MOM OF THE MONTH: ANN DOOLEY
Who is in your family? Myself, my husband of 8 years, and our 21 months old son Oliver.
When and where were you born? May 10th 1975, in Taipei, Taiwan.
What brought you to LA? My parents moved me and my sister here to go to school. I was 10 years old at the time.
Where did you go to college & what was your major? I graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. I majored in Advertising.
What was your first reaction when you found out you were pregnant? I thought "Is this for real? Now what?" unfortunately I had a miscarriage that time, so with the second pregnancy, i was excited but nervous at the same time.
How did you tell your husband or other family members you were pregnant? The first time we invited everyone to dinner and told everyone at the same time. The second time we bought pictures frames that you can put 2 photos facing each other. On one side we put a photo of my husband and myself. On the other, an ultrasound image of little Oliver.
How did you choose your child’s name? We both just really liked the name Oliver. And it just felt right. We used his grandfather's name as his middle name.
What kind of work do/did you do before becoming a full time Mom? I was an art director at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. I designed posters and other marketing materials for feature films. I also designed and sold a line of tshirts that have positive affirmations printed in reverse so you can read it while looking at your reflection.
How would you describe being a mom? It's the hardest thing I've ever done. You are exhausted all the time, but you find the energy to keep going. You can be anywhere, with anyone, and still work your baby into the conversation.
What are your favorite hobbies? I like to decorate: cakes, houses, parties.
You will often find me in the backyard with Oliver.
If you were stranded on a desert island what book, movie & TV show would you want to keep yourself entertained? A history text book because I was never good at it in school and I'd have no choice but to read it. And I'd watch LOST.
Always had a crush on? Sean Connery...but I think it's time for me to move on.
I will never give up My microwaveable heat pillow. I use it around my neck, lower back, my feet, and even warm up the bed before I go to sleep.
If you could spend the rest of your life with access to one delectable dessert what would it be? Chocolate cake, the really dense kind that takes a long time for the fork to sink into.
What is your favorite activity to do with your child? We love going to the zoo together, but when we are home, I love it when we act silly and play together on the bed.
What is your biggest parenting challenge nowadays? Get Oliver to eat something other than blueberries.
How would you like the world to change for your kids? I hope people will put more focus on being giving, and being understanding and accepting of people different from yourself.
Have your interests changed since becoming a parent? Definitely. I personally don't enjoy dirt or insects, but it seems like it's in a boy's nature to gravitate towards them. I do admit it was fascinating to see a snail almost standing up to move across from one leaf to another.
What are some of your guilty pleasures? Reality Tv. Survivor, Project Runway, Real Housewives from coast to coast.
What defines you as a person and a mom? I am a very patient person. It comes in handy being a mom.
What would be the perfect weekend for you if you could leave the kids with the perfect nanny and money and distance were no object? I'd love to go to some remote island with my husband and just get spa treatments and eat fresh fruits all day long. 14
What would you like to do when the kids are a bit older and you have more time to work or pursue hobbies? I have a few book ideas in mind. I'll be publishing my first book Quick Tips For First-Time Moms: Finding Balance In Your Fourth Trimester. I will continue to do graphic design, cake decorating, and I'd also love to do some event planning work.
Any tips you wish to share with other moms? A scrapbook is nice, but who has time for that these days. So I started a blog when Oliver was only a few weeks old. I write letters to him and include any milestones and photos. I also have found it to be therapeutic when we've had a tough day. I look forward to the day when I can share those letter with him.
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