Reclaiming the Boob!

One of the many things I was looking forward to when I had Taiye was breastfeeding. The doctors as well as all the information I'd read said that breastfeeding is the best gift you can give to your child. It's loving, natural, builds a strong bond between you and your child and also starts them off on a solid nutritional foundation for life! Coming from a family which struggles with obesity and not eating right I was determined not to set my daughter down that path. I knew from day one of my pregnancy that this is what I wanted to do. Of course, I'd heard the horror stories as well i.e. it's painful, sometimes the baby doesn't latch on correctly, thrust, it's time consuming etc., etc. Nevertheless, I was not deterred. And so when March 23rd came and the nurse put Taiye on my chest to start nursing my hope was validated..she latched right on and began sucking away! Fast forward 7 months and 2 weeks later; Taiye is still sucking! She's sucking in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening and at midnight, 2 AM, 5 AM! She's just sucking, sucking, sucking! Taiye will put her hand down my shirt and underneath my breast to push it up and start sucking (yes gravity has begun to descend in that area). And she doesn't care where we are! We could be at the restaurant eating dinner and she'll reach for my boobs. Not wanting to deny my child, I oblige and get the arched eyes from Dawn and Wale like ugh.can you cover up a little? I can't help it if she hates having the blanket cover her while she's eating. She's nosy and still wants to see what's going on even though she's eating.

So family, what do I do to get this chick off of my boob! It's past the 6 month milestone and I've tried to introduce the soft solid foods to her but she will not eat it. I don't know if she doesn't like the consistency of the baby food -which by the way I am making myself. I went to William and Sonoma and brought the Beaba baby food maker which does everything in one appliance! And I brought the baby-safe ice trays to freeze the baby food for storage and I bought the book on how and what baby foods to make. I spent close to $200 on all of this stuff and Taiye still will not eat the baby food.she just wants the boob! You know that saying, "be careful what you pray for, you just might get it"? Well, that's how I'm feeling. Nevertheless, I still cherish and love the fact that I am able to breastfeed my daughter. I know that she will be healthier and stronger for this sacrifice. So if you see me at the warehouse on Saturday, don't be surprised if I have Taiye on my lap feeding while I'm ringing up your order!

Beauty Bailout!

We did it!

Well family after much prayer and soul searching,I packed my little family up and we moved to North Carolina! I know that some of you already know, and some of you are like WHAT? I think there comes a time in everyones life that you have to let go of your fears and trust that GOD is going to see you through whatever your issues are.
It sounds easier than it looks, I know but if God puts something in your heart to do, you gotta do it. Moving away from my family and friends, just me and the boys didn't sound right to anybody at the time but now that we did it they can see how happy we are! The boys love their new house! Will and Wes are doing well in school and they are both making friends! I'm happy also and can't wait for everyone to visit. God has a wonderful, fullfilling life for all of us, but WE have to have faith to reach out and grab it. You can do it! And don't worry Jersey we will be visiting often! But if your in our neck of the woods, y'all come on over and see us sometime ya here!

PS Pooka South is getting ready to blow up, LOL!

Sweaters and Flip Flops!

Greetings family! Yes it is me. The summer has gone by and I haven’t talked to you. I hope you enjoyed it, such as it was. The weather did not cooperate at all!! I feel very cheated. Well now it has decided to become Fall right on schedule. Family I am holding out. I am not ready. My sweaters are packed very far away, my Fall shoes neatly in their boxes. Who are these people that look like they stepped out of a Fall fashion catalog the first cool day of the season. Now, I do plan to look fabulous this winter. I am going to be a frugalista like they say in the Target commercial. That’s right…all my clothes will come from Target much to my husband’s annoyance! (Those who know my husband will completely understand) He does not realize this leaves me more money to spend on shoes and pocketbooks. So for all of you passing me by with your sweaters, and boots and shawls and fabulous coats I say… you look marvelous. I just ask that you not make fun of the woman looking cold, wearing her summer sweater and flip flops. It will probably be me!

Donna

In the spirit of Sisterhood!!!!

