By the Way, Meet Vera Stark

Hello All :-)

Last night my sister and I had the please of being apart of a group that got to meet the cast of the new off Broadway play"By the Way, Meet Vera Stark" by Lynn Nottage.

The play is a seventy-year journey into the life of Vera Stark, a headstrong African-American maid and budding actress, and her tangled relationship with her boss, a white Hollywood star desperately grasping to hold onto her career. When both land roles in the same Southern epic, the story behind the cameras leaves Vera with a controversial legacy scholars will debate for years to come. Sanaa Lathan plays the role as Vera Stark.

So if your interested or you just want to see Sanaa, the play will be at the Second Stage Theater in NYC between April and May. From what I've see it looks good.

*Source BroadwayBox.com*

Some Sing, Some Cry

Hey everyone,


I know I've been MIA for a while but this parenting and wife thing takes me away from everything. Sia's is growing so fast I can hardley keep up...she's taking steps now and her birthday is next month. Where did the time go!!!

I wanted to share this amazing book that I'm currently reading "Some Sing, Some Cry" by Ntozake Shange and Ifa Bayeza. I LOVE THIS BOOK (hence me sharing it hehe) the novel covers 7 generations of a black family (The Mayfield women), from emancipation through the 1960's. This book is long but more than worth it.

PS - here's a code for Mixed Chicks (10% off) NOFRIZZtips :-)

Flip that

I finally bought my Flip last week and can't wait to upload video's of Sia. I took a two minute video of her Saturday night as a test so I'll post that with others up shortly.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year Everyone :-)

My goals for this year are to; start my pastry business, finish freeing myself from financial slavery/and staying free, do more remodeling on my house and save up for my "wedding".

The Mr. and I were all set to ring in the new year at his cousins house I had little Sia in her PJ's and had her coat out and...I feel asleep :-(

Hubby woke me up 5 minutes before midnight with a glass of champagne for me. We watched the ball drop, I drank my champagne and feel right back asleep. Is this what being a mommy is all about...dang. Ahh well I'm just grateful to see a new year and have the wonderful family that I have.

How did you ring in the new year? What are your goals for 2011?

Christmas?

When I was growing up we never really celebrated Christmas my mom would always tell us (when we asked about Santa Clause, The Tooth ferry, or any other character) in her Jamaican accent "Santa Clause doesn't come to the ghetto...he'll get robbed." She let us know from a very early age that there was no Santa Clause but told us not to tell our friends. I always thought that was funny. We learned what the real meaning of Christmas is and celebrated that.

Although I don't really celebrate Christmas I love the decorations so pretty. Currently I'm in the process of renovating my house but if I wasn't I would have spruced up the place and had a dinner party...something like this

Ahhh maybe next year...what are your plans for Christmas.

Woman First

I loved this song before having Sia but love it even more now. The lyrics are my words and thoughts.

Happy December

Hey Everyone, my good friend Dan reminded me that I haven't blogged in a while. I do apologizebut a lot has been going on and things are finally starting to settle down. On a bright note tomorrow is my bday, I was excited but not so much now idk. I guess it's because I have to go to work and I never work on my bday. It should be a fun day regardless. Another bright note is that Miss Sia's teeth finally broke through a few weeks ago. Now she wants to test them out on everyone...no bueno. Here's some pics I snapped of her playing before her bedtime

I think when you click on the pic you can see the two lil rice grains lol

I called her name and she turned around with this face lol

I's Married Now!!!!!

I almost forgot to post about my sudden nuptials. So the original plan once we found out we were pregnant was to get married before baby. Unfortunately, Sia had other plans for us and came 3 weeks early. We (meaning I) made plans week after week to go to the court house but things always kept coming up. Then one day hubby tells me to get dressed were going to apply for our marriage licence. So we went applied and waited a day then went back with my sister and brother-in law and got hitched July 22, 2010.

Sadly, I don't have any photo's from the day...which I'm glad cuz I was a fat mess :-(

We don't have any rings so were planning on doing a ring ceremony next year for our wedding. We already picked out the bands we want

this is what he wants...he fancy huh

Mine is something like this

Post Pregnancy Body

For anyone trying to get rid of baby weight or just wanting to get fit I suggest Tony Horton's P90x. My sister and I started the program in early September and have lost weight and inches. I'm super excited because I finally fit back into all of my pre-baby clothes and I'm working giving those clothes away soon.

