Expecting Executive Blog

60Expecting Executive Bloghttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.comen Expecting ExecutiveExpecting Executiveinfo@expectingexecutive.comnoThis Mom Loves Cast Covers!http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/03/27/this-mom-loves-cast-covers.aspxExpecting Executive<BR>So, everyone now knows that Scooby is in a full let cast for three more weeks.  They make this wonderful invention called a cast cover - and no, it's not a plastic bag and a rubber band.  This is a cast cover: <BR><BR> <CENTER><IMG style="WIDTH: 239px; HEIGHT: 162px" height=121 src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/83475-72975/Leg_cast_cover.jpg" width=400 border=0></CENTER><BR>It has the plastic "O-Ring" that has a rubber diaphragm in the middle of it with a hole that is just large enough to push the cast through.  Once over the cast, the rubber diaphragm creates a seal on the skin that keeps water from getting into the cast cover bag.  <BR><BR>I have now used the cast cover in the shower as well as the bath and the cast has stayed completely dry.  We also have the teachers put it on when it is time to play outside in the sandbox.  Handy, handy, handy!  And inexpensive too!  You can buy one of these for $20-$40.  Cheap for the convenience, in my opinion.<BR><BR>Here is where we bought ours: <A href="/www.brokenbeauties.com">www.brokenbeauties.com</A><BR><BR>While I certainly hope that you never need one, if you end up with a cast in your household, I would strongly recommend buying a cast cover!<BR><BR>Until next time, be well!<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <P></P> <P></P> <P></P> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" 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castcastshttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/03/27/this-mom-loves-cast-covers.aspx#Comments82105bc2-3acd-4e46-9e93-bf00c387e243Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:25:58 GMTWaiting to Exhalehttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/03/22/waiting-to-exhale.aspxExpecting Executive<BR>I don't know about you but it feels really tense right now.  It is that feeling of "waiting for the other shoe to drop" or "when it rains it pours".  That kind of feeling that goes away when enough good things happen in a row to help you forget all of the bad things that just happened.  You know what I mean?<BR><BR>Our family has been through the wringer these past weeks.  My husband's younger brother died suddenly of a heart attack.  That certainly threw everyone out of kilter but the circumstances are complicated due to the fact that my brother-in-law was in the middle of a pretty nasty divorce.  He died leaving one child in middle school and two in high school.  Due to the acrimony of the divorce, it was not a funeral that promoted an amazing life lived but accusation and blame.  Such a shame and certainly compounded the grief.<BR><BR>Then, a week later, my son fell off of the jungle gym at school and broke his leg.  A "toddler fracture" they called it, as they wrapped his leg from foot to thigh in a pastel blue cast.  Of course, all of this happened while my husband was on a very important business trip.  Can you believe that it took more than 36 hours to get an appointment to cast my son's leg after we identified it was broken?<BR><BR> <CENTER><IMG style="WIDTH: 290px" height=203 src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/83475-72975/Yeah,_its_a_HUGE_cast.JPG" width=300 border=0></CENTER><BR><BR>However, our family is mending and healing and certainly our troubles are minor compared to so many others.  But, doesn't it just "feel" like we are all "waiting to exhale"?<BR><BR>It just feels to me that things will continue to get more complicated, negative and problematic in the short term before things feel better.  The economy is obviously (and finally) reacting to the "all you can eat" real estate finance buffet that was extended to consumers over the past few years.  And, we have this weird election going on.  Florida and Michigan clearly knowing they were breaking rules and whining that they now can't play.  McCain in Iraq giving poor speeches, Hillary and her migraine inducing shrill voice yelling at me that she is going to make things better and Obama feeling pressured to say bad things about the man that married him because he had a "black rant".<BR><BR>Come on, think about it.  Do you really, really want a panderer to be the next President?  How many friends do you have, whom you love and trust, but disagree with them on certain subjects or even a single argument?  Seriously, does every politician need to distance themselves from everyone who may have a strong opinion because it may offend someone?  What have we come to?<BR><BR>I blame - yes, BLAME - the media.  You put crap up there and then tell me how to think about it.  Well, F-You Bill O'Reilly and Lou Dobbs and Chris Matthews and all of the rest of you looking for or fabricating sensational political stories that are only (if at all) partly correct.  Seriously, my life is full of enough drama as it is, the news media need not compound it.<BR><BR>I am ready for the answers to the nominee for the Democratic Party - and I do hope it is Obama.<BR><BR>I am ready for gas prices to come down.<BR><BR>I am ready to hear the real plan to curb inflation and minimize the recession we are now facing.<BR><BR>I am ready to feel less frenzied and defensive.<BR><BR>I am waiting to exhale.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Until next time, be well!<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <P></P> <P></P> <P></P> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" 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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>Politicswaiting to exhaleStressdeathexpectingexecutiveNews mediaObamarecessionmediainflationtoddler fracturebroken leghttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/03/22/waiting-to-exhale.aspx#Comments3b2d9618-4a28-43fd-b68c-e7f27a6b9d2fSat, 22 Mar 2008 12:53:21 GMTWhat The Heck is a "Badge" and How Do I Add One To My Blog, Website or Social Page?http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/03/18/what-the-heck-is-a-badge-and-how-do-i-add-one-to-my-blog-website-or-social-page.aspxExpecting Executive<BR>Okay, so everyone seems to have these little buttons, badges and framed "announcement" that they like to add to their blog, website or social page.  Bloggers like to hand them out like candy.  They present other bloggers with badges that look a lot like awards.  Other bloggers, like one of my favorites, <A href="http://www.iambossy.com/">Bossy</A>, made a badge to identify readers who signed up to be on her cross-country road trip.