In the interest of balance, here's a fanciful ramble through all those adorable things that babies learn in their first year. It takes a village and we had one - an army of adoring fans and helpers from age 3 on up through great-grandmothers. They all came to celebrate Savannah's first birthday with her and watch her investigate her very first birthday cake. 😂

I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you.

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Perhaps I am cynical about marriage as an Institution since I have so many examples of divorce in my family. Some thoughts on marriage and then some insights as to a dark challenge that would keep coming back throughout my relationship with Dave. 

I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you.

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If you want to hear more on any particular subject, or if you want to ask a question or simply connect, you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dianathebard   or email me at [email protected]

When your families are all spread out across the globe it's a big challenge to share the new baby with everyone and still keep your sanity. But we felt everyone deserved equal time, so we made the effort to make the rounds during Savannah's first summer. At least she finally enjoyed the ocean, which would prove to be a lifelong passion as she grew.

I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you.

Check it out HERE.  Or at patreon.com/dianathebard

If you want to hear more on any particular subject, or if you want to ask a question or simply connect, you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dianathebard   or email me at [email protected]

As mom's partner Pat lived through my pregnancy with me, she was really living vicariously through a private dream of her own. Finally, she revealed that she too wanted to be a mom and this came as a huge shock to my mom. It was a long and rocky road that the two of them had to negotiate, for so many reasons, and it dramatically altered the landscape of all of our lives.

I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you.

Check it out HERE.  Or at patreon.com/dianathebard

If you want to hear more on any particular subject, or if you want to ask a question or simply connect, you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dianathebard   or email me at [email protected]

I don't know how many people in total have ever flown on the Concorde, but in 1989 I was one of them. Unfortunately it was at a time of terrible stress, but even so I remember it pretty well. It was a unique opportunity to see the earth from as far away as I will ever get. 

I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you.

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If you want to hear more on any particular subject, or if you want to ask a question or simply connect, you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dianathebard   or email me at [email protected]

WARNING: This episode contains mention of suicide. 

Mid-pregnancy I thought I was rocking' it and had mastered the art of pregnancy. I was a pregnancy goddess! When I passed through the portal of delivery and found myself at home with this tiny bundle of messes I was back to square one. Ignorant and confused, by turns ashamed and furious that I didn't know more, I struggled to feed that poor kid and accomplish the most basic of tasks.

Then came a horrible piece of news that made any petty struggles irrelevant.

I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you.

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If you want to hear more on any particular subject, or if you want to ask a question or simply connect, you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dianathebard   or email me at [email protected]

Having a child is, perforce, an act of hope and optimism. I am sad for so many of the 20 and 30-somethings of today who vehemently declare that they will not be bringing new life into this world. It means that they have lost hope for the future in some measure. Given the current state of affairs one can hardly blame them. 

In 1989 the world was not so grim, at least not in my sunny corner. This episode is a small comparison of outlooks.

I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you.

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If you want to hear more on any particular subject, or if you want to ask a question or simply connect, you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dianathebard   or email me at [email protected]

The birth of a child is one of those seminole events in the course of a life that changes everything. No gory details here, for the most part, just magic. Enjoy.

I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you.

Check it out HERE.  Or at patreon.com/dianathebard

If you want to hear more on any particular subject, or if you want to ask a question or simply connect, you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dianathebard   or email me at [email protected]

After some initial worry about further miscarriages, my pregnancy turned out to be an easy time. I read all the books, I took those LaMaze classes, and I hoped I was ready! We even squeezed - and I do mean squeezed - in a visit to NYC to see The Phantom of the Opera which had newly opened. So much to do before we wouldn't have a moment to ourselves for a long while...

I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you.

Check it out HERE.  Or at patreon.com/dianathebard

If you want to hear more on any particular subject, or if you want to ask a question or simply connect, you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dianathebard   or email me at [email protected]

At the tender age of 27 I was getting ready to have a baby and thought I knew what relationships were all about. What hubris! I talk a bit about forgiveness here, and am very conscious that the person we sometimes most need to forgive is ourself. With all the best intentions in the world, we can make some stupid mistakes and assumptions. I hope there is enough forgiveness to go around for all of us.

I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you.

Check it out HERE.  Or at patreon.com/dianathebard

If you want to hear more on any particular subject, or if you want to ask a question or simply connect, you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dianathebard   or email me at [email protected]