This weekend in preparing for Circle of Sisters I started to reflect on sisterhood! You know what happens when I start to reflect…..I started thinking about all of my “sisters” that I have been blessed to have in my life! Take a moment and just think about all you’ve been through and who has been with you by your side! I love to think about growing up and when I do, I have to think about my sister! I have some funny sister stories that Donna would actually shoot me If I wrote, but let me just share one….
I remember going out to buy a car by myself, now, my father warned me “DAWN DON’T BUY ANYTHING JUST LOOK!!” “Of course dad”, I replied, “I’m just going to do some research.” I thought about this conversation as I drove my new Honda Prelude off the lot! I was almost in tears as I drove home because I knew I shouldn’t have purchased this car, but they really got me and it was all shiny and new! My first call was to my sister in tears I said, Donna! I bought a car, daddy told me don’t buy anything and I did and I think they ripped me off!!!” . I went home a upset, not wanting to call my father and tell him the news and then I heard the doorbell. It was my sister with her overnight bag! She laid on the couch and went to sleep, I didn’t even talk to her, but just knowing she was there gave me comfort. We got up the next morning and she called my father and told him I bought the car. I could hear my father just losing it! Man I was so glad I wasn’t on that phone. Well the next morning I went back to the Honda dealer with my father and he quickly went down the list of all the places I had been ripped off and after they changed a lot and lowered the price, I happily drove off the lot. I have to say my sister has always come through for me and she was also there for me 1 month later when that car was stolen!!! I’ll wait until next time to tell you the call Donna got when I worked as a bank teller and got held up!!! Ahhhh………..I love my sister!

Getting kicked out of my own bed!

Hey Pooka Family! It's me! Six months into being a new mom and I still love every minute! Okay, well, not every minute, like when Taiye doesn't want to sleep in her own bed! She actually started out good with sleeping in her crib but there was one time I let her come and sleep with me and Wale and that was all she wrote! Now she starts out in her crib at bedtime (between 9-9:30PM) but when she wakes up for her 12AM feeding, she doesn't want to get back into her crib! She wants to stay up and talk and play and sing (yes, sing! I think this chick is going to be an opera singer because she belts those notes out like Kathleen Battle)! When she is finally ready to go back to sleep she screams bloody murder when I gently lay her in her crib. Well I'm exhausted after all that midnight playing so I give in and bring her into our room and let her lay down with us. Now of course my wonderful husband wakes up (only for a second) to ask if I need some water then he instantly falls back to sleep. So I'm left lying on the edge of the bed with Taiye's hand on my boob ready to squeeze out her next milk supply. Ahhhhhh Motherhood...but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Coyote Ugly!?

Well people I must be on a roll this month, let me tell you about my newest adventure....a friend of mine just opened a new restaurant/bar. I told him that I'd love to help out, we can all use some extra cash, so he says "sure, I got a great idea why don't you bartend!" Now I've never tended bar in my entire life but hey I thought this could be fun so I agreed. He told his bar manager and the manager agreed to give me some on the job training. Now I'm excited, we've all seen the movie Coyote Ugly, I couldn't wait to go home and get my bartendin outfit ready, which included some sassy black heels! Well let me tell you about this "Coyote Ugly" night people! I got there and figured I'd be cutting lemons and filling the olive bin, WRONG I was learning the correct amount of alcohol to pour, how to use the bar computer system, make long island iced teas and more! "Wait a minute?!!, Did I just unknowingly sign up for a real job??!!!!! What was I thinking! But now it was too late, I was working with another bartender and she was awesome, she told me how to make things and taught me a lot and then, that's when it happened.....customers started pouring in and flocked to the bar for drinks, I was frozen and people started calling to get my attention and place drink orders, I stared getting frazzled! I was becoming undone!!! So what did I do? Yup, I went "Dawnie style", I broke out into a rendition of "On the good ship lollypop" and then I threw myself onto the floor and did the worm, stood up and recited poetry and for the finale I put up my easel and started painting peoples portraits,(thank God I remembered to bring that bag of props!) "Ta Da!!!!" But there was no applause! I thought for sure if I did the "Dawny show" they would forget all about ordering drinks! I didn't know what went wrong my parents always loved that show! I decided to buckle down and try and help this other bar tender, I was pouring beer and wine and when I got drink order I didn't know she would call out, (discreetly, thank goodness) what was in it so I could make it. Now I was extremely busy but had the audacity to grab my phone and text Donna, Tricia and April a one lined text "Coyote ugly SOS, man down!" And you know my girls shot me back words of encouragement, including "Get out of there!" And "Did you send that package to Whole Foods?", and the ever popular, "Do you want me to come get you?!" You guys know I'm just kidding, they were very supportive as usual! My feet were killing me, what possessed me to put on heels? When I looked down I realized that somewhere during my show I must have put my shoes back on the wrong feet, well that’s what it felt like! After about 3 hours I was kind of, yes I repeat, kind of holding my own! People would call out a drink order and slowly, I began to get it. I put my hand up like Larry Fishburne in the Matrix and motioned for them to give me more, I was slowly dodging bullets, like Neo, I was becoming...THE ONE!!! Okay, okay I wasn't that good but I was feelin good. At the end of the night we counted our tips and we did a couple of hundred dollars each!!!! I have been bitten by the bar bug! So if you come in and see me at the bar, sit down and wait for the next "Dawny Show", It's usually every 10 minutes or when an unknown drink order is thrown my way!