P90x is an EXTREME work out that definitely gives results. In three months your body will be transformed...singing Chris Brown "I Can Transform Ya" (that should be the P90x theme song lol). The meal plan gives a day to day outline of foods that you can eat and even gives recipes :-)

Those of you looking for a good workout give Tony a try and let him X you

Product Review

During my pregnancy I got a lot of stretch marks which I wasn't to happy about. While on maternity leave I saw all these adds for different stretch mark creams that supposedly get rid of or lighten the appearance of stretch marks. So I figured let me try one out, first up Mederma. I bought it in Duane Reade for $40...did it do the job eeehhh. Let me just first off say that majority of my stretch marks were dark...I mean real dark, so the Mederma lightened my stretch marks. But I still have stretch marks left. The cream smells really nice, like a expensive hand cream and was very light. If considering using this product remember a little goes a long way. Would I recommend this? Yes, if you didn't get a lot of stretch marks and you don't mind paying the $40.

After using Mederma I used some Shea Butter that I had. It kept my skin moisturized and that was about it.

Recently my sister-in law told me about Palmer's Scar Serum. After looking in Rite Aid, Walgreens and CVS I finally found it in Babies R Us. I paid $8.99 for it it's scent less, really thick and concentrated. I've been using it for a week and a half and I notice a little improvement. Would I recommend it? For $8.99 heck yeah. My sister-in law didn't get much stretch marks and there all gone now so I hoping it will give me good results.

Sia's Photo Shot

So this past Sunday hubby & I took Sia to get her first photo's taken. She also got her ears pierced...she wasn't so happy about that. I ordered her tutu from www.colebabytutus.com/home it came fast and even had a little wand to help her look in the direction of the photographer.

I had to bring Snuggle along

All photo's by Picture People

Tips for new & expecting moms

Some tips that just came to mind;

-rest up before baby arrives (the first year of baby's life will bring you many sleepless nights)

-attend breast feeding classes (it's not as easy as you think and I think Lamaze classes are more for the dads not mom's cuz your body is going to tell you what to do)

-stay calm (postpartum is a mutha so try to stay calm and not take the anger of not getting sleep out on your mate)

-if you need help ask (if you have family or close friends near by ask for there help with baby)

-document baby's growth (they grow so fast so take as much pictures and video's as you can)

-healthy eating (that's one of the first steps to getting you back to your pre-baby body and don't forget drink lots of water...it helps get rid of the water weight)

-try to spend time with your mate alone (I know it will be hard but you need it)

-take care of yourself (don't forget to brush your teeth & wash your face...I know it sounds crazy but anyone who is a mother knows that in the beginning you forget to do these simple things)

Sia & Snuggle

I do apologize for not posting anything new but since my last post things have been a little busy. And to top it all off Sia is teething I feel so bad for her those pearly whites are giving her the business. I hope they poke through soon.

In the mean time here is a video I took of her and her bear Snuggle (with my voice of course). In this video she was a little over 3 months (she's almost 6 months now...time is flying).

Labor Pt 2

I was told at my baby shower from some of the mothers there that I might have labor pain in my lower back or lower abs (like cramps but stronger...well for me at least). I had labor pain in both areas...no bueno. Lucky for me my bff was there to give me back massages when my contractions started up.

I'm not a screamer or a crier and I thought I had a high tolerance for pain but I couldn't take that pain much longer. So the nurse (I started with a lil Indian lady and when I woke up she was ending her shift and another nurse was coming on) and a doctor, not mine, came to see how much I dilated. I was still at 4 but Sia had finally woken up so they made arrangements for my epidural.

Before the anesthesiologist came hubby and my bff tried to talk me out of getting the epidural...like that was happening. They called me a punk, told me I should try to have the baby without it, it's going to slow down my labor, there are side effects blah, blah, blah. I politely let them know (I know it didn't come off polite at all) it was my decision and I was having my epidural.

The anesthesiologist and nurse finally came in and asked them to leave the room, she and the nurse helped me sit up and they both started to talking to me when I felt a lil pinch in my back. Naturally I jumped a lil and was told to sit as still as possible and before I knew it they were helping me lay back down and moving me from side to side. When hubby and bff came back in the room the pain was starting to go away. They looked a lil disappointed but I could care less. I was finally able to go to sleep and that's exactly what I did. I remember the nurse checking on me and telling me I was 6 centimeters, my doctor finally showed up around this time. She asked me how I was feeling and told me that I should have the baby sometime that afternoon.

Bff had to leave so it was just hubby and I...I let him sleep during this time lol. Hubby ate, I had ice chips and we both took naps. The nurse came back to check me and told me I was 8 centimeters and would be delivering soon my sister called to tell us to hold on, as if that was possible, she was driving over to the hospital.

