2008 Woodie Awards
I have it bad
Danielle Stillman
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: Opinion
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Lately, I have been stricken with a particularly virulent case of the "baby rabies."
I cannot pass the baby clothing section at Target without making a myriad of strange and terrible cooing sounds. I lurk on online pregnancy message boards. I actively find opportunities to tell people I will be a natural-birthing, cloth-diapering, organic-growing, breastfeeding hippie mama-even when the conversation has not exactly taken that turn.
My desire for a baby is completely irrational at this point, yet I feel like I have been bitten by a bug-a horrible, pink-and-blue seeking bug. I would not be surprised if I started foaming at the mouth over baby slings at some point.
The other day, I turned on the television and was minding my own business, when it hit me. Johnson's and Johnson's, smack in the face-laughing babies writhing all gelatinous-like in lavender-scented baths and proud, dewy-skinned mothers cooing over them. It began as a sniffle, but I soon realized I had tears streaming down my face. I was crying at a baby shampoo commercial.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached critical mass.
Because I am senior, I am also confronted with the fact that it seems nearly every day someone I know is sporting a sparkly new engagement ring, or has given one. On more than one occasion, I have been combing through my Facebook friends and reached a name that looked unfamiliar. Once I poked around on their profile long enough, however, I realized that I was looking at a schoolmate's married name. I swear they are dropping like flies!
So not only am I infected with the "baby rabies," I am also dangerously close to succumbing to the dreaded "wedding itchies." I have been reviewing my diamond cuts and wondering why everyone seems to like white gold these days when I want yellow. Boyfriend's hometown in Florida is one of the most popular wedding sites in the United States. Hello, destination wedding.
I can best explain my fascination with starting a family by comparing it to my Midwest obsession. This past Labor Day, I went to Kansas City, and was able to spend the night with a friend there.
I cannot pass the baby clothing section at Target without making a myriad of strange and terrible cooing sounds. I lurk on online pregnancy message boards. I actively find opportunities to tell people I will be a natural-birthing, cloth-diapering, organic-growing, breastfeeding hippie mama-even when the conversation has not exactly taken that turn.
My desire for a baby is completely irrational at this point, yet I feel like I have been bitten by a bug-a horrible, pink-and-blue seeking bug. I would not be surprised if I started foaming at the mouth over baby slings at some point.
The other day, I turned on the television and was minding my own business, when it hit me. Johnson's and Johnson's, smack in the face-laughing babies writhing all gelatinous-like in lavender-scented baths and proud, dewy-skinned mothers cooing over them. It began as a sniffle, but I soon realized I had tears streaming down my face. I was crying at a baby shampoo commercial.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached critical mass.
Because I am senior, I am also confronted with the fact that it seems nearly every day someone I know is sporting a sparkly new engagement ring, or has given one. On more than one occasion, I have been combing through my Facebook friends and reached a name that looked unfamiliar. Once I poked around on their profile long enough, however, I realized that I was looking at a schoolmate's married name. I swear they are dropping like flies!
So not only am I infected with the "baby rabies," I am also dangerously close to succumbing to the dreaded "wedding itchies." I have been reviewing my diamond cuts and wondering why everyone seems to like white gold these days when I want yellow. Boyfriend's hometown in Florida is one of the most popular wedding sites in the United States. Hello, destination wedding.
I can best explain my fascination with starting a family by comparing it to my Midwest obsession. This past Labor Day, I went to Kansas City, and was able to spend the night with a friend there.