you write, and I think you and your family are hilarious.

Good luck! Yay for new babies!

Christen

38

I live with my husband and two children. I work as a computer programmer for an insurance company.

I have been reading your blog for about 3 years. I was introduced to you by Jane at plainjane. I keep coming back because you are an awesome writer with a true and honest voice.

Good luck today!

1. My name is Mary.
2. I am 22 years of age.
3. I officially live with my parents and brother and cats, but spend probably just as much time sleeping at my boyfriend’s place as I do at home. I am a full time student, majoring in Economics and minoring in English. I recently got laid off from my part time job at the local casino and will hopefully be able to collect unemployment (though likely not as I was part time) in the intervening time until I’m recalled to work.
4. I started reading shortly after you had Riley, I believe. I think someone linked to you in congratulations and I came here through that.

Good Luck today! I actually thought about you last night as I was going to bed, and I don’t mean that in a creepy way at all, just that it’s been so exciting to read about your pregnancy and it will be great to meet your newest addition!

1. Amy
2. 29
3. I live in Arlington, VA with my husband and 11.5 month old son. I work full time (social worker in a homeless shelter), but part time from home, so I can watch my son. My husband does the same deal, part time from home, so we are lucky that we don’t have to worry about daycare at this point in our lives. We couldn’t afford it right now! I actually just found out I am pregnant again, and HOLY MOLY I am nervous. My kids will 19 months apart if all goes well for this pregnancy and I am both excited and scared TO DEATH.
4. I have been reading you since before Riley was born. You are an absolutely amazing writer. You seem so normal and down to earth and I love the stories you tell and the photos you take. Don’t ever stop writing!

1. Stephanie

2. 25

3. I’m a phlebotomist (code for the girl
who draws your blood) and a nursing student. I have a boyfriend who lives an hour away from me and who also looks somewhat like your JB. We used to live together, but for some reason he thought it would be a good idea for me to move home with my parents, brother, sister and four year old niece while I’m in school. I apparently love him a lot more than he loves me because living home has been a sentence in HELL. I’m eligible for parole in May of 2009. I don’t get off early for good behavior. Bummer.

4. I started reading in like 2000. I don’t know when exactly but it was definitely the diaryland days. I continue to read your stuff because I find you absolutely hilarious. And at this point its been so damn long you’re like my extended internet family. And you’re cool, so I can’t disown you or anything.

Anyhow-good luck with the C-section thing. May your veins have been mighty and plump and the needles go it smooth and painless!

1. Courtney
2. 29
3. I live in Olympia with my husband and son born 11/23/07. I’m in the medical field and my maternity leave ends tomorrow, I’m going back full time. For this reason I was sort of not looking forward to your due date. :) We’re moving across the country at the end of the month.
4. I’ve been reading since Riley was born, I think someone linked to it for that reason. I keep coming back cause you crack me up, I love your writing and pictures too. I’ll keep reading for a long time, I need to know how 2 works out for you, I can barely handle the one!

I hope that you don’t have to read this starving, in fact I hope you never get time to read it at all due to enjoying your new little one! Best wishes.

Abby
55
Dog, cat, rabbit
Software engineer/knitter/poop scooper

I have been reading your blog for several months – not sure how I got here, but maybe via Allison at Simply Socks? – and I keep coming back because my writing is so constipated while yours is just OUT THERE. I hope to learn from you – may you be the laxative for my muse!

P.S. My energetic-in-the-womb baby was a good sleeper once born. Hopefully, yours will follow suit. Happy birthing!

so my name is sheri, i am 28 or 42, can’t remember. must be my old age…….. i have six kids, live in oregon, eat chocolate.
i found you through a link of a link of a link over a year ago. i keep reading because you crack me up nearly everyday. the days you don’t, you make me think.

