Be careful A, you may end up w/ full sleeves like me. LOL.

Oh A, I'm seething w/ jealousy right now. Why? B/c you got the SAME camera as I did for about $250 less!! 'Course, I bought it last year, right after it came out... but still. Waaaaa.

Ok, I'm over it. Ain't it a great camera? And you're right, the difference between it, and my other camera (Pentax Optio SV 5mp pocket digital) is astounding. I keep the Pentax for video, or for quickie outings that I don't want to lug my big camera around to. It takes great pictures even still, but really, the comparison is apples & oranges.

And you know what? I agree. My camera purchase is WAY better than a pair of jeans any day. I have literally THOUSANDS of images of my daughter and they are priceless, bring me great joy, and will provide her with a lifetime of embarrassment down the road.

Regarding credit card debt, exes, and financial freedom. Oh ladies, I cannot tell you how important it is to NEVER, EVER get your credit cards in "joint name"... so many of my friends have been taken by their boyfriends and/or ex-husbands for literally thousands of dollars that THEY had to pay back. My mother, G-d rest her soul, always told me to never, ever co-mingle my money or assets w/ a man. Have a joint checking account for household expenses, yes. But everything else? No frackin' way. Women MUST have assets that are theirs alone. Property too if you can swing it. That's not to say you shouldn't want a man who will provide for you and your children, you SHOULD and you DESERVE it, but Alaina's example of what her ex did to her is just the tip of the iceberg of what men can and will do to their ex wives and worse, their kids. Ugh.

My daughters dad has never provided financially for her, but then he lives in another state & even though we're still technically a "couple", I consider myself a single mother b/c of the lack of financial support, not to mention PHYSICAL and EMOTIONAL support by him just being in the same city/state. It's a BIG reason why I never put his name on her birth certificate either. He hasn't won the right to call himself her Father as far as I'm concerned. Not trying to be harsh, but that's the way I feel. I love him, SHE loves him, and he loves us too... to the best he is able. I'm willing to accept that, but I'm not going to be an idiot about giving him the checkbook either. Ya know?

Anyway, I digress. GREAT camera A!

P.S. I meant to say CONGRATS on quitting smoking btw. I quit when I got pregnant w/ Dexy almost 4 years ago, but picked up again here and there after she was born. I can honestly say it's been more than 2 years now since I've smoked even ONE ciggie, and even though I do still miss smoking on occasion (especially if I have a drink, or a hot cup of coffee early in the morning), I'm really glad my daughter will have a mommy who is a NON-smoker. I'm sure Benjamin will be proud to know later that his mommy is a non-smoker too. ;-)

Ooooh A, I can't wait to see the pics!

And yes, little boys are TOTALLY wired different, from birth they know how to pick up a gun, or pretend to have a gun, even if they've never seen one in their life. I don't know why that is, but it just is.

Thank G-d for our differences. :-)

Oh lawdy, the SEX is amazing!! Seriously Leslie is right on the money with that one. :-)

That is SO awesome about @Mommypie -- I'm over the moon for her. Gives me hope too. So yay, let the single mommy bloggers fall! No, we don't *need* a man to be better women or moms, but it sure is nice when you find the RIGHT man to complete the family picture. That's all I'm saying.

Meanwhile, honey you MUST stop w/ the I'm about to turn 30 & I feel "old" crap. I'm 42. You think you feel/look old now? Oh. My. Goodness. Just wait! The booze hangover is 10,000x worse. The wrinkles make you cringe. And the effects of gravity on your breasts? Well, you'll wanna cry. All I can tell you is, take care of your body NOW while you still can and your metabolism will still let you.

Other than your body & skin going to hell in a handbasket, the GOOD news is that you'll love your 40's in terms of how you feel about YOU and your FABULOUS-NESS even more than you do now. Really, if I could have my 40+ year old brain/wisdom, with my 20-something year old body. Look out world!

Beauty & youth really IS wasted on the young.

:-)

As for your photo shoot. You'll do great! No matter what.

XoXo