<BR><BR> <CENTER><BR><A title="BOSSY's Excellent Road Trip: 2008" href="http://www.iambossy.com/i_am_bossy/2008/01/again-with-the.html"><IMG alt="I am on BOSSY's excellent road trip." src="http://www.iambossy.com/road-trip-logo.jpg" border=0></A></CENTER><BR><BR>So, what is a badge and how do you get one?<BR><BR>Well, a badge is really just a piece of photo, graphic or text that has been uploaded somewhere onto a public server and often links to a web page.  See?  Not complicated.  Now some bloggers have terrific artistic skills (and very expensive graphics software) and get very, very creative with the graphic they design as their badge.  Me?  I am not so talented and I don't own expensive software. So, I enjoy using a site I found that works very well for my limited badge making requirements.<BR><BR>If that sounds familiar to your current skill set, then get thee over to <A href="http://www.hyplet.com/">www.hyplet.com</A> and they will take you step-by-step on how to create a badge that is creative, informative, cute, personal and quirky badges and most importantly, they work!<BR><BR>Here is an example of a badge that I made in about 2 minutes: <BR><BR> <CENTER><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/"><IMG src="http://storage.hyplet.com/Hyplets/547/original/128503266428870000/8IxkUSws5rlkK1hWPpwCmw.png" border=0></A> <BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></A></CENTER> <P>There are avatars, business cards, social network id panels and all sorts of graphics, backgrounds, fonts and other choices that will allow you to get pretty creative without having to master complicated graphics and coding skills.<BR><BR>I do hope this helps one of my blog readers!  <A href="http://www.hyplet.com">www.hyplet.com</A> has been a great, free "web find" for me!<BR><BR>Until next time, be well!</P><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <P></P> <P></P> <P></P> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P><BR> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <DIV></DIV> <P></P> <CENTER><STRONG>Have You Registered To Vote?<BR><BR></STRONG> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <TABLE height=200 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=center border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD id=rtvwaw-launch style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" onclick="if(typeof(WAReg)=='object')return false;if(!/WebKit\/[4-7]|MSIE [6-9]|Gecko\/200(51[12]|[6-9])|Opera\/9/.test(navigator.userAgent))return true;WAReg={launcherHtml:this.innerHTML,isStandalone:0};var d=document;var s=d.createElement('script');s.src='http://www.registrationbyworkingassets.com/client/wareg.js?popin=1&api_key=8JzYyRKVNrsdQQHfN515scFyCjw&lang=&%72eg_id=&r='+Math.random();d.body.appendChild(s);this.innerHTML='Please wait...';return false;" align=middle><A href="http://www.rockthevote.com/indexNoPop.html"><IMG style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile" src="http://www.rockthevote.com/images/ovr-web-banners/150x200_e.gif" border=0></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>i am bossywebsite I likeblogHintshyplethyplet.comexpectingexecutiveBadgesbossyhttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/03/18/what-the-heck-is-a-badge-and-how-do-i-add-one-to-my-blog-website-or-social-page.aspx#Commentsae4cc41f-8aa6-4be7-989b-fbe9a7359384Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:28:31 GMTSnipshot - Friday Fave, Webites Tools You Will Use and Lovehttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/02/08/snipshot---friday-fave-webites-you-should-use.aspxExpecting Executive<BR>I am a self-declared <A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2007/09/05/flip-n-jitterbug--amazing-product-reviews.aspx" target=_blank>gadget junkie</A>.  If the software or gadget is cheap or free, tell me more!  If the website makes my life easy and the applications is easy to use, I am all for it.  Because I am not a big fan of secrets, I thought I would share some of my favorite utility websites on Fridays.  These websites are ones that I use to make things look just a tiny bit more attractive on my blog or social web profile pages.  <BR><BR>Introducing...<BR><BR> <CENTER><A href="http://snipshot.com/"><IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/83475-72975/Snipshot_logo.png" width=289 border=0></A><BR><BR>(Go ahead, click on it!)</CENTER> <P><BR>I love this website.  It is free, easy to use and I have used it countless times to modify photos and clip art.  You don't have to log-in, create a profile or provide any information in order to immediately get started Snipshot's cropping, resizing, enhancing, adjusting or rotating your art and photo files.  I LOVE THIS WEBSITE! (Seriously, I am getting a bit concerned about feeling that strongly about a web site.)<BR><BR>The main screen asks you to browse your hard drive for the photo or file that you would like to modify. Once selected, you click the Upload button and within nanoseconds, you are presented with your photo or art and a basic menu you can use to change your photo.<BR><BR>Resizing and cropping have been my most used features.  Whether you are using Snipshot to resize for an avatar, profile picture or background, this webware is easy, painless and FREE!  Once you have done cutting, resizing, recoloring or enhancing your photo, Snipshot lets you save your file in several formats; .jpg, .gif., .pdf, .psd, .png, and .tif. And, Snipshots is nice enough to simply explain the benefits of each type format. Kewel!</P> <P>Hint: I have also used Snipshot to change file formats of free clipart.  Just an easy breezy thing to do.</P> <P><A href="/www.snipshot.com" target=_blank>Snipshot</A>, a fabulous website you should add to your favorites.</P> <P>Until next time, be well.<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> </P> <P></P> <P></P> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P><BR> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <DIV></DIV> <P></P> <CENTER><STRONG>Have You Registered To Vote?<BR><BR></STRONG> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <TABLE height=200 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=center border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD id=rtvwaw-launch style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" onclick="if(typeof(WAReg)=='object')return false;if(!