It’s 7:15. I have an absolutely massive to do list for today, with Christmas only a week away. I probably should get a jump start on my wrapping and laundry while the house is still quiet, but instead I just snuck downstairs buck naked to pour my first cup of coffee and grab a phone … Continue reading Sleepy snuggles

My parents used to have a nightstand full of pictures next to their bed. It wasn’t organized in any way - just two drawers jam packed with several decades’ worth of printed photos from real cameras, polaroids, and, eventually disposables. My dad always liked to say that if there was ever a fire, that nightstand … Continue reading A Tale of Three Timehops

Ella recently made up some lyrics to the tune of that old “this is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands” song. Her alternate words go something like this: “This is the way I do everything, Do everything, Do everything. This is the way I do everything, With octopus arms.” … Continue reading Multitasking

When we were growing up, we had a Magic Book. I can’t remember what it was actually called, although I’m pretty sure my dad still has it on a shelf in his living room – “Treasury of Children’s Tales” or something like that, full of nursery rhymes and short stories. To my little girl arms, … Continue reading Magic and Mud

I’ve been thinking all day about how to tell you about the day Ella was born. This story usually works best when I’ve had a few drinks and can shout out words like MUCUS PLUG and CERVICAL CHECK and CROWNING. Ugh. Here are the main things you should know: I had promised my sister, who … Continue reading The Day We Got Ella June

Four years ago today I woke up in a Very Bad Mood. The baby who was Ella had dropped four days earlier, so I was feeling discomfort for the first time in my entire #blessed pregnancy. (Note to 2013 Danielle: subsequent pregnancies will be neither easy nor comfortable, enjoy this while it lasts.) I had … Continue reading The Day I Wasn’t in Labor

I have a confession to make: I am not actually naturally a great baker. I'm not patient or particularly careful when I cook. I tend to improvise instead of sticking with a plan. And I hate, hate, hate reading and following instructions. Seriously, I was a party pariah in the late 90s because I decided … Continue reading Dough Day

I've had "go through Ella's baby stuff" on my to do list for about six months. I meant to do it before we moved in July, because it seemed crazy to move with a bunch of disorganized baby boxes. But of course, the actual packing and moving took precedent and I never got around to … Continue reading Boxes of Memories

We were in Tribeca on a crystal clear winter morning. I was in the middle of hustling Ella past the open doors of a parking garage, hoping to catch a cab and get us out of the biting wind. She was dragging her feet a bit, and I’d been fighting impatience. We had plans to … Continue reading Thank you for this glorious day

I wrote this awhile ago, before I was ready to fess up about our fertility problems but just after the first executive order travel ban was signed. I'm in a better place about all of this now, but I'm visiting NYC today with Ella, and our hotel looks down on the WTC memorial, and I'm … Continue reading The Best We Can