The answer: a boppy is my very best friend...

If you don't have a baby, you're probably still wondering what the hell a boppy is. Well, I figured after my first post, I ought to tell you! After being thrown in to a full-blown panic by a well-meaning colleague, I googled "Boppy" and was directed to hundreds of pages of a funny-looking pillow. Without truly understanding it's purpose, I purchased a cute one from Target that would match the baby's bedding and anxiously awaited it's arrival. It arrived, and I still didn't get it. It looks like an oversized airline pillow you see those weirdos wearing along with eyeshades and earplugs or maybe like one of those donut thingies you sit on if you have a sore bum - nevertheless several mothers told me this was a "must have item" for when baby arrives! For the few weeks before Eléonore was born I used it as a reading pillow and it was GREAT! It's firm yet malleable, soft yet sturdy. But clearly this wasn't the intended purpose.

All I'm going to say is BUY ONE! If you're knocked up or you already have a baby, this pillow is the best thing EVER. It made breastfeeding so much easier (and I sucked at breastfeeding!), when she got a little older (2 months-ish) and wanted to sit up on her own it gave her some support when I placed her in the little opening and when she starting truly sitting up unassisted (5 months-ish) it gave me some peace of mind that if she fell over she wouldn't bonk her gorgeous little head. Also, Napoleon (our dog) thinks it's the greatest thing ever - when Eléonore isn't around he snuggles in the opening! I still use it when feeding her a bottle in the morning - it just adds an extra cushiony layer when I feed her in the bed! I love this stupid pillow.

Actually, you should buy one even if you don't have a baby. I have found so many uses for the dumb thing that I'm not sure I could ever live without it now.

What the hell is a boppy?

I always knew I wanted to have kids - I just didn't expect to have my first one at 26! My husband and I had it all planned out - we'd move to Paris for a few years so he could finish school, we'd enjoy French wine and cheese, we would travel the world and then we'd move back to the United States to settle down and have children. Surprise! I found out I was pregnant after only 11 months of marriage and 10 months of living in France. You know how they say that the pill is only 99.99% effective? Hello, my name is Adelaide and I'm that 0.01%.

While the news was surprising, I couldn't have been happier. My husband was thrilled, I was "glowing" (or sweaty... it was a hot July in Paris...), my parents were beyond excited to be grandparents and my friends were pumped that I could be the guinea pig in this whole "pregnancy thing." The first few weeks of my pregnancy were amazing - I picked a doctor and hospital, I thumbed through baby name books and envisioned a beautiful baby boy dressed in knee socks or a gorgeous baby girl in a smocked dress. Ahhh yes, the first few weeks were lovely...

Then came the second trimester when it was time to alert the rest of the world about the pregnancy. I told my boss, I told my colleagues, I told my professors, I told acquaintances, I told perfect strangers on the bus that I was "pregnant, not fat... in case you were wondering..." - basically I told anyone who would listen. Having had no morning sickness and no outward sign of being pregnant by that point, telling people just made it feel real. I thought letting everyone know would only continue the warm and fuzzy feelings I had during the first trimester.

I WAS WRONG.

People like to give you advice. Lots of advice. While I seemed to be able to handle all of the advice and questions regarding nutrition and exercise, breastfeeding preparation and plans for childcare, there was one question that left me in a total panic: Have you purchased a boppy yet?

WHAT THE HELL IS A BOPPY??????

This blog is all about the experience of becoming an "accidental mother" at the age of 26. It's about figuring out how to balance a career, an adoring husband and a beautiful daughter while still maintaining my own identity and enjoying a glass of wine from time-to-time. It's for all of my friends who have not yet ventured into the wonderful world of parenthood - learn from my mistakes! Don't reinvent the wheel! And finally, it's simply for all of my family and friends all around the world to get a little bit of insight into our lives. ENJOY and come back often!