/WebKit\/[4-7]|MSIE [6-9]|Gecko\/200(51[12]|[6-9])|Opera\/9/.test(navigator.userAgent))return true;WAReg={launcherHtml:this.innerHTML,isStandalone:0};var d=document;var s=d.createElement('script');s.src='http://www.registrationbyworkingassets.com/client/wareg.js?popin=1&api_key=8JzYyRKVNrsdQQHfN515scFyCjw&lang=&%72eg_id=&r='+Math.random();d.body.appendChild(s);this.innerHTML='Please wait...';return false;" align=middle><A href="http://www.rockthevote.com/indexNoPop.html"><IMG style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile" src="http://www.rockthevote.com/images/ovr-web-banners/150x200_e.gif" border=0></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>favortite websitefree webwareexpectingexecutivephoto resizingPhotographyhttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/02/08/snipshot---friday-fave-webites-you-should-use.aspx#Comments61669810-d35f-4c6d-b884-8bc6860e4400Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:41:41 GMTWhere's My Flippin' Pizza Already?http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/31/wheres-my-flippin-pizza-already.aspxExpecting Executive<BR>If you are at home on Sunday watching the Superbowl and sometime during the first quarter you decide to call for some half time pizza, you may want to pick Domino's Pizza. Not for the pizza but for the Pizza Tracker! You can now go to Domino's website and track the status of your pizza. <BR><BR>Seriously. Geeky. Pizza.<BR><BR>Tomorrow you can call your local Domino's and order a pizza and some breadsticks throw in a order of buffalo wings and then log on to watch the magic. Okay, a bit overstated but this IS about pizza and football.<BR><BR>After placing your order, go to <A href="http://www.dominos.com/">www.Dominos.com</A> and click on Track Your Pizza link.  Enter your telephone number (the number you used to place the order) and web pinky promise not to track any other pizza but your own.  You will then your will be rewarded with your order status.  What it even cooler is that you will know your driver’s first name and be able to rate that driver after your pizza delivery has arrived.<BR><BR><BR> <CENTER><IMG style="WIDTH: 514px" height=249 src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/83475-72975/Dominos_Pizza_Tracker.gif" width=540 border=0></CENTER><BR><BR><BR>In a press release from Domino's, Chief Information Officer, Chris McGlothlin says:<BR> <P> <BLOCKQUOTE>Once customers place an order, they can go to <A href="http://www.dominos.com/">www.dominos.com</A> and click on the Pizza Tracker icon. They will see a horizontal bar that lights up red as each step in the process is completed. Customers will see confirmation of their order being received by the store; when it's being prepared; when it's been placed in the oven; when it's been boxed and placed in the Domino's HeatWave(TM) bag; and finally, when it's on its way for delivery.</BLOCKQUOTE> <P>So, is "pizza tracking" necessary? Not really. Will you use it? Maybe. Once or twice. What Dominos website application do I think is cooler? Ordering pizza from your mobile phone on your way home from work - <A href="http://www.dominos.com/home/mobile.jsp" target=_blank>Domino's Mobile</A>.  Enter your mobile number on the website and they will send a link to <A href="http://mobile.dominos.com/">http://mobile.dominos.com</A>.  You will have to register your number through the website before you can start ordering from your mobile phone - and - text message rates will apply.<BR><BR>I also like the fact that Domino's will let you pre-order your pizza, breadsticks & wings online for your half time food delivery.</P> <P>If anyone uses Domino's Pizza tracker on Superbowl Sunday - please leave a comment and let me know what you think!<BR><BR>Until next time, be well.<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> </P> <P></P> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; 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Lifetime lasting love.<BR><BR>I was 30.<BR><BR>I had a completely unfamiliar and urgent desire to have a baby with this man.  I wanted a baby.<BR><BR>I had a son at 33.<BR><BR>My life turned upside down.  <BR><BR>I thought I was prepared.  I read all of the books.  I surrounded myself with support.  On paper, I was ready for motherhood.  Before and during my pregnancy, you could not have convinced me that I was not prepared for motherhood.  I helped raise my brothers and sisters.  My first car was a minivan that came with a soccer schedule.  I even helped with my youngest brother's birth.  I was sure I knew what to expect.</P> <P>My postpartum experience was a disaster.  An absolute disaster.  In retrospect, there are many things that I could have done differently that may have eased my motherhood transition.  But, even if my initiation into motherhood had been less intense, overwhelming and completely life altering, I don't think it would change my truth that if I had to do everything over again, I would would not have had a baby.  <BR><BR>Until now, I have only offered that statement in very private and trusted conversation.  That statement has been received as an unbelievable surprise to those who know me .  As I mentioned, I am a <STRONG>good</STRONG> mother and there isn't anyone, including my husband or son, who would disagree.  The connection and love I have for my son, combined with my ability to properly care for, nurture and teach my son confirms, for me, that I am a good mother.  However, it has required tremendous work, unending patience and the gift of time to learn to appreciate and enjoy being a mother.  For me, motherhood has been a rocky road.<BR><BR>One of the <A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2007/05/28/dear-mom--dad-thanks-for-the-education-but.aspx" target=_blank>most surprising things</A> to me was to find out that I am "not a baby person".  Prior to having my son, I have vague memories of hearing other women saying they were not "baby people" but I never knew what that meant.  I remember thinking, "how can you NOT like a baby"?  I LOVED babies.  From my non-mother perspective, tiny babies were cute, smelled good and were fun to hold.  I had no ability to understand nor appreciate the notion that not everyone enjoys infants.  I get that now.  But, how was I to know that I would be one of "those people"?  <BR><BR>As I shed my tears, I was assured that infancy would quickly enough transition to toddler and for many new parents, that is a welcome transition.  For me, that was a very true prediction.  There was something almost magical that happened around my son's second birthday that added considerable pleasure for me as a mother.  My love of my son was joined by the "like" of my son.  At two, I really liked interacting with my son.  At two, was no longer a baby, he was a little person.  He was talking, walking and purposefully affectionate and engaging.  I had always heard troubling stories of the terrible twos, for me, the age two was a well deserved gift.  A true relief.  A sign of hope, for me.  I love to read Amalah's blog and in <A href="http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2007/10/happiness-is-a-.html" target=_blank>this post</A>, she shares her moment of "like" for her son.  At two, I both loved and liked my son.<BR><BR>My son will be three next month.  This morning he crawled into our bed and wiggled himself over to me with the express intention to be snuggled.  