My sister got there shortly after and before you know it they were bringing in the equipment to deliver my baby. The nurse who was with me the whole time had to leave me because another patient was having an emergency C-section and she had to go. So another nurse took over and helped me prepare to push. I just have to mention how funny my doctor was...which was so strange because she was the Ice Princess prior to my pregnancy and during but became the sweet concerned mama during labor. Anyway, she had 4 patients (including me) delivering at the same time, so she comes in and tells me to wait until I feel like I really, really have to push cuz she has to do a quick C-section lol. So I waited until she came back and I was ready to go.

After 15 minutes of pushing Sia finally came out...cone shaped head and all. Her head reminded me of Pinky and The Brain...there was a hush across the room cuz of that head. She didn't cry when she first came out instead she looked around...nosey I tell you. My girl weighted 5 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 inches.

Labor Pt 1

Now don't think I'm crazy but I really thought I would have a quick painless labor like my mom. She managed to have three children with no labor pains and deliver each of us in less than 30 minutes. I really thought I would be blessed with this gene...sadly I wasn't.

While in the hospital I didn't know what time it was because there were no clocks at all in my room. The sun let me know when it was morning, other than that I had no clue. And I'm glad I didn't because I would have went crazy if I would have known that I was in labor for 17 hours.

After I was placed in my room and hooked up to all those monitors I was told I was 1 centimeter dilated. WTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "That's it??!!!" was my response the nurse told me "oh yeah, you'll be here for a while." I was not happy to hear this...nor was I happy to hear the SCREAMS coming from the room next door. I asked the nurse if she could do something about that because she was scaring the crap out of me. So there I was layed up 1 centimeter with my aunt looking at the monitor informing me when my contractions were coming...so annoying. The contractions started coming every minute and getting stronger so I asked the nurse if I dilated anymore, she checked and I was still at 1 so I asked for an epidural. Silly lady, the nurse must have thought when I asked that.

She offered to give me morphine to help the pain and relax me and told my mom and aunt they should go home and get some rest. Did I mention that through all of this I was updating Facebook & Blackberry messenger status hahaha...but when that pain kicked in I threw that phone to hubby. So the nurse gave me the morphine and before I knew it I was knocked out. Like I said I had no clocks around so I don't know how long I slept or when I woke up (I think she gave me the morphine around 1:00am-1:30 am) but when I did wake up the sun was coming up and those labor pains were killing me.

The nurse came in to check me I was now 4 centimeters and I could get the epidural the only thing was I was awake but the baby wasn't. So I had to wait for her to wake up...it took her about an hour to wake up. The pains were coming on extremely strong now, I thought I was going to pass out. All I kept thinking is can she please hurry up and wake up because if this is what 4 feels like I don't want to know what 8 feels like.

Hubby was there literally by my side while all of this was going on, he lived in the chair next to me during all of it. I caught him sleeping a couple of times and woke him up...shoot he did this to me so I wasn't gonna let him get rest if I couldn't lol. One of my bff's came to the hospital when I woke up from my morphine sleep and stayed a couple of hours. My sister who wanted to be there, and told Sia don't come out until she comes back, had to go to Miami for business. When I called her and told her I was in labor she caught the next flight back to New York.

The Beginning

Labor = no joke. I will say that it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be (I'm only talking tough now that it's over and because I had a epidural) but it was an experience I will remember forever.

April 16th was like any other spring day in NYC, rainy and cold. A few co-workers that weren't able to attend my baby shower the weekend before brought my gifts for me to take home. So I lugged the gifts home and started to go through clothes that I received. My plan was to start washing some clothes the next day and putting together the bassinet...but that never happened. I went to bed at 10 pm and by 11:30 pm I felt mild cramps as I started to sit up I felt water. I then jumped up and then the gush came..."OMG what in the world is this" was my first thought. I stood there in shock for a minute thinking "Was that my water? Am I in labor?" I waddle downstairs to wake my mother who is fast asleep and tell her what happened only for her to tell ask me "Are you having contractions? (I wasn't) Oh well go back to sleep and wait for the contractions." What???? That didn't sound right to me so I called my doctor's office and the answering service told me to go to the hospital "you're in labor." Did I mention I was shaking like a leaf in the wind cuz I was. I mean my teeth were chattering and all I was so nervous I think I stopped the contractions from happening.

And to top it all off FI (well hubby now, that post coming soon) was at a meeting and his phone kept going to voicemail. I must have left him 100 messages. I call my aunt who lives near by and ask her to take me to the hospital. She gets to my house in 20 minutes (I was calling her every 5 minutes to see where she was) the rain caused so many accidents that night that a 6 minute drive from her house to mine took 20.

We finally get to the maternity ward (my mom, aunt and myself) and I'm so happy that I filled out the paper work weeks in advance because I only had to sign one paper giving the hospital permission to touch me. They admitted me, checked me and placed me in my room. Hubby came around the time they were checking me and I was happy to see him. My mom was extremely happy to see him she told him "my work is done, you two did this now you two have your baby" this woman is a piece of work.