1. Joanne

2. 42

3. I am married – 3rd (and last!)husband. 2 girls from 1st marriage are 19 and 16. And I will just say that everything you have ever heard about raising teenage girls today is TRUE- God help me. I work a fairly boring clerical job at a major airline. I have worked for them for going on 22 years. I started here planning on it being temporary while going to college and 22 years later here I still sit. And I never finished college. My husband has recently gone back to school so he can do a career change to his dream job – a fireman. He is 11 years younger than me, so he is not too old to be a fireman. I know that is what you were thinking, because that is the look I get from everyone who hears he is going to be a fireman but doesn’t know he is younger than me!

4.I have no idea how long I have been reading. It was way before Riley, so for several years. I have kept reading because aside from you being, obviously, a talented writer and very entertaining, you seem so open and honest.

Good Luck!

My name is Valria, 42 for a couple more weeks (old in comparison to your list of readers). I live in Des Moines Washington with just my dog and have been reading your hil-ar-ious writing for just under a year!!!

Congrats on the new boy, can’t wait for pics!

1. Cara
2. 27
3. I live in SW Calgary with my roommate. I work as an underwriter for an insurance company.
4. I’ve been reading your blog for 3 years now although not consistently over the last year (long story, but it wasn’t just your blog I stopped reading) recently got back into living vicariously. I keep reading because you make me feel like I am not alone, like I am not the only one who has fears and insecurities that are crippling at times. Plus you make me laugh on a regular basis. I find you inspiring. Congrats on the second baby. I know you will be great!

1. Mommy Daisy
2. 27
3. I live with my husband and 23-month-old son in Ohio. I am a stay at home mom. I also tutor 4 days a week after school (I have a teaching certificate).
4. I started reading your blog about a year ago. I can’t remember for sure how I found you…maybe through Swistle. Perhaps someone else’s blog. I love your sense of humor and way with words. Plus I enjoy reading about life with your son. I can see what my son will be doing in about another 6+ months. It’s fun.

Holy crap, that’s a lot of comments! Just know that a lot of people hope you have a safe, swift surgery. Dum..Duh-Dum-DUM!

Name: Jennifer
Age: 27
Life in a nutshell: I have a boring office job, live in Baltimore with my three cats and my boyfriend. Trying to adjust to life as a newly engaged couple, vascillating between thinking we should elope and spending entire work days fantasizing about an all-out wedding.
I’ve been reading this blog for about 2 years (found you through Amalah’s link list, I think), and keep coming back for all the reasons everyone else listed. Not to sound like a kiss-ass or anything, but this is my favorite blog!

Name: Karin
Age: 46 (Yikes!)
Life: Married for 25 years, have two sons, ages 23 and 17, director of a nonprofit, teach at a local college, and a newspaper columnist.

I have no idea how long I have been reading–a long time. I come back because you are funny, insightful, and, most importantly, honest. I teach writing, and honesty, although hard to write, is the foundation for the purest form of communication–a reader can feel it instantly. But, oh, is it hard to put oneself out there like that!

The stories about Riley–and your successes and struggles as you parent him–show how much you love him. Someday, when he is old enough, he is going to be very proud to have you as his mother.

Enjoy that new baby!

1. Anita

2. 31

3. I live with my husband (married almost 10 years! :-O ), our 2 year old daughter, and our dog. We’re expecting our 2nd daughter at the end of may. I work for a community college as a research analyst. My husband is almost done with school. I’m hoping to work part-time after he’s done with school.

4. I began by reading Purple is a fruit about a year ago. I eventually found this blog. I look forward to your posts and your wonderful photography.

1. Nicole

2. 30 (Wow – when did that happen?)

3. I am married (4 years) and have a one year old daughter. We also have a dog – yellow lab that looks remarkably like Dog. I work 3 days a week in Community Relations for a medium size company. We live in North Texas but wish we didn’t.