What a thrill and a gift to wrap my arms around him, smell his sweet smell, stroke is perfect cheeks and whisper how much I love him.  These are the moments I cherish and mindfully add to my memory banks.  Moments like these often accompany the personal testimonies of many mothers when they refer to the joys of their motherhood experience.  <BR><BR>Since the day my son was was born, there has always been love.  My feelings of love were thankfully matched with feelings of "like" at age two.  And, at age three, I can gratefully include joy.  And, if you are wondering, unfortunately, the joy of motherhood cannot be compared.  That, of course, is my opinion.  <STRONG>Motherhood joy has no equal</STRONG>.  It is this joy that I was unwilling to miss when I was 30 and in love.  <BR><BR>I now feel and know motherhood joy.  But, at this point, motherhood has not been a net positive experience for me.  I cannot tell you that I am a better person now than I was before having a child.  I cannot tell you that I am a healthier person, wealthier person, happier person or more confident person.  I can tell you that I am a wiser person and that I now know the unequaled joy of motherhood.  Motherhood joy has come to me with a very heavy cost and I am not willing to offer to any woman who is hesitant or unable to have a child that motherhood joy is an essential life experience.<BR><BR>I was surprised, stunned and saddened that my motherhood transition was so troubled.  I have had to work hard, harder than I have worked for anything in my life, to figure out how to emotionally make motherhood work for me.  It has been with talk therapy, support from other mothers and using antidepressants to combat <A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2007/06/14/new-mothers-and-mental-health-ppd.aspx" target=_blank>postpartum depression</A> that I have been able to emotionally move motherhood from one my weaknesses to one of my strengths.  While I knew things would change, I was surprised how drastically motherhood has affected every single aspect of my life.  Motherhood has impacted my relationships, my career, my finances, my emotions and my body more that I imagined.  <A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2007/07/23/having-a-baby-changes-everything.aspx" target=_blank>Motherhood changes everything</A>.<BR><BR>Because of my experience, I am not shocked by the actions and reactions of Brittany Spears.  I am not shocked to hear of women who leave their children.  I am not shocked when mothers cry, yell and emotionally breakdown.  It does not shock me when mother's go so far to express their frustration, sadness and emotional distress by harming their own children.  I am deeply troubled and terribly saddened but not shocked.  Our society prefers to speak of motherhood in happy, bubbly tones and tolerates sarcastic frustration.  There is an unspoken expectation that if you have given birth to a baby, you should also inherently possess the skills you will need to properly, and joyfully, raise a child.  Not all women have those skills and not all women will be able to develop those skills.  What does a woman do if she has a baby and is never able to find joy in motherhood?  In our society, there is a lifetime of shame associated mothers who place their babies up for adoption, so in many cases emotional and/or physical abuse and neglect are often the result of a better alernative not chosen .  But, the complicated issue of placing a child up for adoption is best left for another post.<BR><BR>Thank god for blogs!<BR><BR>Some women transition easily into the motherhood role, some women transition over a longer period of time and some women never make the transition at all.<BR><BR>So, how do we support each other?  I think offering personal truth is essential.  I firmly believe that respecting a woman's choice to not have children is just as important as supporting a woman's desire to have children.  I waffled about adding a child to my life and sat on the proverbial fence for ten years.  In retrospect, I think there was some inner wisdom trying to speak to me.  In my early twenties, I was sure I did not want children.  In my late twenties, I was not sure.  In my early thirties, I was in love and did not want to miss the experience of motherhood and I heard the ticking sound of my biological clock loudly.  In my early thirties, I had a baby. <BR><BR>I have offered my truth and I will continue to offer my truth to women who ask or seek my story.  I do not regret, resent or bemoan being a mother.  However, if you asked me about motherhood and if I would do over again, I would tell you no.  I would tell you that if I had to do it over again, I would be 36 and still sitting on the fence about becoming a mother.<BR><BR>Until next time, be well.<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> </P> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P><BR> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <DIV></DIV> <P></P> <CENTER><STRONG>Have You Registered To Vote?<BR><BR></STRONG> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <TABLE height=200 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=center border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD id=rtvwaw-launch style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" onclick="if(typeof(WAReg)=='object')return false;if(!/WebKit\/[4-7]|MSIE [6-9]|Gecko\/200(51[12]|[6-9])|Opera\/9/.test(navigator.userAgent))return true;WAReg={launcherHtml:this.innerHTML,isStandalone:0};var d=document;var s=d.createElement('script');s.src='http://www.registrationbyworkingassets.com/client/wareg.js?popin=1&api_key=8JzYyRKVNrsdQQHfN515scFyCjw&lang=&%72eg_id=&r='+Math.random();d.body.appendChild(s);this.innerHTML='Please wait...';return false;" align=middle><A href="http://www.rockthevote.com/indexNoPop.html"><IMG style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile" src="http://www.rockthevote.com/images/ovr-web-banners/150x200_e.gif" border=0></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>Womenexpectingexecutivedeciding to have a babyParentingchoosing not to have childrenmotherhoodreproduction decisionsadpotionlife transitionhttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/15/do-you-encourage-motherhood.aspx#Comments774d5933-bc5d-4ab1-8b31-fabf524985f4Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:47:06 GMTSee Free TV Here!http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/11/watch-monk-mary-tyler-moore-house-and-more.aspxExpecting Executive<BR><BR>Oh, it's so exciting!  I jumped up and down when I received my invitation to join Hulu.com (beta).  As you know, I am a gadget and cool website junkie.  Let me tell you, Hulu is cool-u.  At Hulu.com, I can watch high quality streaming video of some of my favorite television shows, past and present.  <BR><BR>What is even cooler is it works like YouTube, allowing you to link or embed the video on your website or browser!  