I’m more me than I ever dreamed was possible

Both of you have me bawling over here..... Tarzan, your so sweet and you have a way with words..... My fiance grunts in my general direction. He can't handle my mood swings anymore. lol. I think I may drive him insane, hey only 16 more weeks!

Loved this post. I'm not much of a writer but I feel the same way. Mothering was like second nature for me, but that doesn't always make it easy. Like last night, at 3 am my little boy was up and ready to party. Cooing, laughing, big bright eyes, ya know the works.... And although it is frustrating that I'm not getting any sleep, I completely melt at how absolutely ADORABLE he is. You cant be upset with a wiggling, cooing boy. Truly he melts my heart everyday. He's three months and fully alert at everything and doesn't want to miss out on anything until he is so tired that he finally crashes. I then take his limp sleeping body and tuck him in tight for a nap and look into his face and it will just hit me, wow I love this little boy so much. I can't imagine my life without him. As scary as it is to become a mother, the blessings that are received are innumerable to array of hardships that it brings along.

Sniff, sniff a little tissue please.

I was traveling and away from the computer world for awhile. I come back and read this touching post, you give such hope to any woman feeling a little lost.

Tarzan and Jane,
have you considered using a rating scale to give your readers a more balanced review. ie rating out of 10 for price, quality, age suitability etc
any how just my 2 cents worth i do think that we need to hear more about the products you dont like and why.

I don't think it is bad mouthing how can a company improve on products if they do not get feedback and also as you said you have thousands of readers who would like a better idea of what not to buy as well.

@MVP - you bring up a valid point and I'm sure many others may be wondering the same thing. :)

Jane is right. I can attest that we have a box upstairs with some products that Jane and I didn't like for one reason or another. We thought it would be best to only do the reviews for products Jane or I like and not post any reviews on the products we didn't like. We chose to do so for several reasons...

First, out of the respect for the company or individual that owns the products. After all, just because we don't like something doesn't mean others will feel the same way. If we posted a negative review on a product, it would surly hurt the company and spread some bad PR about them and/or their products. Also, there are enough blogs and websites where people are more than happy to complain about products they don't like. :( We chose to go a different direction and stand out - meaning, only doing reviews and/or give-aways for products we know, like, trust, used, etc.

We are soon launching our own pregnancy and baby products store. We had hoped to have everything up by now, but there have been some delays sourcing the products. We have been very picky as far as what items we wanted to include in our store because we know if people buy something that wasn't good, didn't work, or they didn't like it for whatever reason, it would not only be a reflection of the product/company, but also us because the product came from our store.

Now on the flip side of all of this... There are times where Jane and I will take a stand on something and let folks know about it. Sometimes we don't do an entire blog post about it - sometimes we hide these little gems in the comments. ;) One for example is those pee-pee-tee-pees. I remember commenting on a post here quite awhile back letting folks know that those don't work. They are more of a novelty item to give to someone who's having a boy. The only thing those would stay on a baby boy is if babies were born with velcro on their pee-pee so those things would actually stay on. They fall off within 2 seconds because babies squirm so much!

Also, Jane has mentioned some things about the pack-and-play we bought. I don't even remember the name of it, but there were several bad things about it - one of which the bottom pad sagged in the middle after only a month or so of use. So then Monkey was always laying in an awkward angle. We stopped using that and felt it was a waste of money.

So we may not write blog posts solely on a product posting a bad review, but we do sprinkle comments about a product or service we didn't like every once in awhile in the comments here. ;)

Oh, and a recent one Jane had posted on Twitter was how Babies R Us could really stand some happiness and helpfulness training for all of their employees. They were quite rude to her one day.

So yeah, Jane and I do sprinkle those 'bad' reviews every once in awhile - we just don't write a whole blog post about it 99% of the time.

But watch out.... if Jane gets ripped off or a company does something that upsets her, then she'll be out for blood and will post a full blog post about it. If you look way back, I think she did a post about shopping at a well known store. I don't remember all of the details, but the company then sold her information to some magazines and other companies who started sending us a ton of mail - AND automatically billed her credit card for some subscriptions - AUTOMATICALLY. She had to call and cancel - and she got into an argument with the person on the phone for the company using such shady practices.

