This year I decided to take part in Neil Kramer’s Great Interview Project. I lucked out and was assigned to interview the uber cool Andria Stanley.

1. What was the biggest reason that you quit blogging and the biggest reason you came back?
When I started detailing my struggles with infertility, I honestly didn’t think anyone would read me which landed me in a heap of trouble. I said some things about those who were not supportive during the time I was undergoing infertility treatments, and they ended up reading them. So, I learned a valuable lesson: If you are going to say something, be prepared to stand behind it.

2. As a mom/small business owner myself, I would love to know more about the business you are beginning. Can you share the details?
I have a medical degree, which at this point in my life, I don’t see myself returning to that profession. The hours were too long, and the hospital too demanding. I felt like I lost my identity when I was married– Not his fault, but my own as a suddenly unemployed wife and mother, who was home all day. Although I love staying home with my children, I realized recently that I need to be doing something, ANYTHING. I love working with children, so I started looking into opening a Development Center for preschool aged children. I am currently working on a curriculum, which will rotate on a yearly basis. I have a friend who works with special needs children, who also will be coming on board.

3. I had my first baby when I was 21 and my second at 25. There were days that I felt like I was completely out of touch with other mothers because I was much younger. What do you find to be your biggest challenge in society as a twenty-something mother of almost three?
It’s hard not to be jealous. There- I said it. I see women my age, who are traveling here and there, and don’t have anything tying them down. But, I wouldn’t trade this time, these circumstances for anything in the world. One day the kids will be grown, and I’ll be able to travel without having to worry about childcare, and other kid-related circumstances.

4. You mention that you’re going through a divorce. Do you envision yourself getting married again?
Absolutely! I love, love, LOVE being in love. I want to find someone to spend the rest of my life with. I think in the past, where I’ve went wrong, is expecting too much out of the wrong guy. I married thinking that this man would love me, accept me, and was able to be emotionally mature. Instead, I ended up with an angry, hostile person.

It’s a big joke on the internet in certain areas right now, regarding my Wasband’s dating websites. He has a Match.com, AdultFriendFinder, SingleParentMeet, and others. It hurts, which is why so many women (and a few men) have made profiles to mess with him– I think they are trying to help me find humor in the situation. Being pregnant, I’m looking to get through this period while focusing on my children,and working on myself, before moving forward. I do feel sorry for the Wasband, I really wish he would work on himself before bringing another woman into his life. At some point, I’ll be ready to date again. Right now though, it kind of creeps me out that anyone would be interested in a pregnant woman. I start wondering if they have some strange pregnancy fetish. Eww!

5. So, you have the results of the sex of the baby in a sealed envelope that you may or may not open before the birth. HOW does not drive you batshit???
It’s funny… You would think that I would be the one going crazy, but it’s everyone around me! I actually had to hide the envelope from my little girl, because she kept trying to rip it open. I really don’t care either way what gender the baby is, as I already have one of each.

6. What made you decide to go with a home birth? That would scare the ever-lovin’ heck out of me. Explain your strength, pretty please.
You know how there are those women around the world, who are out working in a rice field somewhere, go in labor, squat down to deliver a baby, throw it in a sling on their back, and go back to work? I SO want to be that woman. Except, there aren’t any rice fields in Austin. And, my neighbors might be a litte disturbed by the sight if I did that out in the front yard.

Actually, I have went through two natural childbirths, so a homebirth just seems like the right choice. When I was in the hospital recently due to some kidney issues, I felt like those couple of days were a trial run of when I go in labor. Basically, it’s easier for me to call the midwife when I go in labor, and have the baby in the privacy of my home, while my children are here. I want the birth to be a calm experience, and at this point, my Wasband is still a very angry person, and causes a lot of stress in my life. When I go in labor, I don’t want to have to worry about him finding out, and causing a stressful birth.

7. Very important: What is your Must See TV?
Do I really have to answer this? Oh, this is going to get embarrassing. Ok, I love reality shows. The Hills, The City, The Real Housewives (of any county/city), and so forth. I also like series: True Blood, Lost, Entourage, Mad Men, Big Love, and more. I DVR everything, and watch TV once both kids are asleep. What did we ever do before the DVR?! It has caused some havoc in my life… I now feel guilty if I delete a show from my DVR before watching it. I almost feel like it’s a ‘waste’.

8. I love, love, love the names of your children, Ailane & Blake. How did you choose them?
My Mom’s maternal side came from France, and Ailane is a derivative from the male version of Alan. When I was pregnant with Blake, I actually wanted him to be a “Brock”, and didn’t decide on his name until after he was born. I looked at him, said, “Blake?”, and that was that. With this baby, I’m following the alphabet pattern, and naming her/him with a name starting with a C. But, don’t expect me to go through the entire alphabet– I’m not Michelle Duggar. I don’t treat my vagina like a clown car, thank-you-very-much.

9. What were the very first blogs you followed when you began blogging in 2005?
I really didn’t follow any blogs back then. My first website was a geocities site, in which I mainly wrote cute stories about my daughter. Then, I started blogging about dating, and during that time I met my soon-to-be-ex-husband. Maybe I should have continued dating and chronicling those adventures! Anyway, next came starting up the fertility blog, which led to me reading fertility blogs, and baby loss blogs (since I had multiple miscarriages). I’m excited to say that most of us came out on the other side, and now have toddlers in their terrible two’s.

10. Is Baby C a boy or a girl?
Hang on, and I’ll go rip that envelope open.

Ha ha!!! Love it! Thanks Andria!

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