Rekindling an Old Flame...

I have a few moments in the hustle and bustle - I am way overdue to blog on my personal page. 

So, a couple months have passed since we started up this old machine again, and I must say - it's been nice. I can't pretend as though I never thought about getting in contact with you, it's been over two years since we stopped "knowing" each other. What a strange feeling when everything that you know starts to change...

I'd hear about little things in your life as time passed, and I wondered how you were handling life without me there. We had our fights and break ups, but never that long - and I missed being able to call you or show up at your house for no reason. You can make new friends, but you can NEVER replace the old ones. When I found out you were pregnant and not too far behind mine, I was happy and sad in one; I wasn't going to be there to participate with you. I couldn't even find the guts to congratulate. It was a hodgepodge of feelings - who knew you felt the same way.

Time heals so many wounds; it grows grass over uprooted trees, sprouts flowers out of compost and brings the sun out again and again. Regardless of why or how we stopped knowing each other, time and God have brought us back again - on fresh soil. With two little babies that look just like us, who would have thought? I think it's way past time, and I'm certainly glad the past is behind us. I look forward to starting over again and getting to know the people we've become. It feels good to have a familiar face in the crowd. Never mind what the rest are doing or saying - that never mattered anyway. We've got bigger and better priorities now, and it's gonna be an adventure to see how they grow and unfold. 

I'm sure the streets will be watching... 

My "GetThisCrapOuttaMyFridge" Shepherd's Pie Recipe

I've always been inclined to eat clean, but every so often I look for a somewhat healthy indulgence. Especially now that I'm trying to get back to my pre-baby body.

This is a quick recipe for Shepherd's Pie that you can use to clear out the holiday leftovers from your fridge. It came in handy for Thanksgiving, and it's definitely gonna work for Christmas. Be sure to modify to suit your ingredients; if you have cranberry sauce, it may work too! 

Pre- Heat your oven to 350 before starting the creation process. 

Step 1. Potato

• I prefer the nutritional qualities of sweet potato, so I used it in place of mashed regular potato.
• To save time, I rinsed my sweet potatoes and covered them in damp paper towels. Microwave each one for 4min on one side. When you stab them with a fork, it should go right through. 
• Add butter (I used whipped) and brown sugar, then mash.

Step 2 - Meat

I like Chuck, because it's lean but won't dry out during cooking. Season to taste, cook then add as the bottom layer of your pan.

Step 3: Leftovers

My weapon of choice was stuffing. You can add whatever's in the fridge that may taste good.

Layer on top of your meat.

Step 4: Add Potato Layer

Step 5: Cornbread

Most recipes make the potato the top layer, but I figured the cornbread would add some structure to the dish.

Step 6: Cheese

Shred the cheese of your choice on top. 

Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Basically, whatever the cooking instructions are on the cornbread - do that. The other ingredients are already cooked, so you want to make sure the cornbread ingredients are baked fully. 

Step 7: Remove, Enjoy! 

This is my favorite part, lol

I paired it with a bit of fresh kale with Thousand Island dressing. Protein, carbs and fiber - three great weight loss components. 

I hope this helps give you some ideas for your holiday leftovers. Nothing needs to go to waste, but everything should be delicious! 

"Pregnancy Woahs..."

These past few days have truly been a wake up call; I am about to be a mother. If ever this child would get here. Unbeknownst to most, I have been in the hospital for three days trying to be induced. Baby A doesn't seem to want to come out on her own, and my vagina decided that it doesn't want to loosen up and let her out. The past few days have really put life into perspective once again for me - and reminded me that "when man ah plan, God ah laugh."

Not only have I not dilated, my body is soaking up the meds like a sponge. The Pitocin everyone talks about as throwing them into crazy contractions barely got my pain threshold over 5, and I ended up maxing out on the highest dosage. The doctor has since taken me off, and I am now hoping that nature takes its course.

It's been an overwhelming few days, none of which I expected to take place. I packed a bag and expected to be walking out with a baby by now. WRONG. I thought I was going all natural - WRONG. I thought I was having an average sized baby - definitely WRONG. While I appreciate the love and concern - I've been so  overwhelmed by calls and texts asking if the baby has been born. I had to fall off the grid and find solace once again in my little ol' blog. Thank you guys for being silent eyes and ears.

This time alone has given me an opportunity to reflect on the past few weeks. I'm married now - and Hubby has been so awesome through this whole pregnancy. I have been blessed to have an easy pregnancy up to this point, and having a great man by my side has truly been an honor. We got a little flack for our fake eloping, but honestly - the union is only about two people. The major wedding is in the works, I hope everyone can be patient enough to wait until 2014!

It took me forever to post this - baby A is almost two weeks old already! New post coming soon :)

Countdown to Baby...

