Say what you like about Britney Spears, but I love this photograph of a newly brunette Britney and her adorable son, Sean Preston, from the August issue of Harper’s Bazaar via the Popsugar celebrity gossip blog. And is it just me, or does she look slightly like Katie Holmes here?

Did you have any professional portraits made while you were pregnant? A friend of mine had breathtaking black-and-white pregnancy portraits taken and some of the shots included her with her older sister, who was also pregnant. During the latter part of my first pregnancy I never felt exceptionally pretty or womanly. I felt fat. I didn’t have the pregnant “glow.” I had acne. Although I was overjoyed with the thought of having our daughter, I didn’t feel my best physically. Now during my second pregnancy I took better care of myself, watched my diet and gained less weight and retained less water. I actually had ankles during my entire pregnancy and my fingers didn’t feel like fat vienna sausages.

Personally I’m glad we live in a day and age when pregnant women are considered en vogue enough to grace the cover of a fashion magazine. The whole image of pregnancy being “cool” has been boosted by the popularity of celebrity moms, from Gwen Stefani to Heidi Klum. Maternity clothes have come a long way from matronly mumus to stylish designers making fashionable maternity wear maintstream (thank you Liz Lange!) And while Britney is no Demi Moore (remember her pregnancy photos taken by celebrity photographer Annie Liebovitz for a 1991 Vanity Fair cover), I think the photos are lovely. At least she’s not smacking gum. Now the Matt Lauer interview? I couldn’t bring myself to watch it because I couldn’t get past the gum and the country girl act and the outfit, which looked like it was straight off the rack from WalMart (not cutting on WalMart or cheap clothing in general as most of my clothes are from TJ Maxx or Target). Now why couldn’t girlfriend have worn something cute like this little number from Pea in the Pod? Only her stylist knows.

Despite the fact that Caitlin acted like she was possessed by the relentless demons of sass last night and refused to get out of the bathtub, I have a lot to be thankful for:

Our beautiful daylilies (my favorites are the yellow and pale peach varieties) that don’t seem to care that we haven’t had a good rain in a while.

I busted out laughing when the woman from Baptist Hospital asked if Amelia had any body piercings or pierced ears while inquiring about her medical history yesterday. She laughed, too. (The hospital rep, although I’m sure Amelia would, too.)

The abundance of roadside vegetable stands to pick and choose from.

Jack the dog’s gentle nature and his patience with Amelia, who likes to climb over him.

Blue Bell Banana Pudding ice cream. I tried some for the first time Father’s Day after dinner at my brother-in-law’s home and I still can’t forget about it.

My new office mate who brings really good Ghirardelli chocolate.

My friend Amy, who I am (hopefully) going to lunch with today.

Our parents, who are keeping Caitlin Sunday and Monday night while Amelia is recuperating from her tubes procedure.

Caitlin’s wonderfully patient teachers who put sunscreen on a bunch of hyperactive 4 and 5-year-olds every Thursday for water play day.

Caitlin: “Mommy, I want to be Erica.”

Me: “What baby?”

Caitlin: “I’m Erica now. OK?”

Me: “You want to change your name to Erica?”

Caitlin: “Yeah…I’m Erica.”

A week later while eating breakfast:

Caitlin: “Mommy, I’m still Erica.”

Now the first image that pops into my mind when I think of the name Erica is this:

Different theories were running through my mind…maybe she has a future in soaps? Perhaps the name Caitlin isn’t exotic enough? Perhaps Caitlin is too difficult to spell? After a little investigation it turns out that Caitlin’s friend Julie at school had declared that her name was Erica and Caitlin was just jumping on the peer pressure wagon. Yep, it starts early.

“Oh, God love her.” My exact sentiment as I watched a very pregnant women walk into Publix at lunch today while carrying her toddler and holding hands with one of her two other little girls. I can’t imagine being pregnant in this heat and watching after two small children.

“It’s just a store.” This was the hubby’s response when I told him that I was looking at a Flickr gallery of a new Super Target (courtesy of Miss Zoot.) Obviously, he does not understand the hypnotic allure of Tar-jay and what would possess a grown woman to look at another grown woman’s photos of a store that does not exist in our town. Actually maybe that is a little weird.

I really liked a quote I saw from actress Kate Beckinsale on the cover of the new Redbook magazine while in the checkout line at Publix. Something along the lines of “Just because you’re a mom, doesn’t mean you have to stop being sexy.” However, after looking up the article online and reading about her fabulous beachfront Malibu home, her nanny, her stylist, and her assistant, etc., it was a bit tough for me to relate to good ole Kate being “down-to-earth” as Redbook described, ya know?