4. I started reading shortly after Riley was born, following a link from Erin. As to why I read and check obsessively for updates -ditto what everyone else said. You are a funny, smart, amazing writer and I can totally relate to the subject matter. (Except the zombie thing – I have to admit, I don’t really get that.)
Welcome to the world baby Smalltopus! We can’t wait to meet you.

Oh yeah. Live in Northern Virginia – one of the suburbs of DC that is slightly east of Manassas.

WHOA! Almost 600!
Right now I think you are a mother of 2!!! Can’t wait!

1. Sue
2. 33
3 I am married (8 years) to a wonderful guy! We have a very cool story of how we met… maybe someday I will bore you with it… We have 3 children. 6, 5 and 1 1/2 and I am pregnant (12 weeks) with our 4th. And this will be it! He is getting fixed while I am pregnant so we don’t smell a new baby and think it would be fine to have another!!! We live in a suburb of Chicago. It is a great place to live except for right now when the winter seems to never end. We are in the process of buliding a new home that will house us and my parents. (they will have their own wing so to say) I stay home but wnat to find some sort of side career some day. Like maybe photography or something? Like at kids parties or small weddings or something. I don’t know!!!

4. I found your site through a friend of mine. After one day of reading I was hooked! You are my favorite and I love hearing about your life and seeing life through your eyes! I love your pictures and your honesty!

I hope all is well! Can’t wait to meet the new guy!!!

1. Your name: Lifexhistory :-)

2. Your age: 27

3. Your life in a nutshell: I’m a graduate student at a big university somewhere south and east of you. I have been married a year, live in a house with my husband who is a software engineer. We are currently raising 3 cats and a dog. I study the history of far away places and am frequently on the road– so my house is really a place to keep my husband and pets, so my family says. And… that’s basically my life in a nutshell.

4. How long have you been reading this blog, and what keeps you coming back? I’m not sure how long I’ve been reading your blog… but something like 3 or 4 years, probably about the time I started my first blog (late 2002). But I’ve been reading ever since I found it– though rarely commenting. I guess I keep coming back for the great photos, your amazing sense of humor, your chatty writing style and, well… Dog. I love Dog.

Hello, family of FOUR ! ! ! !
Can’t wait to see the pictures of Riley’s brother.
I wish you a very speedy recovery and many wonderful blessings on this new addition to your family.
Take care,
Deanna ( expat in France )

1. Stacy
2. 38
3. I live near Santa Cruz, CA with my Irish (really, he’s from Dublin) hubby, our 2 boys (one 3 year old, the other is 8 months old) and 2 Welsh Corgis. I work part-time doing audio research.
4. I’ve been reading your blog for about a year now and I keep reading because I love your sense of humor about being a mother and trying to keep sane. The way you express those love-hate feelings we all feel at one time or another is priceless and it helps keep things in perspective. Also, the pics of Riley and the dog crack me up!

1. Nic
2. 28
I’ve been reading your blog for about a year? Maybe more? I love your sense of humor and can’t wait to hear of your new baby finally making an appearance. Good luck to you and I’m sending my love via the net.

Rachel, 34, Work as an accountant for a Texas state agency. I am married with one son, Tyler. We live in College Station, TX in a house with 2 cats.

I don’t know when I started reading your blog, but it has been over 2-3 years probably. I keep coming back because I so enjoy your writing and your perspective on just about everything.

This comment is totally NOT on time, since you’re having your baby like NOW. Crazy! But I wanted to comment anyway, heh.

I’m Meghan, 26 years old. I have been married to my awesome husband for five years, but we have been together for ten! We have been living in L.A. together, but I took a zookeeper internship in San Francisco which means we’re doing the long distance thing for a year, which is really hard (seven months left). We have two cats together who are both turning nine years old this year.

I’ve been reading your blog since the attendees for JournalCon Austin were posted. When was that, 2003? I met you briefly that weekend, and loved your site, and still do. It always makes me laugh and you word things in awesome ways that people can relate to, even if they haven’t been through the same experience. How could I not keep coming back?

