My How Time Has Flown

SweetPea is a joyful child who is full of life, love and energy.  She has grown so much in five years.  I am blessed to be here mom.  Amazed at all that she has accomplished and adapted to over the years.  Intrigued with what is to come.

All things from education, to common sense, to rationale thinking to extracurricular activities, she marvels at them all.

She gets more beautiful every day and taller, btw.

A true diva in the making, she likes to be clean and needs to have things a certain way.

This is a great Christmas as she can understand and appreciate the true meaning of Christmas - Christ's Birth.  She knows that Mommy buys the presents, wraps them and puts them under the tree.  I have explained that Santa and company are like cartoons that come on TV and are not real.  She gets it.  I think as long as the gifts are there she is OK with everything else.  I also have said that her old toys must be cleaned, sanitized and given to less fortunate children so they can have Christmas presents just as she does.

The joy of a child and her innocence. Father God I thank you for entrusting her life to me.  I shall not fail.  Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they shall not depart from it.  Amen.

I lost my hair do to labor Rx

I had a C-section with my daughter and can you believe four months later my hair locked up in the shower. Really!!! My hair matted to my head and I had to have all of my cut down so low I could wear a texturizer.

Something I never thought was possible or even a 'watch out for' during the wonderful experience of childbirth.

Now I have breads as I wait for my hair to grow back to a manageable natural state.

Has this occured with anyone else?

Savoring the Moments {all the 1st's}

How did you preserve the memories of your babies 1st {New Year's, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Holloween, Christmas, etc.}?

I am hooked on bibbs and photographs for each occassion. The Nanny and her family get a kick out of the bibbs I have found to mark these moments.

I also like the cute outfits I have found such as the one this site. She looked so cute and I so much fun searching for them. One day we will look back and have a grand laugh and hopefully we can share them again with her children.

How did you preserve the memories?

Life Insurance / Will & Estate Planning

Something we really don't want to discuss less known act upon, but this is something I feel very passionate about. My story...

I waited until I was 37 years old to have a child as a single, professional, African American woman. I count it a blessing to have God as my conscious, my father as my guide, memories of my mother, grandmother and other matriots of my father as my strength, my sisters as my support, my girls as my life-lines. But when I take my final breath, when God says my time on this Earth has come to an end and my lil' princess, what happens if my lil' one is under 21 years?

These are the things I think of sometimes in the wee hours of the night {or mornings}.

* Who do I trust enough to care for her as I do?

* Who is the back-up in case they can't or won't?

* Who will ensure she goes to college, remain drug-alcohol-pregnant free?

* How much debt will I have & will the insurance policy cover it?

I found the answers====

1. God-mothers {4 of them to be exact}

2. Estate Planning / Lawyer

3. Know the laws of my state regarding Will validity & probate laws

4. Keep all important papers together...lock box, safety deposit box, etc

5. A Detailed Will from children to burial plot or cremation

What are you thoughts? What are your plans?

Momme's Bed to Toddlers Bed: The Transition

My lil' princess has been sleeping near me since her birth in the hospital. Now it is time transition her from my bed to her own bed. What has worked best for you? What age did you start this process? She goes to sleep in my arms, then she stretches out which is my clue that she wants to lay down, but those lil' feet are always close to me to ensure momme is close bye.

African American Hair & Accessories

My lil' princess has beautiful curly hair...thick, thick, very thick, curly hair. I would love to keep her curly mane. What products can assist me in this quest? Water works really well with detangling and one mom told me to use Olive Oil products. What's your take to keep her beautiful mane in shape?

Formula to Food: My princess is very selective...

Hello Everyone. Ok, my lil' princess is 10.5 months old and we have sampled different baby foods and she really doesn't seem interested. I have tried putting it on my finger first, me tasting it first with her watching and even singing too her as I try to land it in her mouth. None of these things have been overwhelmingly successful!

What has worked for you? What is the secret to transitioning from formula to baby food to table food?