About Mommy Not long ago, I hosted a television show in the Cayman Islands. Today, I’m back home writing a different kind of story as a new mom. In my 15 years working as a professional journalist, this by far is my best assignment! Growing up, I dreamed of becoming Oprah Winfrey. I was the features editor for my school’s newspaper and a teen talk show host for my city’s most popular radio station. I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Michigan State University. After graduation, I worked as a television producer and reporter at CBS, NBC and Fox affiliates throughout the U.S. Instead of heading to Chicago to join Ms. Winfrey on her set, I bought a plane ticket to the Cayman Islands instead. I arrived five days before a category five hurricane! I lived in paradise for seven years, hosted an award-winning television show and traveled the globe with a government delegation. Then, I followed my heart to Washington, D.C. to pursue a long-term relationship and obtain a teaching certification. Within a year, I taught 8th grade reading at a high needs middle school, got dumped by my boyfriend and moved in with my sister in Pennsylvania—without a job but with a baby on the way. A couple of months and 27 hours of labor later, I became a first time mom and fell in love again-this time with a beautiful baby girl. She’s more fun than any island excursion! During my 10-month-stint as a stay-at-home mom, she inspired me to create this blog, and Diary of a First Time Mom was born on Mother’s Day 2012. Currently, I manage the social media pages and the superintendent’s blog for Pittsburgh Public Schools. I also produce video projects for the district, create strategic communications and marketing plans and manage blogger campaigns. In addition, I am the owner of Motormouth Multimedia, which ranked #49 in Startup Nation’s Home-Based 100 Competition sponsored by Discover Card and Sam’s Club. About Me My mommy calls me Princess Pancake, Caitypops, Bean, Love Bug and Boogaloo. But my real name is Caitlynn—she spelled it with two n’s, because her middle name is Lynn. My mommy tells me she loves me to the heavens and back, which apparently is much further than the moon. I love my mom too. She doesn’t get mad when I get into her makeup bag and draw pictures on my face with her brand new lipstick. She didn’t even yell at me when I wrote on the wall with a pencil one day! Usually I listen, so I think she lets me get away with some stuff. I like when we go to the park, eat Thai takeout and cuddle on the couch. She laughs at me all the time, especially when I make funny faces or eat lemons like oranges. She’s always taking my picture, but I enjoy celebrating my “firsts” with her. Recently, I wrote my first review for this mommy bog—although I don’t know why it isn’t called a baby bog, since it’s about me! I also started Caitlynn’s Closet—a regular contest where I donate my clothes to other kids. My mom calls my Grammy is a shopaholic, so I have tons of clothes with the tags still attached! Right now, my mommy and I are working to register Caitlynn’s Closet as a nonprofit, so we can collect clothes and diapers for kids in need.