I've been missing in action, I know - but it's all for good reason! So far, we've managed to pull together a baby shower amidst so much chaos as well as bring a new family member into the home. Our new family dog Ernge (New Orleans slang for Orange) has come in and made his way into our hearts. He's a one year-old Pit/Lab mix, a softie at heart - but a great protector for the household. Right now, we're trying to get him used to the scents of the baby items as well as my belly - in the hopes that he'll love and protect Azalea just the way he does to us (minus the drool). So far, so good.

My days have been filled with work, school and baby preparation. Getting her room ready is next, we'll be starting the decoration process once the crib arrives and I am extremely excited to see how everything pans out. My sister in law, Emma created some lovely decorations that were initially for the baby shower, but we decided to save them from being damaged and place them in the nursery. It's going to be so dope. 

Anyway - I'll be back this week with more thoughts and posts. I think my hiatus is over!

Welcome Mr. Ernge :)

Jin 'N' Juice - nothing like family 

Bubble gum cigar favors...

Cupcake bouquets, courtesy of CousinJin

Rest - at last.

The Power of Talking to Baby...

Sitting in the library, reading what should be my notes for class tomorrow. I ran across an article in the New York Times that discusses the importance of talking to your fetus, infant, child. This is a practice I took on at an early age with my little sister. Even though she was deaf until the age of two, we'd get into spirited debates with her about politics, the weather, food - you name it. Almost thirteen years later, she's one of the brightest, most intelligent children I know. Her tone is impeccable (with the exception of her NewYorkJamaicanDominican accent); something that is uncommon in the deaf community. As soon as her Cochlear was turned on, we were having full blown conversations about her day or the color of her clothes, or my father's beard. I know this was integral in her growth and development, no matter how trivial people may have thought it was at the time. 

The article stresses the importance of "Family conversation," and describes the difference between families on welfare and higher earning families in the way they interact with their children. 

    "The disparity was staggering. Children whose families were on welfare heard about 600

Aunty, Uncle and Baby Nas...

words per hour. Working-class children heard 1,200 words per hour, and children from professional families heard 2,100 words. By age 3, a poor child would have heard 30 million fewer words in his home environment than a child from a professional family. And the disparity mattered: the greater the number of words children heard from their parents or caregivers before they were 3, the higher their IQ and the better they did in school. TV talk not only didn’t help, it was detrimental."

Coming from a lower-middle class family, we never experienced this issue. My parents were educated, higher educated, then educated again in America. They encouraged us with conversation and made sure we spoke proper English in the home. We didn't receive welfare, so maybe this played a part - but they provided us with books and limited our TV time. Creativity was fostered through toys and time with friends. We turned out pretty good.

Daddy & Baby time... 

At work, some of my co-workers don't seem to grasp the concepts I'm talking about. When Baby kicks, I talk to my belly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to jerk like that" or "I know, I'm hungry too!" At this stage in prenatal development, the baby is beginning to recognize our voices and hear sounds. I find it very important to let Baby know I'm here at all times. I said something to my belly one day, and a co-worker said, "Will you stop being a first-time mother already?" She's the same one who told me she wasn't excited about her first pregnancy. I wonder what her children are like. Conversely, my also pregnant co-worker talks to her tummy, too! She's due with her second child any day now. Pretty sure her kid's a smart one. 

     "Hart and Risley later wrote that children’s level of language development starts to level off when it matches that of their parents — so a language deficit is passed down through

generations. They found that parents talk much more to girls than to boys (perhaps because girls are more sociable, or because it is Mom who does most of the care, and parents talk more to children of their gender). This might explain why young, poor boys have particular trouble in school. And they argued that the disparities in word usage correlated so closely with academic success that kids born to families on welfare do worse than professional-class children entirely because their parents talk to them less. In other words, if everyone talked to their young children the same amount, there would be no racial or socioeconomic gap at all. (Some other researchers say that while word count is extremely important, it can’t be the only factor.)"

I can attest to this comparison, as I know plenty of kids I grew up with whose parents barely spoke to them. If it wasn't to chastise or threaten, it was very little conversation. My mother and I would sit and have senseless conversation all the time, in addition to the intellectual chatter. My brother and I excelled in school (with the exception of math - I suck at math) and I graduated with honors courses in High School. Most of the kids I grew up with either dropped out or never pursued college education. 

Maybe their mothers didn't talk to their bellies, either. Hmmm... 

Sources:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/10/the-power-of-talking-to-your-baby/?src=me&ref=general 

Motherhood and Other Such Things.

When I say these past few weeks have been hectic - I mean it! Graduation is slowly approaching, so I have been bogged down with papers and presentations and case studies, etc. My fatigue is returning in waves; I get tired like every other day and have to sneak out of the office for a quick nap. We're finally moving - and I remember what I loathed about that act in the first place; packing. Grandma's ashes have made their arrival to Florida - her first time here. I've already put my bid in for split custody of her with my mom, it may sound morbid but I'd really appreciate her spirit around me right now. I am overwhelmed with emotions and tasks to complete - and it's only Monday! 