You can also share create a playlist, comment, rate and share your favorite episodes.  <BR><BR>There is no cost to join (so far), but there are commercials.  Yep, sad but true.  But, somebody's gotta pay the Hulu.com bills and I am glad it is not me.  However, the commercials are short, to the point, and not nearly as annoying than regular TV.<BR><BR>Please visually experience Hulu.com by watching this great Monk episode (season 5, episode 16)...<BR><BR><BR> <CENTER><EMBED src=http://www.hulu.com/embed/okLiwyIPGSn0cQWU6iIrQrwROytoW3W3 width=520 height=295 type=application/x-shockwave-flash><BR><BR> - OR -<BR></EMBED></CENTER><BR>If you miss The Mary Tyler Moore show - sit back, relax and enjoy this episode!  Can you believe that this is Season 1, Episode 2?  Click on the play button and get ready to LOL as Mary and Rhoda address being 30 and single.  <BR><BR> <CENTER><EMBED src=http://www.hulu.com/embed/O-rRjFizE4oqgGQYUlRp7DSpMUXGfS-_ width=520 height=295 type=application/x-shockwave-flash></EMBED></CENTER><BR><BR>I found this episode is as relevant today as it was in 1970!  How I wish I was watching this episode with <A href="http://www.iambossy.com/" target=_blank>Bossy</A>, <A href="http://www.dooce.com/" target=_blank>Heather</A>, <A href="http://www.twas-brillig.com/" target=_blank>Brillig</A>, <A href="http://www.velveteenmind.com/">Megan</A>, <A href="http://cussandotherrants.com/" target=_blank>Suzanne</A>, <A href="http://flexibleparenting.com/" target=_blank>Alex</A>, <A href="http://momo-fali.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>Momo</A>, <A href="http://piperoflove.blogspot.comt/" target=_blank>Piper</A>, <A href="http://queenofspainblog.com/" target=_blank>the Queen</A>, <A href="http://www.socalmom.net/" target=_blank>SoCalMom</A>, <A href="http://www.suburbanoblivion.com/" target=_blank>Sara</A> and <A href="http://www.jackal.motime.com/" target=_blank>Jackal</A>.  Hilarious commentary would be guaranteed! <BR><BR>Thank you <A href="/www.hulu.com" target=_blank>Hulu</A>, ExpectingExecutive thinks you are cool-u!<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>Expecting Executive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM><BR><BR> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><BR><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P> <CENTER><STRONG>Have You Registered To Vote?<BR><BR></STRONG> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <TABLE height=200 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=center border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD id=rtvwaw-launch style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" onclick="if(typeof(WAReg)=='object')return false;if(!/WebKit\/[4-7]|MSIE [6-9]|Gecko\/200(51[12]|[6-9])|Opera\/9/.test(navigator.userAgent))return true;WAReg={launcherHtml:this.innerHTML,isStandalone:0};var d=document;var s=d.createElement('script');s.src='http://www.registrationbyworkingassets.com/client/wareg.js?popin=1&api_key=8JzYyRKVNrsdQQHfN515scFyCjw&lang=&%72eg_id=&r='+Math.random();d.body.appendChild(s);this.innerHTML='Please wait...';return false;" align=middle><A href="http://www.rockthevote.com/indexNoPop.html"><IMG style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile" src="http://www.rockthevote.com/images/ovr-web-banners/150x200_e.gif" border=0></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>MonkTelevisionexpectingexecutiveblogmary tyler mooreStreaming videopluginWeb Tipwebsitehuluhttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/11/watch-monk-mary-tyler-moore-house-and-more.aspx#Comments64542e8c-a9b8-4c25-9479-afefc6ff0fa0Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:06:15 GMTOne Less Thing To Worry Abouthttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/11/one-less-thing-to-worry-about.aspxExpecting Executive<BR><BR> <CENTER> <H1 _extended="true"><FONT size=4><A href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/01/11/mars.asteroid.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories" target=_blank>Asteroid probably won't hit Mars, scientists say</A></FONT></H1></CENTER><BR><BR><BR>Whew!  Okay, now I can get back to worrying about things like the economy, <A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2007/08/20/daycare-is-not-a-dirty-word.aspx" target=_blank>daycare</A>, <A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2007/08/13/i-worry-about-old-people.aspx" target=_blank>old people</A> and my <A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/11/how-would-you-ever-recover.aspx" target=_blank>biological information</A>.  So, what worries you?<BR><BR>I seriously need to reconsider my CNN RSS subscription.  <BR><BR>Until next time, be well.<BR><BR>Erin<BR><BR<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive<BR></A><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <BR> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><BR><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P> <CENTER><STRONG>Have You Registered To Vote?<BR><BR></STRONG> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <TABLE height=200 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=center border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD id=rtvwaw-launch style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" onclick="if(typeof(WAReg)=='object')return false;if(!/WebKit\/[4-7]|MSIE [6-9]|Gecko\/200(51[12]|[6-9])|Opera\/9/.test(navigator.userAgent))return true;WAReg={launcherHtml:this.innerHTML,isStandalone:0};var d=document;var s=d.createElement('script');s.src='http://www.registrationbyworkingassets.com/client/wareg.js?popin=1&api_key=8JzYyRKVNrsdQQHfN515scFyCjw&lang=&%72eg_id=&r='+Math.random();d.body.appendChild(s);this.innerHTML='Please wait...';return false;" align=middle><A href="http://www.rockthevote.com/indexNoPop.html"><IMG style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile" src="http://www.rockthevote.com/images/ovr-web-banners/150x200_e.gif" border=0></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>FearMarsasteroidCNNexpectingexecutiveTop Newshttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/11/one-less-thing-to-worry-about.aspx#Commentsb5634ddb-c132-4e6b-b68e-62c05c6c85ffFri, 11 Jan 2008 13:06:25 GMTHow Would You Ever Recover?http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/11/how-would-you-ever-recover.aspxExpecting Executive<BR>Once again a CNN headline on my GoogleReader made me want to know "the rest of the story".  I had to read the article <A href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/01/11/twins.married/index.html?eref=rss_topstories" target=_blank>Unknowing Twins Marry Each Other</A>.  EEEWWWWW.  How does that happen?  <BR><BR>It seems that there was this lady in England who gave birth to twins and placed them up for adoption.  The twins were adopted by separate families.  