When Kelly Perotti contacted me through Goodreads and asked to review Just Friends with Benefits for her website, Crib Notes Kelly, I was flattered but confused.  Crib Notes Kelly, a blog inspired by Kelly’s book, Crib Notes, a candid look at conception, pregnancy, and parenthood,  is targeted predominantly to new mothers and mothers with young children, and I had no idea why a mommy blogger would want to review Just Friends with Benefits, a book about a woman trying to turn the “one who got away” into “the one.” I thought perhaps Kelly  was confused as to the plot of the book.  She wasn’t.  She explained that while her blog was, in fact, targeted to new moms, these moms probably enjoyed reading as well and an endorsement from her might help me reach more readers.  It made perfect sense.  Just because one is a mom doesn’t mean she doesn’t like to read good chick lit 🙂 Anyway, I sent the book to Kelly (who really enjoyed it by the way – woo hoo) and I also began following Crib Notes Kelly on Facebook and Twitter.  Even though I’m not a mother, even I have appreciated and learned things from her posts.  If you have young children at home or are expecting or just want to read some great book reviews, I highly recommend you check out Crib Notes Kelly.  And check out Crib Notes, a candid look at conception, pregnancy, and parenthood too!

Kelly’s post starts now:

Homegirl

I’m a stay-at-home mom. I’m a work-from-home girl. I’m home. A lot.

I am somewhat of a homebody, not liking to travel too far from home for too long of a time (unless someone wants to send me to Italy; I could get all sort of comfortable there), but being home all the livelong day starts to get to you after a while…

4:40am

H crying
B calling for Daddy (who left for work about 5 minutes ago)

5:00am
B finishing half a banana and a cup of water
H alternating fussing and tooting

5:30am
B in bed reading books
H now crying, wants to nurse for 3rd time since 9pm

5:40am
B, still in his diaper from overnight, yelling “PEE PEE!!” (guess I have to take him to the bathroom. After all, I started this potty training thing…)
H temporarily back in crib during pee pee run= not happy

6:00am
B in bed playing with Prayer Bear (AKA loudest stuffed animal ever to exist—thanks G.G.)
H finally settling for water, falling back asleep despite said Bear

6:15am 
“PEE PEE!!” (more came out—through the seat, onto the floor, my feet, and his pajama shorts)
B, having been up for an hour and a half, is bored of being in bed, now just yelling
H despite the noise, still asleep

6:30am
B in my bed, watching and singing to Elmo (thank God for Tivo)

7:00am
Elmo’s over B’s sliding off the bed “Down! O-me-al [oatmeal]!”
H talking, yelling in crib

7:05am
My eyes are rejecting my contacts Hit in face with poop smell as baby’s bedroom door is opened
B scaling crib rail to get in with H
H smiling (poop in diaper and on sheets)

7:15am
H crib, and changing table, changed
B peeing (apparently takes after me) Poop laundry started

7:45am
B finishing 2nd half of banana and 2 packs of oatmeal
H inhaling “gourmet” Banana Orange Medley and rice cereal (mmm, mmm) Sending my first work email of the day

8:00am
Little Einsteins coming on (aahhh) Stale cake for breakfast

Forecast:
Desired—Play nicely all morning, eat lunch, synchronize naps
Probable—Toys being thrown by mid-morning, too tired to eat lunch, alternating naps

So, although I am HOME a lot, you can see that ‘boredom’ is not on my radar. And with a pretty cool husband and great friends, I can’t say I’m lonely either. But I am chatty. Where better to release that crazy chatter than the internet?!

Blogging is not only a great outlet, but a great inlet as well.

It allows me to vent, help, ask, and share, but also allows me to listen, accept, answer, and learn. I can only hope that I do as much of the first, as I do of the second.

Kelly Perotti is the author of Crib Notes~ a candid look at conception, pregnancy, and parenthood, and writes at www.CribNotesKelly.com. She gained her insight and expertise during a nine month course called Pregnancy and continues on-the-job-training mothering two boys just eighteen months apart in age. Her juggling act of kids, self, marriage, and work is chronicled at www.CribNotesKelly.com. Your comments and communications are welcomed on Facebook and Twitter @CribNotesKelly, or at CribNotesBook@gmail.com.

Coming soon: Blogger Girl