Baby Shower

I've been bad I know so much has happened since my last post like giving birth for one. But lets back track to my baby shower, I have to say a big thank you to my sis for throwing a fabulous shower for me. Also thank you to everyone who helped, came out and those who were not able to make it but sent gifts it was greatly appreciated. And a big thank you to the staff and owners of Akwabba Mansion. Enough with the chit chat picture time....

Me :-)

The FI and I (and baby Sia)


My grandmother (or as she likes to be called Sweet P)

My brother and sister-in law
My mom

My sis

Newborn Stuff

Today was my consultation with Sia's potential pediatrician, she seemed nice and gave us information about vaccinations. She also informed us that since the clinic is affiliated with the hospital they have a policy that they don't turn any sick children away. I like that they do that but as she said she and the other doctor's have to notify parents of this because we might see children come in that are in wheel chairs, with oxygen tanks, etc. As I said I like the idea of no child being turned away, I would hate to have a child with those issues and a doctor's office turn me away because it might upset other parents. There are 6 pediatricians that work in the clinic so if Sia has a emergency and her doctor is not there one of the other doctor's will see her. So far it seems good but we are going to meet with some other doctors but I like that this clinic is affiliated with the hospital that I'm delivering at so one of the 6 doctor's will see her once she's born.

Today was also my third ultra sound. It was basically a check up which went well, I have no pics to post cuz this girl was hiding her face. All she would let the doctor see was the top of her head, legs, fingers and back (they checked her organs). What am I gonna do with this girl? The great news besides her being healthy is that she's in head down position so she is getting ready to make her debut.

After all of this the FI and I went to Babies R Us to buy a few things for Sia. Next Sunday is our baby shower so we didn't want to buy any big things yet. So we bought wipes, newborn long sleeve undershirts, a wipe warmer and newborn pampers. Can we talk about newborn pampers for a minute? How cute are they? And so tiny, I was already nervous about taking care of Sia but seeing those pampers did not help the situation. Don't get me wrong I'm used to being around babies and I have certainly changed pampers but not newborns!!! I just mastered how to swaddle a baby now I have to wrap my head around how small she will be. I'm sure I'll be fine, in the mean time check out this cute lil newborn pamper it fits right in the palm of my hand :-)

Hair

Although most of my thoughts are on little Sia's debut I've also been thinking about my hair. It has grown out so much and so thick. I can barley put it in a bun, so most of the time I wear it out (did I mention that I wear my hair natural) which I'm not crazy about because I love to wear protective styles.

Lately, I've been thinking about how I'm going to wear my hair for the baby shower and after. I think I'm going to get my hair blown out for the shower and in braids until after my delivery. Idk, I've developed a hair crush on Corrine Bailey Rae's hair. Have you seen her new video? I love how full and healthy her hair looks. I'm working on mines to be that length by sometime this summer...or fall

Sleepy Days

I've been such a bad blogger, there are times when I have so much I want to say and then I get in front the computer and it all goes. Ugh, these past few weeks I've been so tired and sore especially when I know I have to go to work. Welcome to the third trimester!!! All I want to do is rest and my commute to and from work doesn't make it easier on me. People in NYC are so mean, I've been pushed, damn near run over cuz I walk too slow and have had to stand on subway/train and bus rides. I really can't wait until I go on maternity leave so I can relax a little before Miss Sia comes (pronounced See-ah).

I must confess I feel like I'm a bad mother to be because I don't get mushy when I see baby clothes or toys. Ok I did let out a big "aaawww" when I saw these because they are too cute. But other than these nothing has got me excited, am I weird. My mother keeps telling me I'm normal while my sister shops like crazy. Were slowly getting things together for her I feel like there is so much to do in such little time. We have to get her bassinet first and then once she's here her room will get worked on. Other than that I can't wait for my baby shower, to see all my family & friends that I haven't seen in a while. Most of them have not seen me during this pregnancy so that will be nice.

This weekend I start going to the doctor every week...the end is drawing near!!!!! Also, I have a consultation with a pediatrician next week and I have my third sonogram that same day. I'm excited to see how much she's grown.

Things that I'm nervous about
-Labor
-Water breaking on subway/train
-Being by myself when my water breaks
-Giving her a bath
-Being home alone with her
-Cutting her nails

Oh I have to put some new belly pics up, I've grown since the last pic. Idk if I'll show skin cuz I have stretch marks on the right side of my tummy, I guess that's her comfort zone...oh well as long as she's healthy and happy.

PS - this girl has hiccups all the time...so cute