More About Jamie

1. What's one thing you have that you should really throw away, but can't?

I have a bag of paper shopping bags. I never use them, but for some reason can't seem to bring myself to get rid of them.

2. What was the last movie you saw? 

Let's see, last night I fell asleep while watching True Grit, and a few days before that I fell asleep while trying to watch Tron. But the last movie I watched in entirety was Family Stone.

3. What's your favorite drink? 

Like my sister, I love me some Dr. Pepper. Alcohol beverage, whiskey sour

4. If you could invite any 5 people, living or dead, to a dinner party, who would invite?

Zac Efron and Leonardo DiCaprio, because every party needs some eye candy. My Great Grandma Smith, because Stella is named after her and I'd love for her to hear all about Stella. Chief Sitting Bull, because I wanted to be an Indian at one point in my life and his perspective on American History would be incredibly interesting to hear. Lastly, Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine, because I love her music and her hair, she could serenade us after dinner.

Eclectic Bunch I'd say :)

5. Describe yourself in 7 words or less.

Mother, wife, Goal oriented, curious, creative, predictable

6. What is your favorite piece of clothing and why? 

This is a hard one! I honestly, don't think I have one. Maybe my skinny jeans? I wear those the most.

7. What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know? 

I think to some people, I seem a little stand-offish, but I'm really not. I'm actually very friendly.

8. What is your favorite childhood memory?

My childhood rocked. It's hard to pick just one memory. But the one I instantly thought of was our trip to Montana. The entire trip was awesome! The good ol' club wagon broke down on the side of a mountain, dad jumped fell out of our raft in a rapid rock garden, I almost tumbled out of the back of the van (with all of our luggage) while trying to get pictures of the bison that were following us, swimming in the river, hiking to a waterfall...and many many cool things!

9. Would you rather be too hot or too cold? 

If you sweat like I do, you'd agree—too cold!

10. What are you wearing as you type this? 

Faded black jeans, baggy white t-shirt with green stripes

11. What's one thing you want to do before you die?

Tim and I want to vacation in all 50 states

12. How would you describe you parenting style?

Extremely laid back. I'm sure this will probably evolve as Love Bean gets older. Especially when she starts to get interested in boys!

13. What kind of parent do you strive to be?

I want to be the kind of parent that Stella wants to come home on the weekend and visit, that she knows she can confide and trust, laugh with and cry with. The kind of parent that she wants approval from. Not because she needs it to feel validated or to feel loved, but because she respects me and values my opinion. But most of all I want to be the kind of parent that shows unconditional love that never fails and is always waiting with open arms.

Luckily, I have felt that kind of love and I have many role models of that kind of love in my life.

14. What's one thing you never said you would do, that you now do?

Nothing really comes to mind. Although I do think I once said, "I could never live in the city." Now look me, living in one of the largest U.S. cities and with a husband and baby no less :)

15. What is one thing you do differently than your parents?

I'd say one thing that's different for us is the division of childcare when we're both home. Growing up I remember my mom pretty much being in charge of our day-to-day stuff like getting dresses, meals, etc. (sorry dad if you did do some of this :) But since Tim and I both work full time, when we're all home together we divide things pretty evenly, so that neither of us has to come home from working all day only to work all night, while the other sits around.

16. Best piece of advice you have ever been given?

I will echo Mallorie said and what our mom told us—never wake a sleeping baby—I don't wake Stella up for anything, and I don't try to keep her up. If she wants to sleep, she gets to. Babies know when they're hungry, she's not going to sleep so long she starves. Babies need a lot of sleep and I've read that they actually sleep better at night, if they've napped more during the day. It's easier for them to relax and they're not over stimulated.

 I don't know where I actually heard this, but something that has saved many of our arguments from becoming full fledged fights is NOT following the common advice, "don't go to bed angry with each other" Sometimes it's better to just go to bed and sleep it off. In the morning most of the time, we both are in much better moods and don't even bring up the night before.