I'm Evolving...

Thanks to my dad, Dominic is now the proud owner of a brand new crib! I picked out an espresso/dark cherry colored convertible Graco crib because it's practical, I like the style and it will match perfectly with his pirate crib bedding. I don't know what I would do without all the thoughtful gifts I've been given by my family and friends. Dominic is truly lucky to have such wonderful people in his life already. Thanks again dad!

Every so often, life has a way of reminding us not to take it for granted. With a heavy heart, I'm sad to report that a friend of my family's lost her young son today in a tragic and unexpected accident. I'm not a religious individual, but I do ask that you keep her family in your thoughts. Words can not express the sympathy I have for the family at this time. As an expectant mother, I can not even begin to fathom how she must feel. Events like this have a way of instilling in me both fear and gratitude. Fear that something like this could happen yet ago to someone I love. Gratitude for each moment I do get with my unborn son, parents, family and close friends. I know I've posted on this before, but I can not reiterate enough - tell the people you love that you love them, call a friend or family member just to say hi and don't waste a single moment of your life on regrets. Because you only get to do it once.

Rest in peace, Cole Dolbear 
"I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death.  They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make.  Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories."

The Countdown Begins...

18 more weeks and counting until my due date! Can I get a "hell yeah" for being over half way? I'm thinking it would be really spectacular if Dominic decided to come about a week early so we were both home for Thanksgiving, as it's one of my favorite holidays. Unfortunately he'll come when he's ready, so all I can do is keep my fingers crossed. Regardless, the holiday season is going to be even more exciting this year with Dominic around. I know he won't be old enough to enjoy it or remember it, but I'm so excited to have him around for his first Christmas. This year will be such a drastic change from last Christmas, when for the first time ever in my life I sat home alone with my mom without a tree and without the usual family Christmas celebrations. Worst Christmas of my life, but I sucked it up and got through it. Just goes to show how things can really turn around in a years time. Speaking of which, what do you buy a 1 month old for Christmas? Hmm, guess I better start thinking of ideas...

I'm so glad some of my energy has finally returned over the past 2 weeks. For awhile, I was finding it difficult to even make myself get ready for the day, which is very uncharacteristic for me. I've been making progress by leaps and bounds on the marketing/advertising front for my boutique and consulting firm. I've revised my business plan and I have a very clear vision of where I want things to go over the next 6 months. I've been really motivated and inspired lately and I'm getting really excited for the big things that are coming. The only problem I'm still running into is finding decent salespeople. With running both businesses and doing all the advertising on my own, it's damn near impossible for me to do all the sales on top of the day to day stuff, networking, PR and marketing. Guess it's time to make some changes to the way I'm recruiting and training employees. If at first you don't succeed, try try again!  When all is said and done, if my hard work can make a difference in just one person's life, it will all be worth it.  "In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."

Dominic the Rockstar

Went to see a cover band last night with some friends - I love live music! It was nice to get out of the house for a bit, although the whole bar scene is a bit overrated when you're not drinking. People watching was fun, per usual. Dominic was kicking all over the place, he's such a little rockstar already. It's never too early to get him started on listening to great music!

A friend of a friend gave me a huge collection of baby clothes today that are in great condition, including a snowsuit with bear ears. If Dominic's wardrobe of new clothing wasn't massive enough already, it sure is now! I've started organizing his itty bitty clothes and blankets to take inventory of what he has in each size. He definitely won't need or want for anything. I've been debating on whether or not to use special laundry detergent for babies on his clothing, or to use regular laundry detergent free of dyes and perfumes. Most of the research I've done suggests that regular detergent is better at getting out stains and as long as it's free of dyes or perfumes it shouldn't irritate his skin. Sounds like that's the way to go. Any suggestions?

 "Like it or not, the world evolves, priorities change and so do you."

Bump Bump Bump...

My baby bump seems to be growing by the minute! I've been taking weekly pictures since about 10 weeks to document my progress, and in today's picture I noticed a huge change since last week. Call me crazy but I think maternity shopping is somewhere in my near future. I'm hoping Dominic comes out in the 7-8 lb range, but my instincts tell me I've got a bigger baby in the making. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!


Although I'm unable to participate in a lot of the activities I had planned for this summer (skydiving, paragliding, river rafting, scuba diving, etc) I am still hoping to get in a good camping trip before the warm weather ends. And by camping I mean a cabin, RV or some other form of shelter that offers a shower. I'm envisioning a cabin in the woods by the lake with a canoe. Somewhere in the Adirondack Mountains? Perhaps. Time to embark on a mission to plan this camping trip before everything is booked!

"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal. Not to people or things."

Hold the Drugs Please!

Thought I'd share my pics from my most recent beach trip - 19 weeks, 3 days in the pics and still rockin' a bikini! So far all the weight has gone straight to my boobs, I'm afraid pretty soon I won't be able to find a bra to hold them. Lets just hope they go back to their normal perky state after I'm done nursing, ha ha! To date I've only put on 4 lbs since the start of the pregnancy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the next 20 weeks will be as kind to me. Wishful thinking on my part? Probably.

