Man Repeller Announcement

I used to read a lot of blogs (and a lot of magazines), but as the blogs have become more commercial and less authentic (and the magazines have become thinner and flimsier), I stopped. Now, I only check two blogs daily and after that, I like to get off my computer and get my daily inspiration of fashion / food / entertainment by talking to people and being on the New York streets — there is a lot out there by just looking around. Last week, I randomly visited a-previously-loved-blog (but now never frequented), Man Repeller.  And I found a post that brought me to tears. It was real, emotional, sensitive and raw.

 

Leandra Medine, the founder of Man Repeller, had been very vocal about her struggle with infertility over the past years. And as someone who struggled to get pregnant (I did 5 rounds of IVF), I felt for her. (More from me on the topic here). Those years of trying to get pregnant were some of my (and our) hardest, and I always empathize with anyone going through those emotional, mental, and physical struggles — so incredibly painful. Although I do not know Leandra personally (we have worked out next to each other several times in a workout class), there was always something so honest and true in her posts about her struggle.

 

She announced that she is now pregnant with twin girls in a beautiful, authentic and real post. She expresses her gratitude and appreciation and love of being pregnant, while understanding and giving hope to everyone who is struggling/has struggled with infertility. I value her words, articulation, position, and message. So please, read her post HERE. And thank you, Leandra, for being sensitive, emotional, empathetic, and real. I wish you all the best in your pregnancy.

 

Circa 2009 hiking Spencer’s Butte in Oregon. Such a baby expecting a baby.

 

Thank you for reading and understanding that everyone is going through their own sh$t.  We all need to treat each other with love and kindness. Have a great week!

Anika Yael Natori, aka, The Josie Girl

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Big Night, Big News

The suspense has been killing me…. and this time, I couldn’t wait. We didn’t find out Cruzzie’s gender until he was born, and it was the best surprise. But this time, I convinced Ken that we should find out the gender of Baby 2. We (aka me) wanted to find out on my birthday (good compromise, no?), so Ken kept the envelope with the gender in his desk for the last month (had I kept it, I would have cheated on day 1). To celebrate, we went out to dinner at our favorite local restaurant to do the big unveiling….drum roll…….

Pre-dinner pic. We have been doing this every week to document my increasing largeness. Hello, belly!

Entrance to Barney’s. We ate at Fred’s on the 9th floor, our local fave.

Elevator to dinner. Uber nervous. (As you can see, I got super dressed up for the big night…)

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Tips for Expectant Fathers

Yesterday, I provided some tips to help expectant mothers stay sane (if possible) and fashionable (not really possible, but it’s all relative).  While women do almost all of the hard work, pregnancy isn’t necessarily a bed of roses for men either.  So with that, here are 10 tips for expectant fathers from Ken.

 

Tips for Expectant Fathers, written by Ken

1. If your pregnant wife asks you if she looks fat, don’t say no. She will tell you you are lying.

 

2. If your pregnant wife asks you if she looks fat, don’t say yes. (Hopefully, this is obvious.)

 

3. If your pregnant wife asks you if she looks fat, don’t clam up and say nothing. She will tell you you are being uncommunicative.

 

4. If your pregnant wife asks you if she looks fat, either fake sharp chest pains, or start shedding spontaneous tears of joy. (May not work more than once).

 

5. Pregnancy related hormones are very real, as are pregnant wives’ denials of the existence of pregnancy related hormones. Translation: pointing out that your wife may be feeling the effects of pregnancy-related hormones is a lose-lose battle. (See 1-4).

 

6.  Heard of “push presents” and “babymoons”? You aren’t alone. I hadn’t either.  But it doesn’t matter. Pregnant women talk about them and expect them.  And playing dumb won’t get you out of them.

 

7. Yes, your wife is uncomfortable. And yes, it is your fault.

 

8. Do not plan to move a month before your wife is due… If I had to make a recipe for divorce, it would include two-parts third trimester pregnancy, one-part feeling displaced, with 3 heaping teaspoons of moving boxes and reorganizing your life, and a pinch of debating over redecorating tastes and budgets. (Yes, we moved a week before Cruz was born. And yes, it was all my fault.)

 

9. Buy flowers. Trust me: I think flowers are stupid. I don’t get it. You buy them, and then they die. But during a time when it is very hard to do anything “right”, buying flowers is about as safe as it gets.

 

10. Every time you bite your lip or think about how challenging your wife’s pregnancy can be, take a deep breath, and appreciate the fact that you don’t have to push a baby out of your body. When you see what she has to go through in the delivery room, it will all make sense!

KCNandCKN

Hours after the birth of our son, Cruz in October 2009.  Waiting for number 2 due this May!

KCN, a.k.a, The Josie Girl’s hubby