Happy Birthday to Smalltopus! He shares a birthday with my mom!

1. Amy

2. 29. Fine, it’s 34. Right? Wait, let me double check… Yes, 34. How sad is it that I’m not even entirely sure how old I am?!

3. I’m married (12 years), have three kids (2 girls, 9 & 6 and 1 boy 3) and have my own business as a professional photographer. This might help explain the above confusion on my own age. I live in the midwest and spend almost every Saturday of my life photographing weddings. Right now we’re in the middle of the slow season which is awesome because I’m not so crazy busy with the business but also am poor because of the slow season which leads to money stress instead of crazy, busy stress. ::sigh::

4. I found your blog from an entry at NotMartha about your encounter with the scary Giant House Spider. My sister lives in the Seattle area and had told me about them before. I have a horrible fear of spiders (have been lucky enough to endure three brown recluse bites) and loved reading your entry about them. You managed to capture the fear, disgust and fascination with the evil little things. Loved your sense of humor and writing style and have been coming back ever since! Can’t remember if you had any pictures to accompany the writing as I have to hold my hand up to the screen to block the images but the writing was great.

Congrats on the new baby boy, I imagine he’s here by now!! Can’t wait to see the pictures of the new little one :-)

First can I say that I’m so excited to hear about your new son!

Eleanor Q.

Age: 28

Nutshell: I live in LA (for a few more months anyway) with my husband, DMS, and our goldfish, Cracker. DMS is finishing medical shcool and I work in “government.” We have a fetus on the way (due in March) afterwhich we will pick up and move to Chicago, a city I’ve never been to before, take a vacation to London and then start what every one else calls a “new phase in life.” I prefer to think of it as the “great unknown.”

I’ve been reading your blog since September/October. I started reading to find out what are other parents are expierencing but I keep coming back because (a) you’re hilarious and (b) you’re very honest and it gives me hope that being a parent won’t be horrible and that I can still work and be myself even with a baby.

I hope everything goes well, you have a speedy recovery and will post lots of pictures!

Name: Bea
Age: 34
Life: I am married almost 3 years, been together with DH for 15 years. Have a son T almost 2. DH and I both work together (me selling promo products, he is our graphic designer) and have parents close by to sit for T. We feel really lucky :)
Blog: My best friend sent me a link to your blog Aug 2006 (yes, I checked!) about how kids books can be a bit suggestive (especially when you have a dirty mind, like me). I keep coming back because you are genuinely funny, insightful, honest. Basically ditto what everyone else has said.
Thinking about you guys today… Cant wait to meet #2!

Amanda, age 34. I have one toddler and am 20 weeks pregnant (aaaaaaa!!!). I am a PhD student in education/literacy in Tennessee.

I have been reading your site since I got pregnant with my first. I was living in Morocco and reading your words brought me a lot of needed laughter.

I think you are an amazing writer and I wish you all the best with your (now-expanding!) beautiful family.

1. Elizabeth
2. 32

3. I live in CT with my husband, 19 month old son and 4 year old dog. Working full time and chasing after a toddler keeps me about as busy as I can handle at the moment…

4. I have been reading your blog for a few months now and it’s been fun to know someone else has been going through all the same pregnancy stuff that I’m currently going through (due in 5 weeks and not at all ready)! You put a humorous spin on many of the things I am (not so humorously) experiencing too, and I appreciate that!
Best of luck in the coming hours! I’m sure it will go great!

Wow you have an incrediable amount of comments here! Who knows if you’ll get all the way down here, but…

My name is Kristy and I’m 23. I graduated from USC about a year ago and I moved to Oregon to be with my boyfriend, who I met during a summer internship the year before. I’ve been here working as a tech for a global warming research nonprofit and will be going to medical school in Rochester in August. I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now, I love that you’re funny, honest, and I can’t wait to hear more about your brand new baby boy!

