News Brief: Look Who's Talking!

Shane in his pajamas, with his "Dada," his "Mamamama. Mama,"
his Grandma Mary Ann and one of his many cute cousins.

Eight-month-old Shane Quincy has been saying "Dada" nonstop. And "bahbah." And blowing raspberries, as I call them, or "spit bubbles," as my husband the wordsmith calls them. Anyway, Shane's been making lots of noises, but he hasn't been making any 'm' sounds at all. Then this morning he was crying, so I walked into his room. He looked up, stopped crying and said "Mama." (Actually, he said, "Mamamama. Mama." Whatever. I'm still counting it. Honey, hand me the baby book!) 

It was so sweet, I almost forgot it was 4:58am.

But not quite.

Go back to bed, kid.

Sincerely, 

Mamamama. Mama.

Host Chat: Taking Home an Oscar

While watching the Academy Awards, I started wishing I could somehow own (or borrow!) Jennifer Lopez's gorgeous gown. She was my pick for Best Dressed of the night:

Jennifer Lopez (via PopSugar)

Meantime, my son got into the spirit of things by declaring that he hopes to someday take home an Oscar... from the toystore:

Only four months old, and already he's a master of wordplay. That Shane!
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Follow Jill on Twitter: @JillDobson
Or at www.Facebook.com/JillDobson

Host Chat: The Brandi Chastain of Parenting

The baby spit up and the burp rag is missing? My old Giants tee will do the job! Here honey, catch!

I'm the Brandi Chastain of parenting. When things get intense, I whip my shirt off. (And use it to clean up the mess, stat!)

After all, it's easy for me to change into a new shirt. But if I don't clean up the spit up fast enough, it soaks the baby's sweater and onesie.

So I have to take them off. But first, I have to take off his pants to unsnap the onesie.

Then I have to pick out a whole new outfit for him, down to the matching socks and a bib. (Ah, a bib. Maybe he should've been wearing one of those to begin with. Then neither of us would've lost our shirts).

And that's why deliverymen, houseguests and any telescope-wielding neighbors have seen way too much of me lately. And, unfortunately for everyone, my abs look nothing like Chastain's. But my baby and his little sweater? They look perfect.

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Follow Jill on Twitter: @JillDobson
Or at www.Facebook.com/JillDobson

Host Chat: My Morning Mix-Up

Storing two yellow plastic tubs full of powdery substances side-by-side in your pantry is a terrible idea. 

I learned that today, when instead of grabbing my Nestle Quik, I grabbed my baby's formula*... and nearly whipped up a post-workout drink that, rather than being chocolatey, was chalkolatey. Ew.

In other news, my pantry is always nearly as neat as in this picture. I'm like the villian in Sleeping with the Enemy! 
Also, yes, that is the Rachael Ray 30 Minute Meals for Kids cookbook pictured in the bottom right corner. Yup, I really do use it. I'm quite the celebrity chef! Plus, every other cookbook is beyond my capabilities. Sad but true.


*Yes, yes, I agree with you... breastmilk is best for baby. But I like to keep some formula on hand, too, for the insatiable Mr. Shane. Stop judging me, Judgy McJudgerson! I'm doing the best I can!

Host Chat: Lullabies and Playdates

Right now I'm playing Jewel's Lullaby album for my baby, Shane. I'm trying to ease him into naptime. As we listen to the album, I can't help thinking how much better off Jewel's son, Kase, is, than my little guy. Kase gets to hear the soothing songs straight from the source! Poor Shane has the kind of Mommy whose voice is so un-Jewel-like, she lip-syncs "Happy Birthday" at parties and hopes no one will notice!

Jewel and her cutie, Kase, at age 4 months
Credit: Whosay.com/Jewel

I love Jewel - she has the most beautiful voice, her lyrics are truly touching and her breakthrough album, Pieces of You, was part of the soundtrack to my college years, so I'm flooded with happy memories whenever I hear her voice. Now that we have sons who are close in age and we're both outrageously famous, you think she'd ever agree to meet up for a playdate?
Jewel, if you're reading this, come on over! Shane and I get up early, so we can make it a coffee date. I'll even make breakfast. I went grocery shopping and everything, so I got my eggs, I got my pancakes too. I got my maple syrup, everything but you...

Best Dressed at the Golden Globes

I'm so happy awards season is here again, because I love all the red carpet fashions! Previous years, I've been in LA, interviewing stars on the red carpet. This year I'm watching the Golden Globes from home, while holding my infant son. So instead of wearing a Carmen Marc Valvo gown, I'm wearing pajamas, accessorized with spit-up in my hair and drool on my shoulder. So chic! 
From my ultra-glam vantage point, I've chosen my best and worst dressed of the night. Here they are:

Best Dressed, Women's Division: Nicole Kidman
Best Dressed, Men's Division: Matt LeBlanc
Best Dressed Member of the Press: Courtney Friel
Worst Dressed Overall: Piper Perabo

Again, I'm writing this while wearing pj's that desperately need laundering, so I probably definitely have no right to judge. But that sure hasn't stopped me, has it? (Insert evil cackle here) I'm positively drunk with power I tell you! Drunk!

An Open Letter to Regis Philbin

Mary Ann Dobson, Kelly Ripa, Steve Dobson and
Best Friends Forever Regis Philbin and Jill Dobson
August 2010

Dear Regis, 

I just watched Katie Couric's special, Regis Philbin: The Morning Maestro. The interview, and the fact that your final day on Live with Regis and Kelly is upon us, has me in tears.

Perhaps that's not saying much -- as a sleep-deprived new mom I'm always on the brink of an emotional breakdown. But I think this time the tears are because I don't yet know where I can see more of you. Until you announce your next project, viewers like me are left in a Regis-free limbo, and we're not happy about it. What's next -- will Oprah retire from her talk show?! 

Look, Reege, my newborn son is wonderful, but I need adult companionship, too. And who wants to go out in the rain and interact with actual people when I can laugh along with my TV friends from the comfort of my living room? That's why I need you to announce your next talk-show endeavor as soon as possible.

Also, please remember that, thanks to our mutual friend, Hollywood Super Agent Jim Ornstein, you and I have met several times. Once, when I was in the audience of Live, you even called me funny... in front of millions of TV viewers. It was one of my greatest moments ever. In case I haven't mentioned it, I think you're funny, too.

So, please, for the sake of all your fans, head on over to NBC or Nick at Nite or NFL Network or wherever you'd like, right now! And get a great sidekick. We viewers want to see you paired with a fun, blonde new mom who cracks you up. Got any ideas?

Until we meet again... Godspeed, Reege. Godspeed.

Sincerely,

Jill Dobson