Hi! I’m thrilled to join the Hellobee blogging community!

Let me start by telling you a little bit about us. Aaron and I met our first year in graduate school, but didn’t start dating until a year or two later. I knew early on that he was someone with whom I could see myself with, not because there was some monumental moment like in the movies, but because he made me laugh like no one else can. Seven years later we got married and 9 months later Max was born!

View More: http://twospoonsphoto.pass.us/berniceandaaron
Photo by Two Spoons Photography.

When Aaron and I first found out I was pregnant we were overcome with disbelief (because I was still on birth control), followed by a deep sense of anxiety. While we always knew we eventually wanted to have kids, we weren’t prepared for the news to come so quickly; 2 months after our wedding and 1 day after we bought our first house. Admittedly, instead of celebrating and embracing what was to come, my initial reaction was to mourn the end of our twosome life. It sounds silly because we were both in our 30s and no one was telling us we were too young, but somehow being students until our late 20s lulled us into feeling like we weren’t real adults yet. But now that Max has been in our lives for just over a year, I truly couldn’t imagine life without him.

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Max at 4 months

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Max at 9 months

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Max at 12 months

The first year of parenthood encompassed some of my highest highs and my lowest lows. I know it’s impossible to predict how your life is going to change once you have a baby, but I wasn’t prepared for how trying some times would be. When Max was born we were so focused on making it through the first few weeks, that, as silly as this sounds, we barely thought about what he would be like as a fully functional human being. But at one year old, he is walking, babbling up a storm and is developing a personality all of his own. Watching him take in the world around him has been one of my greatest (*and most exhausting!*) joys. I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences, both good and bad, as I continue to figure out the ins and outs of parenting an energetic toddler. I hope some of my experiences will be as helpful to you as many of yours have been to me.

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In addition to blogging, I’m a scientist involved in the human microbiome project, which studies how changes in the normal bacteria present on our bodies affect human disease. I’m particularly interested in understanding how the bacterial communities in the vagina relate to women’s reproductive health and contribute to preterm birth. I love talking about it so if you would like to know more please ask!

And finally, why Mrs. Ice Cream? To say I have a sweet tooth is a major understatement. When it comes to sweets, I typically find that more is better!