Years later, the separated twins (not knowing they were twins, duh) met and fell in love.  Creepy.  Then, they got MARRIED.  Yikes!!  Then, they found out that not only were they blood relatives, but they were twin siblings!  More EEEEWWWWW.  Then, they had to go to the court and ask for an annulment, which was obviously granted. <BR><BR>There are just so many unanswered questions and left out details to this story!  But, I completely respect the need for privacy here.  <BR><BR>I ask you, how do you recover from that experience?<BR><BR>Wow.  Well, I'll tell you what, it makes me glad for the problems I have.<BR><BR>What I find interesting about this story, besides the freaky weirdness of it, is that this situation is being used as an example of what can "go wrong" when a person does not have enough biological information about themselves.  It seems there is heated debate going on in the British Parliament (and boy they have some entertaining debates!) over the Human Embryology and Tissues Bill.  A debate we, in the United States, should probably pay attention to.<BR><BR>This quote, I presume David Alton, provides some great thinking material for the rest of the day: <BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><STRONG>"A birth certificate that omits any mention of your true origin falsifies your history in a very significant way." </STRONG></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>HHHMMM.  Care to share a thought or two?<BR><BR>Until next time, be well.<BR><BR>Erin<BR><BR<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive<BR></A><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <BR> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><BR><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P> <CENTER><STRONG>Have You Registered To Vote?<BR><BR></STRONG> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <TABLE height=200 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=center border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD id=rtvwaw-launch style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" onclick="if(typeof(WAReg)=='object')return false;if(!/WebKit\/[4-7]|MSIE [6-9]|Gecko\/200(51[12]|[6-9])|Opera\/9/.test(navigator.userAgent))return true;WAReg={launcherHtml:this.innerHTML,isStandalone:0};var d=document;var s=d.createElement('script');s.src='http://www.registrationbyworkingassets.com/client/wareg.js?popin=1&api_key=8JzYyRKVNrsdQQHfN515scFyCjw&lang=&%72eg_id=&r='+Math.random();d.body.appendChild(s);this.innerHTML='Please wait...';return false;" align=middle><A href="http://www.rockthevote.com/indexNoPop.html"><IMG style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile" src="http://www.rockthevote.com/images/ovr-web-banners/150x200_e.gif" border=0></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>expectingexecutivelegislative debateCNNMarriageTwinsWeird but trueSiblingsAdoptionhttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/11/how-would-you-ever-recover.aspx#Commentsb0914ba1-f661-470f-860c-bf0c0990a8fcFri, 11 Jan 2008 13:14:20 GMTClick to Vote - It's That Easy!http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/10/wanna-vote-first-you-must-register.aspxExpecting Executive<CENTER><EM><FONT size=3><STRONG><BR><BR>Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.<BR></STRONG></FONT></EM>--George Jean Nathan (1882-1958)<BR></CENTER><BR><BR>So, are you registered to vote?  You know, you can't vote if you have not registered to vote.  In most states, voter registration is offered when you are obtaining or renewing your driver's license.  You may already be registered to vote and not even know it!  Keep in mind, there is no penalty for re-registering if you are unsure.  <BR><BR>However, if you did not register when you got your driver's license, or you have moved, or you have changed your name, or you have not seen your voter registration card in years, you may need to update your voter registration in order to vote in your state's upcoming local, state and national elections. <BR><BR>How do you register to vote?  The easiest place to register to vote is RIGHT HERE - RIGHT NOW!  Just click on this super cool Rock the Vote badge to get started!<BR><BR><BR> <CENTER> <TABLE height=200 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=center border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD id=rtvwaw-launch style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" onclick="if(typeof(WAReg)=='object')return false;if(!/WebKit\/[4-7]|MSIE [6-9]|Gecko\/200(51[12]|[6-9])|Opera\/9/.test(navigator.userAgent))return true;WAReg={launcherHtml:this.innerHTML,isStandalone:0};var d=document;var s=d.createElement('script');s.src='http://www.registrationbyworkingassets.com/client/wareg.js?popin=1&api_key=8JzYyRKVNrsdQQHfN515scFyCjw&lang=&%72eg_id=&r='+Math.random();d.body.appendChild(s);this.innerHTML='Please wait...';return false;" align=middle><A href="http://www.rockthevote.com/indexNoPop.html"><IMG style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile" src="http://www.rockthevote.com/images/ovr-web-banners/150x200_e.gif" border=0></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><FONT size=1>(email me for code to add this badge to your blog, website of social networking profile page)</FONT></CENTER><BR><BR>At the <A href="http://www.rockthevote.com/" target=_blank>Rock The Vote website</A>, you can register to vote, get more information about voting, figure out how you can get involved with voter registration efforts and read their blog.  <BR><BR>If you prefer, your state's Secretary of State office is responsible for the how's, when's and what's of voting in your state of residence and will be able to provide you with information and resources.  Each state's office of the Secretary of State has a helpful website that will offer information about voting, registering, special circumstances, etc.  A simple google search will provide you with a link to your state's Secretary of State website.<BR><BR>In Texas (because I live in Texas), you will need to register 30 days before the voting date to cast your ballot.  If you do not know if you are registered (in the State of Texas), you can contact your county's <A href="http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/votregduties.shtml" target=_blank>voter registration office</A>.  In Texas, the primary runoff election date is <STRONG>April 8, 2008.</STRONG>  In order to participate in the Texas' primaries, you will need to register on or before March 10, 2008.  <BR><BR>Don't be left out.  Your vote is important.  Your vote is YOUR RIGHT to be heard!