So I finally saw it. You know that crazy huge movie everyone is talking about. Sex and the City. I won’t spoil it, if you haven’t seen it. Although Samantha hooking up with Mr. Big?! Way unexpected.

Oh, would I ever do that to you? Of course not.

The movie was perfectly perfect. From the clothes to the relationships to the soul of New York. It was all there. And it all left me feeling sort of nostalgic.

l saw the movie with two close girlfriends. Back in my twenties, these women were my “it” girls in New York. My single gal pals. We threw back cocktails, took expensive cab rides and soul searched. We were all looking for love. And we found it. Love. Marriage. Pregnancy. Children.

So what’s with the melancholy look back? Do I miss being single, lonely and endlessly wondering… Is he out there? And if yes, why is he hiding from me? Definitely not. Not for a minute.

But I miss that time in life when your friends are your family. You live with them. You go out with them. You shop with them. You cry with them. You laugh with them. In many ways, they are your everything. Or at least they were to me.

With marriage and children, friendships change. An occasional wine night. A birthday get together. A trip to the movies now and then. But it’s not the same. It can’t be the same. Children need to be nursed. Babysitters need to be hired. Spouses need time and attention.

As we left the theater, I chatted with one of my girlfriends. Normally, we would walk home in the same direction, catching up on each other’s lives. But not tonight. Actually, not anymore. A few days ago, she and her family moved to Brooklyn in search of space, quiet and balance.

My friend says she feels far less pressure in Brooklyn to be fabulous. She can throw on a pair of cargo pants and a t-shirt there and feel good about herself when she walks outside. No pressure from the abundance of fashionistas in Manhattan.

I nodded and laughed as I thought of a mom I had seen earlier that week at the playground…

Kind of definitely made me wish I had spent more than 12 minutes getting ready. Not that the extra time would have turned me into a 5 11′ leggy, supermodel mama.

So after the movie, my friend and I lingered at the corner, both of us reluctant to say goodbye as we talked about our children, our husbands, the summer and my quickly approaching birthday.

Finally, it was getting late. It was time to go. We would chat soon.

She hailed a cab and took off towards Brooklyn.

And I also grabbed a taxi, and headed in the other direction.

mama bird notes

When you met your baby for the very first time, was it love at first sight? Perhaps not. Contributing mama Jordana Bales writes honestly about bonding with her new baby Lila Drew. Click on contributing mamas to read more.

By Contributing Mama Jordana Bales

It’s been 5 weeks since I had my second daughter, Lila Drew, and I can finally say I’m starting to really like this little girl. In fact, wait… let me take my emotional temperature… yes, I think it may be love.

When Ava was born, two and a half years ago, I was shocked that I didn’t immediately feel an outpouring of love for her. Wasn’t I supposed to be filled with maternal warmth and tenderness? Where was the mother instinct of immediately and without thought sacrificing my own life to save hers?

The only automatic maternal action I had was telling my husband to go with her to the NICU rather than stay with me immediately following her birth. And I was shocked at my unselfish regard – I wanted someone to watch out for this little creature and since I was still on the operating table, Michael had to go with her and leave me. A nice action, yes, but it didn’t feel like a result of maternal love. Concern maybe, but love? Not so much.

My mother, a few days after Ava was born, asked me, ‘Can you imagine your life without this baby?’ I thought to myself, ‘You mean like two weeks ago?’ Yes, I could imagine it. Now with Lila, I have the same thoughts. Can I imagine playing with my toddler without uttering the phrase, ‘Please don’t step on your sister’s head….again.’? Can I imagine not waking up in a pool of breast milk? Could I imagine not having two crying children? You mean like two months ago? Absolutely.

I never would have admitted that I didn’t feel an immediate bond with my children but after chatting on-line with many women, I realized that it was not all that uncommon to have to wait a bit to experience motherly love. In my experience, bonding takes time. After all, for the first three months or so they really are like little poopie warm loafs of bread. They eat, they sleep, they poop, they spit up. Repeat. Sure they smell good and look cute (after they go through that awkward scrunchy, old-man, newborn phase) but that ain’t enough to get my love.

After 5 weeks, Lila’s doing a bit more – I think I saw a smile or two (I know, I know it’s gas) and I believe I may have heard some cooing. It’s not enough for me to fall instantly in love, as many mothering books and celebrity blogs promised – but I am falling for this little monkey, a little more every day.

My DVR is empty. Which led me to watch a few minutes of “Two and a Half Men” last night. PLEASE. I know. I just said the DVR is EMPTY. When I wasn’t engrossed in the clever, Emmy winning (really?), comedic banter, I was looking at Charlie Sheen. What happened to that guy (I mean, other than lots of booze, drugs, hookers and 3 wives)?

Remember when he did that 1986 bad boy cameo at the end of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?”

Juvenile delinquents are so damn hot.

And now…

The hair? The expression? The shady past? Where are his teeth? I don’t know. Not so smokin’.

Meanwhile, some guys seriously improve with age. Remember Patrick Dempsey from 1987′s “Can’t Buy Me Love?”

Add TWENTY years and this is what you get…

Hi Patrick. I love you. Love me.

Luckily, my husband is enormously secure. Speaking of my husband Patrick, I mean Rick, we decided to take some family photos. We figured since we have no wedding album (Really, I’m getting around to it. Soon) and Summer has no baby book (completely almost done, well… almost started), what we really need is more photographs to feel guilty about not organizing.

Ron Holtz, a creative, awesome and extremely patient photographer spent a few hours with us on Sunday. He was super energetic and positive, shouting out comments like, “Great job Dylan and Summer!” as they picked their noses and leisurely inspected city grates.

So we brought in Rick to try to work some daddy magic on the girls…

Rick growled and hooted and hollered….

Until the girls finally smiled he hurt his jaw and neck.

Well, that made me laugh. He’s fully recovered but no longer applying for jobs as a photographer’s assistant.

And Rick did coax an itty bitty, sort of smile out of Summer and Dylan (clearly rockin’ Ron’s photo, not mine below).

Well, Barack Obama certainly has something to smile about. After a long arse primary campaign, he finally secured the Democratic presidential nomination. Big congratulations to Miss Thing (AKA Rick’s cousin Wendi) who loved Barack Obama before any of us had even heard of him.

And don’t they make the cutest couple?! True. Love. Forever.

Once the weather turns sunny and divine, I just love cute dresses for girls. I recently discovered Bodemi and immediately felt a serious summer crush coming on. Check out a few of my favorites…

All priced at $54. And Bodemi even carries $15 diaper velcro pouches.

I love the pink skulls. Practical and a bit edgy. And you thought diapers weren’t cool. And the company carries cute stuff for boys too. Check it all out here.

To the most awesome hula hooping, tiara wearing, beautiful, magical birthday girl ever…

Happy 4th Miss Julia. You are a wonder. And so is your mother.

We hold you constantly in our hearts and send you endless love and strength. XO