So yeah, when things like that happen, or Jane or I get ripped off for something in the pregnancy/baby world, and we're PO'd about it... you better believe that we'll be posting something here. If only the Babies R Us corporate knew that Jane has over 20,000 Twitter followers and thousands of people a day come and read our blog... I would imagine they would maybe take training their employees to be happier and treat their customers much better seriously - and/or have some quality control in place. Because after all, we'd much rather spend a few extra bucks and go to Target to buy the supplies we need and get treated much better and feel like they actually want us to be there. :)

So to close this up - now that I've totally hijacked Jane's BEAUTIFUL blog post - which I think is truly one of her best and a message that SO MANY pregnant woman need to read... I'll just finish this way-too-long comment off by saying how much I love my beautiful Mommy Jane and our little Monkey. :)

Beautiful. And someday, when you're expecting your second, you'll wonder if your heart will ever grow to love another as much as your first... and you'll learn just how big your heart can be!

Not trying to be judgy, just asking about the reviews. I like to read reviews about products, but after I've seen so many that seemed overly positive, I started to wonder if you were sugar-coating them just for the free stuff. I'd like to hear about the stuff you don't like too - so I don't go out and buy it! Please keep doing them, but I really just wanted to know if you were truly in love with everything that's sent to you, or if you were only reviewing products you like. Now I know, thanks!

Hello, Jane! I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog. I found your blog way back in April when I found out I was pregnant with my first baby, a little girl due on New Year's Day. Your blog has been such a tremendous help throughout my pregnancy. Even though I've read every single post you or Tarzan have ever made, I find myself going back to your week-by-week pregnancy posts. It's such a relief to find out that many of the things I'm experiencing are totally normal and I enjoy reading about things I can expect to possibly happen. Thank you for all of the time you put into sharing your thoughts with the rest of the world! Monkey is a lucky little man!

MVP - I actually really truly love all the products that I post. Believe it or not, I'm not sugar coating anything. There have been times when we were contacted to review a product that I didn't like right off the bat & I don't review it. I do have a box of things upstairs that I don't like, which is the reason I haven't posted about those things. I don't want to be b!tchy & write a bad review, so I only do reviews on the things that I like.

There hasn't been a single thing "wrong" with any of the products that I've posted so far. Thanks for asking though.

Question for you & I mean this in the nicest way possible... You seem a little judgy when you comment lately, which is perfectly (guess I just use this word too much) fine, but why all of a sudden? I'm truly just curious...

Awwww, very sweet. I'm so glad you're enjoying being a mommy.

Just a question though about your "reviews". You know you don't have to say every product is perfect, right? I'm not sure I've read anything negative in any of your reviews. Isn't there anything wrong with any of these products at all?

This really touches me. When you are pregnant, you know that your life is about to change. And even though I desperately wanted my baby, I was scared that I would lose myself when she got here. I struggled with postpartum anxiety, and even then, when I was scared of my sweet little girl, I was scared to not be watching her every second.

Things have changed. A lot. But, golly, it is such an amazing change! Yes, I sometimes smell like spitup, or baby poop, or have pacifiers and teething rings in all of my pockets. But I wouldn't trade one dirty baby wipe, or spit covered jacket for anything. Her little smile lights up my day. It is cheesy. A complete cliche... but SO true. When she clutches at my shirt and giggles into my shoulder, or the when strangers tend to flock to look at her big blue eyes... Im filled with such a fierce pride in my brilliant little baby, and yet such a tender swelling fills my heart with love. When I stopped worrying about losing myself, I found myself. Found parts of me that I didn't even know existed. I mean, who would have thought Id find it hilarious to have razperries blown in my face and to have to wipe baby spit out of my eyes?

Sorry, this is so long. Jane, I just wanted to tell you that your post is something special. I am so glad that I found your blog while I was pregnant. Monkey is only a week or so older than my 'Bean' (as we call her), and it feels like I have someone to go through all of the challenges with, and to share the joys!

This is wonderful to read. I'm about 8 months along now, and I'll admit I'm nervous about what life will be like and how it will all change once my son is born. Hopefully I, too, will be more "me" than I have ever been.