<BR><BR>Erin<BR><BR<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive<BR></A>Erin (at) ExpectingExecutive (dot) com<BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <BR> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><BR><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P><BR> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <DIV></DIV>PoliticsexpectingexecutiveVotingRegister to Voterockthevotehttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/10/wanna-vote-first-you-must-register.aspx#Comments75a44905-bd4b-4ec1-a19c-7e5e04acf445Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:20:01 GMTIs Fame Right Around the Corner?http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/09/is-fame-right-around-the-corner.aspxExpecting ExecutiveAre You a <A href="http://www.topmomma.com/mommas/referal/1418" target=_blank>TopMomma</A>?  Can you and your <STRIKE>mugshot</STRIKE> picture make it to the front of TopMomma's <A href="http://www.topmomma.com/mommas/referal/1418" target=_blank>website</A>?  Well, the ladies over at TopMomma are double-dog-daring you to see if you make the grade!  I submitted my photo.  I wonder if I will end up on the TopMomma wall?  <BR><BR>Please use this <A href="http://www.topmomma.com/mommas/referal/1418" target=_blank>link</A> to vote for me and don't forget to add your photo to the mix!?!?!  Please, pretty please?  If you do visit <A href="http://www.topmomma.com/mommas/referal/1418" target=_blank>here</A> and add your photo, please let me know so that I can vote for you too!<BR><BR>Hugs & high-fives!<BR><BR>Erin<BR><BR<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P><BR> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <DIV></DIV>link funContestexpectingexecutiveblog traffictopmommahttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/09/is-fame-right-around-the-corner.aspx#Comments3d6db2de-ece1-429a-bb71-6380be80359bWed, 09 Jan 2008 14:21:37 GMTMeanest Mom on Planet is My HERO!!!http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/09/meanest-mom-on-planet.aspxExpecting ExecutiveOh, this was too good not to share with you.  <A href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/09/mean.mom.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories" target=_blank>This CNN article</A> caught my eye and I just had to open it from my GoogleReader.  It seems that the "Meanest Mom on the Planet" has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to alcohol.  Just ask her teenage son.  His car was sold just months after receiving it because his mother found an empty bottle of booze under the front seat.  <BR><BR>After finding the contraband, this is the ad that was placed in the local newspaper's classified section:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet.<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>After thinking about this situation, I think this mother should be applauded and commended.  Good parenting can sometimes be tough, demanding and can create extreme discomfort.  <BR><BR>Congratulations Jane Hambleton for being the meanest mom on the planet!<BR><BR>Until next time, be well,<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P><BR> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <DIV></DIV>ParentingCNNexpectingexecutivemotherhoodhttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/09/meanest-mom-on-planet.aspx#Comments95393333-da3c-4c71-9c71-e1b88db61c08Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:26:32 GMTA Great Quotehttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/08/a-great-line.aspxExpecting Executive<BLOCKQUOTE> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>“Served imperfectly but loved every day of my life.” </P></BLOCKQUOTE>...said John McCain in a speech delivered in New Hampshire.<BR><BR>An amazing quote.  A quote that could be applicable for public service, marriage, parenting, career, religion, etc.  I am sure John won't mind it if I borrow his quote and use if from time to time?!?!<BR></FONT></FONT> <P></P><BR>Until next time, be well,<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P><BR> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <DIV></DIV>Politicsquoteexpectingexecutivehttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/08/a-great-line.aspx#Comments4bd1d57e-bd7e-4d3a-a4ea-62b2f7f5b656Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:34:22 GMTVideo of Bill Gates' Last Day at Microsofthttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/07/video-of-bill-gates-last-day-at-microsoft.aspxExpecting ExecutiveThis is funny, funny, funny!  This was shown during Bill Gate's keynote address at the opening of 2008 CES (Consumer Electronics Show).  Bill is planning to step-down as a full time Microsoft employee and here is a video that reviews some of his employement options.  It is long but it is star studded and OMG funny!<BR><BR><BR> <CENTER><EMBED pluginspage=http://macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer src=http://images.video.msn.com/flash/soapbox1_1.swf width=432 height=364 type=application/x-shockwave-flash quality="high" base="http://images.video.msn.com" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="c=v&v=be9075bb-df0a-41c9-8d86-7ded46627e26&ifs=true&fr=msnvideo&mkt=en-US&brand="></EMBED><BR><A title="Bill Gates Last Day CES Clip" href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=be9075bb-df0a-41c9-8d86-7ded46627e26" target=_new>Video: Bill Gates Last Day CES Clip</A></CENTER><BR><BR>See?  Told you that was funny!  Thanks <A href="http://geeksugar.com/930200" target=_blank>GeekSugar</A> for the video.  I love every post I read from you!!!<BR><BR>Until next time, be well,<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P><BR> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <DIV></DIV>MicrosoftCelebritiesces presentationfunny videoBill Gateshttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/07/video-of-bill-gates-last-day-at-microsoft.aspx#Comments8b10e0cb-f202-49e0-adc2-b3e9fc24c47aMon, 07 Jan 2008 18:57:39 GMTCheap Boxed Mac & Cheese Can Taste Better!http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/07/cheap-boxed-mac--cheese-can-taste-better.aspxExpecting Executive<CENTER><FONT size=3><STRONG>Making Mac' N Cheese taste just a bit cheesier!</STRONG></FONT></CENTER><BR><BR>Try taking this:<BR> <CENTER>  <A href="http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/products/productinfodisplay.htm?siteid=1&product=2100065883"><IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/83475-72975/Kraft_Mac___Cheese.gif" width=164 border=0></A></CENTER><BR>and after boiling the water, cooking the macaroni, draining the macaroni, adding 1/4 of butter & milk and the powdery cheese packet, add one slice of this: <BR> <CENTER><A href="http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/products/productinfodisplay.htm?siteid=1&product=2100060464"><IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/83475-72975/Kraft_Cheese.gif" width=164 border=0></A></CENTER><BR>and you have now improved the cheesy taste of your Mac & Cheese to make it taste more like this: <BR> <CENTER><A href="http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/products/productinfodisplay.htm?siteid=1&product=2100065655"><IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/83475-72975/mac_n_cheese_deluxe.gif" width=164 border=0></A></CENTER><BR>and saved a couple of bucks in the process!  