Friday made my 20th week - which in non-pregnant terms means my fifth month. I'm halfway through my pregnancy and more anxious than ever. I fear miscarriage with a passion that seeps into my bones, and I've been doing my best to stay happy and light on my feet. It's hard to do that when you're a 25 year-old woman on the go. I work full time, go to school and pursue my goals all at the same time. If I feel a cramp, I worry. Thank God for Hubby, who reads What to Expect like it's the Bible right now; he knows more about my pregnant body than I do! He's there to reassure me that pain is a natural part of the process, as are a lot of the other changes I'm experiencing. He even compliments me on my appearance, which has changed drastically from the gym rat I used to be. You can see what's left of my abdominal muscles melting into my pelvis there. I actually embrace my pregnant self, but can't help but remember what used to be. However - I love these new hips I've got and can't wait to get back into the gym and get it all right! 

Today's events in Boston brought me back to a solemn place. It reminded me of 9/11 and the panic we went through that day and the days to follow. The news coverage today shook me,

because it was just last weekend that my brother and I were in Boston on a layover to New York for Grandma's sunset. We sat and talked about how beautiful Boston was, despite being avid Yankee fans. Seeing the blood on the streets was terrifying, and the lives lost are irreplaceable. As the days pass, I'm sure we will find out who is responsible for these senseless bombings, and I fear what comes next. I will continue to hug my family tighter and be aware of my surroundings. We cannot live in fear, but simply appreciate the days we have on this earth and the nights we lay our heads safely at home. I just can't believe I was that close to the danger. Again. God is good. 

I count my blessings again today. I thank God for life. Every problem I feel is so big has been minimized to nothing. I will conquer it with His will. 

In good news, we find out Baby's gender on Wednesday! We have an idea of what he/she is - but it's better not to guess. I can't wait to finally know for sure - stay tuned! 

Mommy Brain...

With all that has happened in the past few weeks, I must say my plate is full. Finding a home for us and baby, losing my grandmother, juggling my workload and school - I am emotionally and physically exhausted. I've managed to keep calm and thug it out, but deep down inside I want to go somewhere far and be quiet. I know just the place...

I've got quite a few fears that I don't speak about. My usual mode of operation is to play it cool and panic when I'm alone. This condo search was a wild goose chase, and now that we're on the final stretch to a new home I pray hard that everything runs smoothly. Spinning around in that living room today really brought me to reality.

I'm having a baby.

Which brings me to my next fear. Miscarriage. I don't even want to harp on this topic, but all I do these days are make sure I'm well fed, well rested and as happy as I can be. I haven't been told by the doctor that I'm at any risk at all, but considering the events of the past few years I am just terrified of this word. I know, however, that it's all in God's hands and he has protected us all thus far. All I can do is continue to trust in him and live life accordingly. 

Grandma wasn't here to meet Baby, or see me graduate or get married. It devastated me to know these things would not come to pass before her eyes - and each is only in a matter of months!

Gender in two weeks, the suspense is maddening! 

Life is truly a blessing. Cherish it! 

My history...

My future...

Nesting.

Me. Maternity Pillow. Movie. 

I'm a social being. I enjoy being out with friends, family and good company overall. On a normal weekend, there's nothing I want more than to be out and about at the local art gallery or a late night sushi spot - or even just a drive to nowhere. Since "catching" pregnant (as my friends say), however - my priorities have shifted a bit.

Most nights, especially weeknights - I enjoy coming home to a clean quiet house and unwinding before bed. Sometimes, I enjoy the company of myself and the little flickers in my tummy before Boyfriend comes home. I call this chapter of my life "Nesting," simply because it seems that I'm preparing for the stage when it will just be me, Boyfriend and Baby in the comfort of our own space and solace. I look forward to these days. 

Unfortunately, some people don't understand this concept. As a Cancer, I tend to sense the feelings of others before they even say anything; I know I can't expect that from others. Some human beings are so engrossed in their own pleasures and enjoyments that they completely bypass the considerations and feelings of others. This is an issue I'm having right now with specific individuals. Even when I voice my opinions, thoughts and feelings - they continue to do what they'd like. All the while not realizing that when a mother lion feels threatened or irritated, her fangs will show. I'm nearing that point. 

Lol, if I'm not there already. 

I guess it's a feeling you don't fully understand until you're in it. Considering that I've raised everyone else's children, I tend to have an inside view on motherhood that I can't really explain. I understand certain things. The feeling of losing your baby. The concern about having a healthy pregnancy. Wanting to protect your loved ones. Simply wanting to be alone. I get touched by co-workers all day at work, so I can only hope that when I say I don't like it - my own loved ones will respect that. 

Hope is just a dream sometimes, though. Grrrr...