LOL @Baby Food Grinder ... We don't see too many guys around these parts - thanks for posting! And don't worry, it's OK for men to cry on our blog. It's a safe place and we'll ever tell anyone.... unless you make funny noises when you cry, then we'll have no choice but to broadcast it to the world. :) ha ha

Beautiful! I feel like I become more "me" every day of my pregnancy. I can't even IMAGINE what it will feel like when the little bebe actually shows up. Wow.

Thanks for this! While I'm happy about all the free giveaways you've been posting lately - this is why I keep coming back to read your blog....

You guys! You both have such an amazing talent for expressing yourselves. A lovely post and a lovely reply. I'm going all mushy... must stop... men aren't meant to show feelings... oh ok then...

- BFG

oh my gosh it is so true... i never realised how much love I was capable of giving.. I was terrified becuase well how do i put this my mum was a hopless alcoholic, who has only ever put her own needs before us kids and I was terrified that I would somehow manage to make the same mistakes she did even thou i dont do drugs or drink it was my biggest fear. but I am coping better then i ever expected and I am happier then i have ever been. Unfornatly i have to go back to work and this means putting my little one in child care 3 times a week, I got a call from the childcare provider today to organise a time to come in a inspect the centre and after I got off the phone I picked up my little girl and cried and cried the thought of leaving her just crushed me i have grown so close to my baby that being apart just seems so wrong. I dont know how my mother always put the drink first and missed out on seeing us grow and learn. She lost custody of us when I 6 because of her drinking and subsequnce breakdown caused by a all night binge session that got her arrested for drink driving up the worng side of the road I will never forget that night. anyhow thats a whole other story of the perils of being my mothers daughter.

Hi Jane and Tarzan,

You put into words what so many of us are feeling. Pass the kleenex please!

I think all new parents feel like this at some point. I know I did too. It's a MAJOR adjustment and there were many times I thought, "what did I get myself into?" But now that my baby is here, I can't imagine my life without her. My husband says the same thing.

As much as we love seeing our babies change and grow, I think that it's our baby that makes us grow as a person.

I can't agree more! I felt the exact same way and now that I'm pregnant with our 2nd, I have similar emotions/feelings. And if I wasn't choked up enough, Tarzan's note pushed me over the edge!!!

@Annabelle Lee ... Ah, you are referring to when you click on 'contact us' on the bottom of the page. Who are the boys you ask? My sperm. Remember, they can swim you know. :)

@Everyone else... I have a feeling this post is going to get a lot of new mom's a little teary-eyed. :) Jane should have put a disclaimer on the top in case any of you are at work and you end up having that black stuff you put on your eyes stream all down. For the life of me I cannot remember what that stuff is called... eye shadow or something? Anyway, again beautiful Jane, good post. ;)

Dear lovely beautiful wife Jane.

This is one of your best posts you've written.

I've seen you transform from that girl that was scared of the unknown and losing herself into the happy, loving Mother you are today.

I remember when we were out of town while you were pregnant, and the hotel room had a balcony that overlooked the pool. That night they were having a cocktail party and live music and we were leaning against the railing looking down at them.

You started to cry and said you were afraid about how much our lives are about to change. That the days/nights of us having a few drinks at some pool party were over. That you were afraid about the unknown. That you didn't know what to expect and that you were struggling with accepting that everything is changing.

You've come a long way my beautiful. A long way. And I'm so proud of you.

I only wish you had read the above somewhere when you were going through those tough times initially. I'm sure there are SO MANY other woman who are pregnant who are feeling just the way you did - and I really hope that they find this post and know that no matter how much they think they're going to miss their 'old life', the new one that is about to begin is 1,000 times better. And like many things in life, you have to experience it first-hand to believe it and understand it.

Love you,
Tarzan

Ditto! My baby was a complete surprise and I uttered the same words/thoughts, that I would "lose myself" and wondered if my personal life was over. Funny I felt that way, because now everything just clicks.

"If you have a question or a comment you’d like to share, you’ve come to the right place! You can contact Jane, Tarzan, or even “the boys” by filling out the form below."

When trying to contact you via the link in the footnotes of your website, who are "the boys" referred to?

Oh man, now I'm teared up! I'm reading this whilst holding my little girl, and she's giggling while I'm trying not to bawl!