There is a whole school of therapy based on the premise that people just need empathy for their childhood wounds. The assumption is that most parents are unable to give empathy or apologize to their children for things that are difficult, which leaves them with a gaping hole that a therapist can fix by providing a corrective emotional experience in adulthood. I have seen a lot of people come to therapy with the underlying issue of never feeling understood or validated by their parents. So as I . . .

I know I've been posting a lot of cute pics of the kids, and some of you have asked that I post a picture of myself. I've been avoiding it because I am so, so huge. But then I thought, what the heck. It's not like I'm carrying 8 or something. So here is a little tummy shot of me at 40 weeks pregnant:I told you I was huge. . . .

About a year ago, my friend Ali and I started a "mommy blog" called Mama Manifesto. It's been a fun adventure, a huge learning experience, and a whole lot of work for pretty much no money. The upshot is that often, companies will solicit us for promotional consideration, and we get some fun swag. So when a local beach resort offered us a little getaway, I was like, um . . . . YES. Last weekend we got to stay at a nice hotel that is about 5 minutes from our house and overlooking the beach. We had . . .

I sat out on the Easter celebration this morning. Our church does a big, county-wide service at the Pacific Amphitheater. It is always artistic, always inspirational, and always kind of a zoo getting in and out with that many people. My end-of-pregnancy waddle has morphed into a slow, strained elderly gait, because my pelvis is basically coming apart. So there was no way I was going to be climbing stairs and walking up steep hills and then walking to and from an endless parking lot. Mark decided . . .

I have been feeling really crappy though most of this pregnancy, but this week I got a burst of energy that defied the immobility and exhaustion that have been hallmarks of the last few months. I am finally at full-term, and something kicked into gear. I feel physically better, and I feel motivate to GET S#!$ DONE. And not just in a normal, let's complete a task kind of way. More like a compulsive, tweaking, crystal-meth-fueled way. It's like I look at the house, and every inch needs to be . . .

There are two kinds of women in this world. For some women, being pregnant is this amazing, earthy experience. They get the glow. They feel energized and organic. The look somehow sexier. They fit into their pre-pregnancy jeans before they drive home from the hospital. I have a few friends like this. Case in point: my friend Angela, at the hospital IN LABOR, wearing her high-heels and looking hot.And then there's the rest of us.For some of us, pregnancy feels like having the flu for 9 months. . . .