The following is an excerpt from the Beckinsale interview…you tell me if you think this is “down-to-earth.”

She’s Got the Look
Kate’s stylist came prepared with many designer clothing options including Missoni, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren — and tons of shoes, enough to line an entire wall of the house! As far as Kate was concerned, everything she tried on was a winner — gauzy blouses, sexy white tank tops, super soft T-shirts and lacy dresses were all big hits. She liked them so much, she decided to buy everything she tried on — even the shoes!

Hello…Redbook? What are you thinking? Please hire me as a freelance writer to do some stories on real life down-to-earth moms. There are some great ones out there.

I was a martini virgin until this weekend. The one time I tried a traditional martini (I’m not sure if it was gin or vodka-based) I hated it. So when all the frou frou variations hit the trendy circuit, you know, the apple and chocolate-tinis, I wasn’t too terribly tempted. But the hubby and I tried out a new restaurant Saturday night, where balloons and chicken fingers were no where to be seen, and they had an amazing selection of martinis. I had to try one because, frankly, the highlight of the day had been getting my freebie Prilosec Bunco set in the mail and getting caught up on laundry (party on!)

I am really a lightweight drinker. One or maybe two occasional glasses of wine or a a couple of Coronas with lime are enough for me. Sure there were those post-college single working girl years when my girlfriends and I would order Mind Erasers to jump start the evening, but that’s been a long time ago. So, in my current unhip fashion of finally trying something once it’s been popular for several years (i.e. like finally watching the entire Sex in the City series last summer while nursing a baby at odd hours of the night thanks to Tivo) I ordered a fancy schmancy Key Lime martini Saturday night and let me tell you…it was worth the wait. I drank two and I’m in love. Here’s a recipe I found online and here are some swanky new martini glasses. Oh, and these are cool.There’s even a martini “diet” book. The hubby tended bar for seven years and he’s definitely going to be making some homestyle key lime martinis this summer. Cheers!

Go down to your local Humane Association. Adopt the most neurotic puppy in the lot. Allow her to jump on the bed because she’s so cute and she only weighs 10 pounds or so. Spoil her rotten year after year. Insert summer thunderstorm. Share your bed with a 40-pound dog all night.

Edited to add: I just read this heartbreaking post about the Davidson County Animal Shelter here in Nashville. Please consider adopting a pet from their facility this summer. They are in dire straits.

The fabulous Shauna here in my fair state posted a Thankful Thursday list and I’m totally copying her (go check out the awesome photos of her adorable daughter and her sunglass wearing poodle).

1. I’m grateful that the hubby has been taking Caitlin to the greenway every night after dinner. She rides her bike until the point of exhaustion and they spend quality father/daughter time together while I get baby sister ready for bed and commence to breaking out the hard liquor early.

2. We are getting a BRAND NEW playground at our neighborhood park, which is just a short walk from our house. I was just talking to my next-door neighbor about harassing our councilman about the sad state of affairs of our current playground. Caitlin is so excited. At her age, the neighborhood playground is her turf and when all is said and done they are making it new for her. And that makes me very happy.

3. Franklin Cinema has free movies for kids in the summer. I’m taking Caitlin to see a Bugs Bunny flick tomorrow on my day off seeing as it is hotter than H out as my mama says. I’m also thankful that Caitlin is at the age where going to the movies with her mommy is a cool thing. I’ve also got a coupon for a free Jr. Frosty from Wendy’s. We’re livin’ the big time, people.

4. Despite Amelia’s ongoing ear infections, I am very thankful that we have two healthy little girls. And thank you all for the words of encouragement.

5. I’m thankful for the women I’ve met through blogging who make me laugh daily. This photo is hilarious (thanks to Julie at Mothergoosemouse) And this post about losing her sanity by the always fabulous Southern R*Belle is great.

6. Speaking of sanity running off to the beach, I’m grateful that my dad has a condo in Florida. We’re heading down there late this summer for a family vacation. Yee haw! It can’t come soon enough. I can’t wait for the smell of sun and sunscreen to permeate my skin and to see the girls’ wavy damp hair and pink cheeks after a day of swimming and playing in the sand.

7. I’m grateful for the funny server at lunch yesterday who told me and my dad that we were his only “nice” table and proceeded to declare everyone else “assholes” with a dramatic wave of his hands. My dad gave him a great tip.

8. And lastly, I’m thankful that Amelia has big sister’s big beautiful brown eyes. (And yes that is a Christmas towel bib…it was clean, what can I say?)