Alison Jutzi Talks Amongst Herself

Dear Alison of the Future, So, you've decided to get pregnant again. Or maybe like the first time around, it wasn't so much a decision as a pleasant surprise. Mazel tov! I am currently enjoying my 32nd week of my first pregnancy, and I thought I'd write you a letter of advice to help you through the next 40 weeks or so, in case you've forgotten what pregnancy is like.  No need to thank me.  I'm really doing this more for me than for you. Enjoy. 1. BUY TUMS IMMEDIATELY Don't have heartburn? You will. Keep them by your bedside; in your purse; stuffed in your bra. Eat them three at a time. Buy the special "Smoothies" version, because you deserve it! Which brings me to my next point... 2. YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING! Don't forget to use the pregnancy card all the time . You can't drink, you feel fat, you have to do a 5 point turn to get out of bed in the morning, so for goodness sake take advantage where you can. "Wou...

Okay. So my pregnancy has been pretty good so far.  Some light nausea in the first trimester, along with some major fatigue, followed by a second trimester burst of energy and glowiness, mixed with some heart burn, leg cramps and achy muscles, and now onto my final trimester, which is certain to feel longer than just 10 weeks.  I can just tell.   I was out shopping today and kept bumping into things.  I felt off-balance and tired, and whenever I caught sight of my reflection I thought, "That lady does NOT look happy." I went home and passed out for three hours.  Oh, what a delicious nap! Whenever I do this I try not to listen to that nagging voice in the back of my head that says, "Naps won't be an option when you're pregnant next time and have a toddler underfoot!" My inner voice can be a real pill. The good news is, I went to the gym today. And I'm still sleeping relatively well, save for those times I just really need toast at 4am and tho...

A friend just sent me a link to this article from the latest issue of The Atlantic magazine, entitled, "Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?" I think about this a lot. I feel like I am a too-frequent user of Facebook and I wish I could quit, but I can't bring myself to do it. My reasons for staying: I have so many great photos and videos of my nieces and nephews on there, it's a great place to network, and I don't want to miss out on anything because I'm off the grid. Also, without Facebook my husband and I likely never would have gotten together. It's amazing how far a poke can take you. Did it just get weird in here? Anyway... I will say that having Facebook makes me far less interested in stopping an acquaintance on the street to see what they've been up to. Nowadays, it's more than likely I already know more about their life than I care to, because they probably just posted a retro-looking photo of the vegan chili they ate last night, al...

I did the voiceover for this Loreal Healthy Look commercial. The first couple of times I read the word "glossier" I pronounced it "glossi-ay" as though it were a sexy French-sounding name brand, when really it was just the word, "glossier". The director kindly said to me, "Okay, that sounds great. Next time can you try just saying, 'glossier'?" and I burst out laughing at my mistake. It was one of those moments where I wonder about my brain.

I had read in more than one pregnancy book that some women get nervous during that period of pregnancy in the early 2nd trimester when symptoms start disappearing, but the baby hasn't started kicking yet. It can start to feel like you're not pregnant when you lose the nausea and the fatigue, and all the proof you have left is that your pants don't fit. I knew that when this happened to me, I'd expect it and therefore wouldn't worry. But I'm an almost-mom now, so of course I did worry. I felt weirdly normal for awhile there. Sure, my tummy was getting bigger - but was it really? Or was I just imagining it? And why wasn't I exhausted? And how could I know if everything was okay? I started feeling anxious. I wanted proof. And just in time, at my 20th week, it became clear that those slight movements in my stomach that I'd chalked up to normal tummy rumblings were indeed Fetus Jutzivan making itself known. I wouldn't describe it as butterflies or popco...

Thanks to my producers, Kirk Best and Derek Esposito - the best directors/lighting crew/sound guys/beer drinkers a girl could ever find on Craigslist - I present to you a music video for my song, "Good Enough". Special thanks to Jordan Kanner and Nicole Stamp for acting so good. Alison Jutzi - "Good Enough" from Kirk Best on Vimeo .

The most important thing I've learned thus far is that sometimes when you're married and you're supposed to be the maid of honour in your dear friend Kristy's wedding in August of 2012, you find out that you're going to be giving birth to your first child right around that same time. Despite our best efforts (well, I suppose they weren't our best , case in point being my growing tummy), life found a way. Jeff Goldblum was right! I am 17 weeks along and feeling pretty good, if not a little tired. All the time. But I'm sure I'll feel like myself again when the baby is born and I have to feed it every two hours. Right? Totally like myself? Nothing will really change too much? It'll be like owning a houseplant? Ha! Like I'd ever own a houseplant. Those things are way too hard to take care of. So that's what I've learned. Also, I love my marriage. I really do. This loving partnership thing truly is wonderful. And I'm happy to b...