Since I found out I was pregnant, I've been putting some serious consideration into my birthing options. I'm not much of a prescription medication person as it is, so of course I was leaning towards a natural childbirth without an epidural. After a few months of research and asking around, I've decided that barring any problems or circumstances that would require a c-section, my plan is to go the natural route with no pain medication. Up until the past decade or so, epidurals weren't even offered as a part of childbirth, and women still survived having babies just fine. For starters, I see no point in putting myself at undue risk of infection or paralysis (although the risk is small) when it's not necessary. Research also shows that pain medications such as an epidural can slow the birthing process and increase the amount of time a woman is in labor. Additionally, some studies indicate that babies born to mothers who had an epidural are somewhere in the neighborhood of 40% more likely to be collicky babies. Whether that's true or not, I don't know but I'd rather not take the chance. Call me crazy, but sometimes there's nothing wrong with doing things the old fashioned way. I may regret my decision once the moment of truth arrives, but my mind has been made up. Bring on the pain!

"People are giving birth underwater now.  They say it's less traumatic for the baby because it's in water. But certainly more traumatic for the other people in the pool!"

Mama's a Slacker...

Baby mama has been a slacker this past week! From baseball games to the beach, ultrasounds and working like a madman I've had no time to do any updates the last couple days. First off, had my second trimester ultrasound today and Dominic is still a boy! Yeah!!! Huge sigh of relief. I couldn't help but laugh - every time the ultrasound tech put the ultrasound by his face, he started punching me. He's feisty already! The doctor says he looks great, is growing normally, doesn't have any red flags for any problems and is still on track to make his appearance on Turkey Day. They estimated his size to be about 11 ounces and 10 inches long. And he has the most adorable big old lips! I couldn't be happier. :)

Had a great time on a wee shopping spree today, compliments of Grandma. Was able to get the jogging stroller, baby bath and Boppy I wanted, in addition to clothes, shoes and various other items. I can't wait to see my little guy in his Converse All Stars. Thanks Grandma!

In the few (and far between) moments I do get for myself, I've been doing a lot of thinking. It's amazing how one little person can turn your whole world upside down in a matter of months. I'm on a mission to be the best damn mama on the face of the earth and that includes finding the perfect private school, the best life insurance policy and the nicest place to live. Changes are definitely coming. Haven't quite decided the where or when yet, but Dominic and I are going to take this world by storm - people beware! “Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.”

What a Week!

My apologies for the absenteeism the last couple days - it's been a hell of a week! Had a great time in NYC at the Yankees game on Thursday. Never a dull moment with the rowdy group of family and friends I went with. Weather was great, and the Yanks won the game so the trip was a win-win. We're hoping to make the trip an annual event and I can't wait to take Dominic next year! The new Yankees stadium is nice, although I must I admit I prefer the old stadium, if for no other reason than the amount of history that was there. Bought the cutest Jeter t-shirt and Yankees bucket hat for Dominic - it's sooo damn cute (and it better be for nearly $40!).

Spent a day at the beach yesterday with my mom and brothers. It was so nice to just relax, soak up some sun and enjoy being outside. I realized my baby bump is a lot more noticeable when I lay down! Time to start looking for a bigger bathing suit methinks. And yes, I am one of those pregnant women who plans on wearing a bikini the entire time I'm pregnant. And no, I don't care what you think about it :)

Got in touch with an old friend today who moved to San Diego last year. It was great to reconnect with him! It's so crazy how much things can change in a years time. In just under a year, I have moved (temporarily) to NY and am expecting a child. He, on the other hand, moved to San Diego and got married! One thing I've learned in life is to always expect the unexpected. "It takes a long time to grow an old friend."

NYC, The Yanks and an Upcoming Ultrasound...

Since I got to NY in early May my life has consisted primarily of business, baby and spending what little time I have left with family. Which is why I'm stoked to be taking a trip to the city tomorrow to see a Yankees game. It's been about 6 years since I've been to a game, and this will be my first time in the new Yankees stadium. NYC is about a 5 hour trip from upstate NY where I've been staying so it will make for a long day, but the change of scenery and fun will be well worth it! Hopefully I can find a few things for Dominic's Yankees themed nursery while I'm down there...


I'm getting very anxious for my upcoming ultrasound next Tuesday. This will be my third one. The first two were done to confirm how far along I was and come up with a due date. From what I understand, at the upcoming ultrasound they will measure him, his legs, arms, and look at his brain to make sure everything is developing properly.  My doctors office also has 3D ultrasound capabilities so hopefully they will give us another sneak peek at what he looks like. I can't wait to see him! My favorite picture from last time is the one they gave me of his little legs and feet - how cute!

"If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything.”

Life Is Short But Sweet For Certain...

Received yet another reminder today that life is often way too short. Found out this afternoon that one of my former colleagues had passed away unexpectedly. It always seems to be the people who leave the greatest impact. Although I never got the opportunity to know him outside of work, he left a lasting impression on anyone who met him. Thank you, Theron, for teaching me almost everything I know about the industry - your absence will be felt by many. My heart goes out to your family, friends and fellow colleagues.

