Q. Overall, how was your pregnancy experience? Was it what you had hoped for or were there surprises for you along the way?
I loved being pregnant! (Well, after I got over the feeling of my body bulging in places it never had before - LOL). Really, though, I feel so lucky to have had a wonderful, enjoyable pregnancy. Sure, I was tired - especially in my third trimester, but overall it was a glorious experience.
Q. Everyone wants to give advice to you when you’re pregnant – what to eat or what not to eat; exercises to make you feel stronger and more energetic; and whether or not you should color your hair or have a ½ glass of wine per day. What’s the best piece of advice you received and what do you wish you hadn’t been told?
Best advice - to keep the name choices for the baby a secret until he or she is born. It was nice not to have anyone sway us away from the boy and girl names we loved. No ill advice was given (shocking, right?!)
Q. What couldn’t you live with during your pregnancy – whether it was food, beverage, article of clothing or whatever?
I couldn’t live without sleep. I had to take cat naps whenever I could get them. I totally missed being able to eat sushi (although I would eat cooked shrimp rolls) and missed taking a steam at the gym after a tough workout.
Q. Was there a particular fitness regimen you followed and what did you enjoy most about it?
I kept up my pre-pregnancy workout schedule but at a lower intensity (always wearing a heart-rate monitor) until my 35th week of pregnancy. Then I took 5 1/2 weeks off from any form exercise until I had healed from the delivery. I took classes at the gym (cardio sculpting, yoga, interval training) as well as lots of walks with my husband.
Q. When was your baby born – and was there anything you couldn’t live without to get you through delivery? For instance, a special blanket, or music or movie to watch?
The epidural! I received it within 15 minutes of being admitted to the hospital and it allowed my labor and delivery experience to be quite blissful. Seriously!
Q. How has becoming a mother changed your outlook on life? How will it impact the work that you do professionally?
I, of course, want a safe world for her to grown up in - o until it is, I wish I could build a bubble around Josselyn. As for work - just as many women have done before me - I am juggling motherhood and full-time work. Thankfully, I work for wonderful people who are helping the transition from maternity leave to working motherhood as smooth as they possibly can.
Q. What’s a typical day like for you and the baby? Do you have a favorite activity?
Josselyn has the biggest eyes and they are wide open at 5AM, but sometimes she'll take a pacifier and snooze a little later. The day is all about changing diapers and feeding her - but we get a lot of playtime in as well. She loves lying under the music and lights of the baby gym and being strapped to us for walks. .
Q. Have you learned any tips and tricks along the way to help ease through the difficult times such as baby not sleeping through the night or willing to take naps?
The sound machine’s white noise and heartbeat for naps and nighttime as well as a traveling sound machine hidden in a little bear that hangs from the stroller are life-savers to soothe her!
Q. Do you have a particular trait (physical or personality-wise) that you don’t want to pass on to your child?
Lucky for Josselyn, her daddy excels at sports - so she has a good shot at being athletic. I, however, don't have the best hand-eye coordination. Maybe she'll just have to dance!
Q. Do you have any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to other moms out there?
Have fun and drink-up every second of those first months - the baby grows SO fast that in those bleary-eyed moments of exhaustion, it’s easy to want her to fast-forward to walking and talking. Enjoy this time, though!