Enjoy!<BR><BR><BR>Until next time, be well!<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM> <P></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; 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She is lovely, treated me kindly, enjoyed her time with my husband (her son) and is anxious to meet her grandson, Scooby.  What a lovely experience and I look forward to many more!<BR><BR>My own mother has provided me with the most unexpected familial transition as it relates to my son, the first born of the "next generation".  On paper, my mom is WORLD's #1 GRANDMA!!!  If you call her, email her, stop by her desk at work, visit her home...she is all things grandmother.  She proudly displays pre-school art, photos and will share information about her grandson, Scooby.  However, my mom came to visit in us during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  My mom also lives far away, about 100 miles from Washington, DC.  At first my mother was thrilled to see her grandson and there was lots of immediate celebration and enjoyment upon her arrival.  However, as the days passed, my mother's interest in her grandson went from relatively high to pretty much non-existent.  I was (am) stunned.  How could she not want to wrap her arms around him the entire time she was here?  How could she not want to engage him in his funny little almost-three years old conversations?  How could she not want to play with him, color with him, sing with him and cuddle with him?  What kind of a grandmother was this woman who I did not recognize?  Oh, how I was disappointed!  Then, I remembered.  I remembered my youth.  I remembered being the oldest and I remember observing her with my younger siblings.  My mom is not a "kid person".  She likes infants and adults.  My mom "doesn't do" kid.  It just reminds me that while there are different "kinds" of mothers, there are also different kinds of grandmothers.  Not all of them are the idealist version we broadly brush stroke across our society.<BR><BR>So, I have all of these relatives that are now related to my son.  What I want for my son and his relationships with his half-sisters, aunt, uncles, step-aunt, step uncle, grandfather, step-grandmother and grandmother may not translate into a realistic expectation.  I don't want to create any environment that discourages any relationship (even if I consider it "not enough") Scooby can have with his entire family. Sigh and more sighs.<BR><BR>So, I am working on tweaking my prior expectations and creating realistic ones.  What can I do to create positive experiences and provide opportunities to nurture bonding between Scooby and <STRIKE>my</STRIKE> his family?  Well, I am not sure but I have a couple ideas and I am hoping for the best. </P> <P>Hmmm...when great expectations meet your relatives you get relative expectations I guess.  Anyone care to share their experiences with new motherhood and their extended family members?<BR><BR>Until next time, be well!<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive</A><BR><EM>Helping You Manage Life's Details</EM></P> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P><BR> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <DIV></DIV>Extended Familyblended familyRelativesexpectingexecutiveSiblingsgrandmothermotherhoodhttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/05/relative-expectations.aspx#Commentsef7d4756-978c-4086-8bac-0541e002aee7Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:33:10 GMTI Love My Mother But...http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/04/i-love-my-mother-but.aspxExpecting ExecutiveThis CNN article just posted to my GoogleReader - <A href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/04/stuck.elevator.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories" target=_blank>Women stuck 2 days in elevator</A>.  The title of the article certainly caught my attention and I just had to read a bit more.  It seems that these two women are mother and daughter.  <BR><BR>I know that being stuck in an elevator for two days is bad enough but two days stuck in a elevator with your Mom?!?!  <BR><BR>If it had been my mom and I...well, I am pretty sure that one of us may not have survived!  Six asprin would not have been enough.<BR><BR>Love you Mom!<BR><BR>Erin<BR><A href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive<BR></A>Helping You Manage Life's Details<BR><BR> <DIV></DIV> <P></SPAN><A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></A> <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</A></P> <CENTER></CENTER> <DIV></DIV> <P></P><BR> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> <DIV></DIV>stuck in an elevatorDaughterCNNexpectingexecutivemotherhttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/04/i-love-my-mother-but.aspx#Comments245aa6a6-79ff-459b-a883-1478dc88a0e1Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:06:10 GMTNew Year Shake Uphttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/04/new-year-shake-up.aspxExpecting ExecutiveAccording to my blog software, I have been posting entries for more than seven months.  Where does the time go?  My goal with this blog has been to provide some insight, support, alternate perspective, suggestion or opinion.  To that end, I have felt reluctant to offer what I might consider trite, whimsical or silly posts.  However, I think that motherhood includes a lot of trite, not enough whimsical and gobs of silly.  So, I plan to include "fun" posts from now on as they strike me relevant or worth sharing.  I hope you enjoy!<br><br>Besides, isn't a sense of humor a sign of intelligence? (that may be up for serious debate in 2008)<br><br>Happy New Year!<br><br>Erin<br><a href="http://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/" target=_blank>ExpectingExecutive<br></a>Helping You Manage Life's Details<br><br> <div></div> <p></span><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png"></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ExpectingExecutiveBlog" type=application/rss+xml rel=alternate>Subscribe to Expecting Executive Blog</a></p> <center></center> <div></div> <p></p><br> <script type=text/javascript> var sc_project=2854253; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=29; var sc_security="a0a28930"; </script> <script src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></script> <noscript></noscript> <div></div>blogpost formatsexpectingexecutivehttp://blogspot.expectingexecutive.com/2008/01/04/new-year-shake-up.aspx#Comments18da5095-8f9a-4c5c-8e39-74eaaf233877Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:01:17 GMT