The time has come for me to return to work at Access after my maternity leave...going back to the studio, the lights, the makeup and hair, the deadlines, the voice-overs and all the amazing people I have considered my friends and a joy with whom to work. So, as I start to think about my return to the Hollywood race, I think about how my life has changed in the past 3 months...how something comes into your life and not only makes you happy, but makes you a completely different and better person. And it is in ways that are almost inconceivable.

My husband told me before we had our baby in June that life would be different. He told me my priorities would change, my perspective on life would change and that I would never again be the same. I didn't fully understand what he meant, but now I do...

See, I wake up in the mornings now as if I am 5 years old and it is Christmas. Forget reading the newspaper, returning every single morning email, or getting that extra bit of sleep. I can't wait to see the beautiful face of my little girl and when I see that toothless grin, it is just the best thing ever!!

It was definitely one of the best days I have ever had!

I knew the baby shower would be fun, but I truly did not realize just HOW INCREDIBLE of a day it would be. The shower was given by three of my girlfriends...Courtney Thompson, who has been a friend of mine for 10 years now, Karen Knopp who is the makeup artist at Access Hollywood, and Nicole Allowitz who is the wardrobe stylist at Access (we spend so much time together every day we have forged tight friendships! )

The day started with the shower hosts and I getting ready in a room at the Viceroy, the venue where the shower was held. What a blast we had laughing and reminiscing as we pulled out the mascara, blush and hairspray! Then we proceeded down to the room where the shower was held.

My girlfriends had so kindly thought of EVERYTHING, all with special meaning...from decorating with little bunnies because bunnies will be a predominant decoration in my nursery to all the fun "you're having a girl" stuff to the guest registry book to help me remember every moment...even a cake made out of donuts!!! (because that is one thing I have been craving lately...or let's say my baby girl has...sounds better for the baby to crave the donuts(-: ).

So, it has been a while since I've been able to 'blog' with you.

As most of you probably already know, I have been a little busy. My hubby and I are expecting our first child together...(as you may also know, we have 2 very wonderful boys from his first marriage).

This has caused quite a change in my life, more than I really thought it would. There are the doctors appointments, making sure I get enough rest, eating right, not pushing myself (which caused me to be 'blogless' lately), getting the nursery ready, making sure I have everything I'll need and I don't even have to mention the entire LIBRARY of books you can read on being a first-time mom.

This has caused me to take the time to reflect on exactly what it takes to be a mother...not just having a baby, but to really contemplate all that goes into bringing a new life into the world. When thinking of being a mother, there's the pressure of knowing that another human being depends on you for not only survival, but that you'll be a TRUE role model. You'll be looked to for comfort, for guidance, for appreciation, for discipline, for advice, for sympathy, for laughter, for just about everything that all of us are. Being a mother is so much more than just 'having a baby'.

I think his co-star Laura Linney said it best, "I've never seen anybody make so many people happy. I used to love to watch him walk into a room or go to dinner with him and look at the faces of everyone else in the room."

She is talking about Robin Williams and I couldn't agree with her more. I met up with Robin on Friday to talk about his new movie "Man of the Year". It is always a treat to interview Robin...except for the stomach cramps you have afterwards from laughing so much!

The first thing Robin always says to me when I see him is "How are your parents?".

At least through email, I can let my voice be heard. Otherwise, it would be impossible because I have a bad case of laryngitis. Boy, a cold and cough really got me this time. I had a week's vacation and at the tail end, I caught a cough and cold. I came back to work last week on Monday and then Tuesday, boom, I woke up with no voice. It started coming back and I got brave and decided it was okay to talk with a raspy voice.

Just a few days ago, my husband, Keith, and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary. I must say that I never, ever knew that a relationship could be this good and wonderful, especially having gone through a divorce.

If you have been through a bad breakup, I am sure you can relate to the feeling I had right after: the feeling that "true" love just doesn't really exist - except in fairytales, of course. We all hear (rarely) of rock solid/best friend marriages, but we think they are a fluke and that we, ourselves, will never find them. Trust me, I was one of those thinkers before I met my husband.

In just a few days, on June 29th, it will be my one year anniversary with my newlywed husband, Keith. I must say that I never, ever knew that a relationship could be this good and wonderful, especially having gone through a divorce.

If you have been through a bad breakup, I am sure you can relate to the feeling I had right after: the feeling that "true" love just doesn't really exist - except in fairytales, of course. We all hear (rarely) of rock solid/best friend marriages, but we think they are a fluke and that we, ourselves, will never find them. Trust me, I was one of those thinkers before I met my husband.

What does Jennifer think about all the "What does Jen think?"

It started in the morning as soon as I put on my TV. The local news anchors were deep in discussion about Jennifer Aniston's reaction to the birth of Brangelina's baby. Jennifer had a premiere in Chicago over the weekend for her new movie, "The Break-Up." The premiere came AFTER the media had announced the birth. The hosts commended Jennifer for being brave enough to come out to the premiere, debated whether any reporter would be bold enough to ask her about the birth of Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, and discussed how she would publicly react.

A couple of quick notes today:

First of all, I am so glad Billy has finally seen the light! He and I have been arguing about Taylor Hicks since the beginning of this season's "American Idol." I loved Taylor since the very first episode when they showed him at auditions and I KNEW he would make it all the way to the finals. Billy had his doubts and said Taylor was a Vegas act (which, by the way, I don't think people can continue to use that negatively... two of the best singers on this planet, Celine Dion and Elton John are Vegas acts). Billy went to "American Idol" last night and now, after seeing Taylor perform in person and hearing the crowd's reaction, Billy says he gets it.

Boy, did our segment at the end of Thursday's Access Hollywood with Kellie Pickler prompt a few angry e-mails from viewers.

For the record right off the top, I was NOT laughing AT Kellie Pickler, I was laughing WITH her. If I had been making fun of her, then I would have been making fun of myself. I grew up from birth through college in South Carolina in a modest upbringing... I may have tamed my major Southern accent I had through college to be able to do the job I do, but trust me, I am as country as they come and proud of it!

For those of you who don't know how a show like ours work, let me explain. You, as viewers, see maybe an eighth of an actual interview. Every interview has to be cut up and edited to be able for us to do our jobs as an entertainment news show and deliver numerous stories to the viewers in a short amount of time. So a lot of what is said in an interview never makes air.

 As you all know, American Idol made a big deal out of Kellie's cuteness in mispronouncing calamari.

This is how I started that Kellie Pickler segment of her trying to pronounce other foods: I told Kellie I had grown up Southern and had trouble pronouncing fancy foods myself when I first came to L.A. (because all I knew when I came was fried chicken and grits...and then couldn't even find grits in Hollywood grocery stores). Then we both had fun laughing TOGETHER about these fancy food words I had encountered...words, which she may now hear, with her being new in the sometimes pretentious Hollywood arena.