3. "Waiting for Birdy," by Catherine Newman. A weekly pleasure of my first pregnancy was reading Newman’s Babycenter.com column, “Bringing up Ben and Birdy.” The book version focuses on the year that Newman’s second child was born, showcasing Newman’s gift for taking near-universal feelings and articulating them in a way that makes them feel heartbreakingly new. Odds are good that you’ll recognize a piece of yourself in Newman’s life, as she pinpoints daily pains and daily joys on the way to adding a new child to the family.
