22
Where’s the Music?
'Let's Go Everywhere' by Medeski Martin & Wood
I started sharing my eclectic taste in music with my little Monkey during pregnancy. Not only did I play a wide range of music for the kid, but I also kept up my love of going to live shows. I went to about 30 shows during my pregnancy, ranging from bluegrass and jazz to symphony and progressive rock. My last concert before giving birth was approximately a week before my due date. Let me tell you, I got a lot of dancing space at that show.
Exposing my kid to music certainly didn’t begin and end in the womb. Music is always playing in our house and, between me and The Dude, we have discovered quite a few favorite albums to share with our son. Many of the albums were already in our collection, but we did find some great albums that are geared towards kids. We quickly learned that we like to rock out to them, too. We like to mix up the “kids” music with some of “our” music, with the hopes that our Monkey will also have a good ear for awesome music. However, all of this might backfire and he’ll end up listening to death metal…or worse. Like Enya. (continues…)
30
Happy Annivirthday to me
my cookie
I recently celebrated both my birthday and my wedding anniversary with The Dude. Our anniversary is the day before my birthday. Therefore, we celebrate an annivirthday. We’ve now been married 4 years, I am 33 years old, and I am none the wiser.
I want a cookie.
14
Pregnancy Websites: The Good, The Bad, And The Scary
I was 31 when I gave birth and, even at that ripe old age, I was still one of the first among my friends to have a baby. I guess some of us just like to hang onto our youth for dear life. Nothing puts a damper on good times like something that needs a Pamper. Plus, having a baby means you’re finally responsible and mature, right? Unless you’re a Spears, of course.
When I discovered I was pregnant, there were very few women in my life that I could turn to for advice, wisdom, and commiserating. So who else could I turn to? Pregnant women online that I would never actually meet in real life.
The Good:
I discovered www.babycenter.com in my first trimester and was able to join an online forum with other pregnant women due the same month as me. I was immediately hooked. I would read posts from other women dealing with the same aches and pains, weird body changes, and anxieties. For the most part, the forum helped normalize so much of what was going on with me. Things that no one else could really understand, especially The Dude. It seemed like the only people who could understand were these pregnant strangers, all going through the same stuff together. (continues…)
08
Introducing Aimee
My Two Special Guys - the Dude and the Monkey
Hello! Welcome to Ain’t Yo Mama’s Blog (AYMB). My name is Aimee.
I am a SoCal native, born and raised, but fled to San Francisco when I was 20 years old. I lived there for about 12 years before moving back to the land of Housewives and Hummers. During my time in SF I met a really smart, funny, and all-around cool Dude*…despite the fact that he’s a lawyer. I married him and we have a little boy who is 3 years old. We nicknamed him “Monkey” when he was first born (original, I know) but he really has turned into one. He grunts, likes to climb stuff, loves bananas, and has opposable toes.
I have a BA in Sociology, a Masters in Public Administration, and a Masters in Counseling Psychology. You might wonder what I actually do with those degrees. After many years working in low-income government housing management, I am now a registered pre-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFTi). Once the Monkey came along, I put aside my career in counseling to be a stay-at-home-mom. I started this blog in August 2009, which has led to some great opportunities. Aside from writing about topics that I love, working with great companies and agencies that I respect, and hosting the occasional fabulous giveaway, I also write parenting articles for the wonderful Tight Bod With a Pod website and have been featured in a few other publications, including the StrollerDerby Blog via Babble.com. In addition to this blog and the occasional freelance writing opportunity, I also sit on the Board of Directors for a non-profit philanthropic organization.
Thanks for stopping by! Feel free to contact me at aimee@aintyomamasblog.com if you have any questions or comments.
You can follow me on twitter or fan the AYMB page on Facebook!
PR Policy: My blog is PR friendly, with some exceptions. Not all products will be approved for a review. Please also note that I will not review or endorse a product unless a give-away item is included. All reviews and opinions are based on my own honest experience with the product and will not be influenced by free product or compensation.
Comment Policy: I have the right to delete or ignore comments that I consider to be offensive, disparaging, or irrelevant to the topic. You have the right to disagree with me, but please do so in a civilized and constructive manner. I’ll make sure to do the same.
*Why is my husband called The Dude? Two reasons: I actually do call him that (among more embarrassing nicknames) and I am a HUGE Big Lebowski fan. But, unlike the original Dude, my own Dude does not call himself The Dude nor does he particularly care for White Russians. He is, however, an excellent bowler.