 Now that I am on the verge of having a child of my own, things like this are a grim reminder of my own mortality. One of my biggest hopes is that I will be able to raise my child to completion and be around to see him graduate, get married and have kids of his own. I've begun to cherish every moment with him, even though he's not physically here yet - every kick, punch and somersault brings a smile to my face. Don't ever start to take life so seriously that you let it pass you by. If you're lucky enough to have a family, be sure to hold them a little tighter tonight. Tell the people you love that you love them. And don't ever take anything for granted.

"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."
Stephen Lilly 11/12/2009
Talese Turner 09/04/2010
Theron Nestripke 06/27/2011 

Friday, Friday...

Ahhh, Friday - my long lost love. Got off to a rocky start today when I had the brilliant idea to pick up some food for breakfast. Woke up, threw up on some sweat pants and headed out. Arrived at the drive thru, waited in line 10 minutes just for them to tell me I was 3 minutes past the cutoff for breakfast. I promptly exclaimed "Mother f****r!" told them to forget it and sped off. That's what I get for wanting fast food anyway, I should have known better. From now on I'll stay home and cook like I normally do.

After I got my daily outburst out of the way, I had a relatively decent and productive day. Spent about an hour or two daydreaming about taking Dominic to Disney World. Who says Disney is just for kids? I've been all over the country on various vacations and it's still my all time favorite place to go. I already have his first five years planned out and he's not even here yet...

Finally decided it was time to be productive around 3 PM, and have been working on marketing and training materials for my businesses ever since. Now if only I could find some semi-intelligent, motivated employees my life would be complete!

"The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Sooner or later our thoughts, deeds and words come back to us with astounding accuracy."

Once Upon a Time...

Once upon a time there was a 23 year old girl named Blair. She lead an eventful life, busy focusing on her future, running two start up businesses and living the dream. She never imagined in her wildest dreams a place in her life for a baby. When one day, a routine doctors appointment brought a surprise - Blair had a baby on board! And that's where the story begins....

Hi everyone! Thanks for checking out my blog. As the intro stated, I'm Blair - a 23 year old business owner and single mama to be. I created the blog to give a little insight as to what it's like being  an expectant mother. A single expectant mother. A busy, ambitious single expectant mother. I hope that some of you will, at the very least, be able to relate the experiences I share here. And I'm looking forward to hearing stories from other women such as myself. But first, lets get everyone up to speed on how I got to where I am today...

In November/December of 2010, I started casually dating a guy we'll call SJ. He was close friends and co-workers with one of my best friends husbands, so I had seen him around a few times. My expectations of him and our relationship weren't high from the get-go because I didn't think we had much in common. Nevertheless, I thought he would be someone fun to hang out with and so began the saga. After hanging out a couple times and  enjoying his company, I realized I liked spending time with him and that we had more in common than I had anticipated. SJ appeared to be intelligent, have a good sense of humor and seemed to be a great dad to his 4 year old daughter from a previous relationship. Over the course of a few months, we began talking everyday, going to events together and getting closer. We weren't dating exclusively but it was clear that both of us were quite fond of one another. We shared similar values, talked about life, had fun together, laughed together and on one occassion even cried together. Yep, things were going great...

And then, in early April I found out I was expecting and that the baby was due November 24, 2011. It came as a huge  shock because I had been on birth control for over two years. When I initially told SJ, he was relatively calm and collected but it was clear he would rather not have a child. After several days of consideration, I told him I would be keeping the child and that I didn't expect anything from him but to be there for the baby. I wasn't asking anything of him financially, I wasn't trying to trap him into a relationship, I just wanted our baby to know his father. At first, he handled the news well. But over the course of a couple weeks, the person I thought I knew completely disappeared. He decided that it was in his (and somehow the child's) best interest if he was not around and was allowed to sign over all rights. I was shocked. Although the situation wasn't planned or ideal for either of us, I was baffled at how he could be such a good dad to one child and a deadbeat to another. Especially considering he grew up without a dad and had mentioned on several occassions how much contempt he had for his father for not being around.  I thought perhaps he was just in shock and over time he might come around....

Sadly, that was not the case. For about a month I continued to send him doctors updates on the baby until one day a few weeks ago things took a turn for the worse. As if being an absentee father wasn't enough, he began making cruel remarks towards me. This was the point when I decided that indeed he was right and that his being in our child's life would not be best for the child. He's not the type of influence I want for my child. And if he's not in 100% then he's not in at all. Once my bundle of joy arrives in November, we will be honoring his wish and allowing him to sign over all rights. "Anyone can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad"

Found out two weeks ago, I'm having a boy - Dominic Anthony Stephen! The prospect of being a single mom is challenging and scary at times, but also very exciting and rewarding. I am so greatful to have such wonderful family and friends to support me in one of the most integral and amazing times in my life. Dominic has been moving for a few weeks now and I love it! I can't wait to see him and hold him and kiss him. I can only hope he doesn't decide to greet us in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner ha ha!

To be continued....