I’m sure you’re getting all patched up now after the extraction of mighty xerxes – but I wanted to jump in too! (535 comments? AWESOME!)
1. I’m KJ!
2. I’m 31
3. I just quit my HR job in hopes of finding a better one as a technical trainer. I live in Denver with my fiance and main squeeze (both of whom are the same guy). We’ll be getting married in October of this year. We don’t have kids and we have an awesome cat. There will be a lot of changes for me this year – I can’t wait to find out how it all goes!
4. I’ve been reading your blog since… roughly before dog came into your life. Right? well, I don’t remember but it has been ages. Like years. Like 4 or 5 at least. Maybe I just started reading 3 years ago and scrolled back to catch up. Your writing style is so captivating and interesting, and what immediately attracted me was your wit. You were “just like me” in that you were roughly my age (that’s it, actually). You have this crazy parrallel universe kind of life – like you’re the me I would have been/would be if I had done the goth thing like I wanted to in highschool instead of nerding it up in drama like I did. You’re like some kind of awesome potential me that I could be if I do the mom thing, and you’re proof that motherhood doesn’t instantly suck all the cool away. In fact, you’re the first person to prove that parenthood, when placed on the shoulders of JUST the right couple, can be the coolest damned thing ever. Like Eh-vur!

I can’t wait to see the pictures of the baby. I know you’ll never understand what we love about you and your stories – just never let that stop you from sharing! :)

Congratulations! Welcome to earth, Xerxes!

1. Anais
2. 31
3. I am a widowed mom who just finished school and is struggling to start the career of my practical dreams. I am recently and unplannedly pregnant with the first person I have had strong feelings about since my husband died, though we are supposedly not ‘in love’ and there is ‘no future’ for us as ‘partners’. I am trying and trying to decide what to do. I found you through Kristin a few years ago and keep reading because, well, I am not sure why. I have actually taken you off my blogroll (not personal, I just pared it way way down) but keep checking in, maybe because your second baby is nearly here. Or maybe even is, by now. Many congratulations and best wishes for the four of you.

Congratulations on the Smalltopus! May your need for in-hospital entertainment be brief.

Magpie, 38, been reading since your Diaryland days. As I’m being called up jury and am due back in the courthouse in an hour for a grilling by teh lawyers, I’ve been mentally mining my biography for things that they might find unsuitable in their jurors: undergraduate degree from a hippie school, masters’ in library and information science (OMG, she reads!), 8 years of nonmarital bliss with 3 of those shacked up and no plans for kids (OMG she hates family/men/America!), high-level techie in a very male-dominated subfield (OMG, again with the man-hating!). How’m I doing? Want me on your jury? Honestly, I’m voting tomorrow — isn’t that enough civil engagement for one week?

1. Samantha

2. 28

3. I live in Maine with my husband Darric and our 2 year old Jordan. I work at a Television station as a director/commercial producer/whatever else they get me to do.

4. I’ve been reading this blog for only half a year. And your ability to make me laugh out loud and tear up at the same time is what keeps me coming back. Also the fact that I can relate to you in so many ways. Keep up the great work.

Been thinking of you all day, wondering if the baby is here yet. I hope all is well, and I can’t wait to see pictures!!!! Take Care Linda!

Holy Eff – that’s a lot of comments.
Elizabeth, 31, I live me son, my husband, my dog, and my cat. I think all four of them may be conspiring to drive me insane. I’m sure you know the feeling. I’ve been reading your blog for awhile…maybe two and half years? And I read it because you are a great writer, and you crack me up.
Good luck. I’ve been thinking about you and hoping it all goes fabulously.

Sammy (Samantha), 38 (when the hell did that happen). Live with my husband, 2 kids, 2 cats and 1 dog in the Midwest. Working at an office until I decide what I want to do when I grow up.
I read you blog because it’s funny. Your honesty and bravery awe me. Can’t wait to see your new one!