The other side of the table 🏥

I don’t usually share what I do … unless I decide to, but this is the exception.

I tech assisted in two C-sections (single baby & twins) a few days ago and I am still overcome with emotion. It was the most beautiful thing to see. I was doing what I do on one side, and I was witnessing life being born on the other side.

Giving birth whichever form is magical and I felt all the love and good energy in the OR. It’s funny being on the other side of the room not as mommy in labor, but part of the team who assists another mommy.

Truth be told when I saw the little beautiful babies, my eyes watered up and I absolutely got caught by everyone and they laughed and smiled. It might have been the “mom” in me, it might have been my passion or it might have just been the feeling I got when I had my own children but even though it wasn’t me lying down, I felt the same joy as the mothers and the adorable fathers.

I remember seeing my husbands face when the child is put on the baby bed for the first time, it’s this look of “wow, that’s my child, wow, look how little.” & to see that all over again in other husbands was still the same fuzzy feeling. They are always so proud.

Children are really a gift, I am very blessed to be able to do what I do especially with moments like this.

Preparing for two while there’s one……🌸It’s a girl🌸

Two years into being a mommy to my best buddy in the world my son Jaden. Papa Bear & I are expecting once again. 

🌸IT’S A GIRL🌸 !!! 

Wow! I can’t even believe this is happening. So many emotions. Is this real? Can I handle two kids? I’m still learning with Jaden & now we’re throwing in another whole child… just wow. 

The journey has been tough but magical at the same time. The beginning was very rough. Finding out I was pregnant again happened with my big sister Geraldine via FaceTime. I told her “my period hasn’t shown up yet & I have a test upstairs but it’s old” … “Go and get it and go buy another one so we can double check” She said. “OK” (20/30 min later) CONFIRMED! I am indeed pregnant. My sister was so excited and I kept on saying “oh my gosh, what do I do. Should I tell papa bear now or later.” Eventually I told him with giggles which he didn’t find funny at all but me laughing was the only way I could cope and tell him. His own emotions were all over the place. Initially he wasn’t in the best mood because he said “are we ready again?” And all I could say was “I don’t know”! 

Needless to say the next few weeks were very intense and confusing for both of us. I don’t believe in abortions but it was also so early that the fetus is barely formed. I went to the doctor to know my options and again abortion was brought up but also time had gone by going from when I found out to “you’re six weeks in” after a lot of prayer and faith – WE DEFINITELY MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. We are having the baby because God makes no mistakes. 

(Fast forward) all is well, baby girl is growing, emotions are up and down. My first trimester was a hot mess just like with Jaden. Sick like a dog, a lot of crying – not being able to brush my teeth without gagging and just praying I make to the second trimester where I can finally be happy and eat my life away. FINALLY … I get there. 

Trimester two. Bring out the credit card. Baby shopping, ordering this and that. “Oh this is cute and this and this” such a difference shopping for boys and girls. I love all the shorts and polos for my son but seeing the mini swimwear and dresses after paying attention to them got me looking forward to finally meeting this baby girl. I never paid attention to anything girl ever but now my eyes are literally moving at a 50-50 pace because I’m thinking “what can I get for her and what can I get for Jaden” it’s actually fun but it’s also breaking our wallets more 😅 

Now, since I know there’s an new baby on the way, the biggest task is getting Jaden to understand what is going on. As my bump gets bigger I also try to tell him “baby baby” “kiss baby” “baby sister” some days he’ll kiss the belly and some days he’ll smack the belly. I don’t know if he gets it but he’s been more clingy than ever and he’s noticed little baby toys around the house all of sudden. He knows he’s too big for the toys because he’s advanced. They are still appealing for him but when he tries to throw the “crawling ball” and I say no no! He’s confused in why is mommy telling me to roll this ball and not throw it. Children are very smart. I just know his vibes feel that something is coming. 

As a mom to be of two my goal is to split myself in half! I don’t even know how I’ll deal with it and of course I’ll blog about this experience when baby girl arrives. I just want to be amazing to both of them but Jaden is my best friend, my go to, my play buddy – how am I suppose to do this with two kids. I’ve asked mother’s of two and they said they felt the same way but once the second arrives everything just fell into perfect place and everyone is happy so I pray it’s the same for me. I’ll be so devastated if my little guy feels a certain way about his baby sister or if he feels neglected. I already know when she’s born – he’s taking a full week off school to see her every second and I can spend time with them both. Luckily newborns don’t do much but feed & sleep but even then I need Jaden to see that she’s here to stay. I’ve seen him with other babies and he’s done great so I don’t doubt he’ll love his sister and they’ll be best buddies forever especially as she gets older. Jokingly I’m prepared for his slaps because when he sees her on my breasts which once belonged just to him, he might put up a fight 😂  besides the general talks of what’s on the way, I’ve also tried to get him to understand with pictures and stories. I ordered him a personalized big brother book which hopefully will help also. His name and face are in it and it describes all the responsibility a big brother has! I love online. You can find everything. He’s had personalized books in the past and he learned very fast from them. 

The final countdown has begun. Less than a month to go and my big boy toddler love of my life Jaden will no longer be a single child. He’s had a great time. He’s always going to be my best buddy and I believe this is such a great experience not just for him but for papa bear and I. Our family is expanding. We’ve been married for one year & I see the future being bright.

I thank God for everything & I pray I get continued strength to keep being a better mom to my children. It really takes a village to raise a child and I’m thankful for the advice and help I’ve got along the way but I’m very proud of myself because I went from knowing nothing to mothering two & seeing how well my son is growing and learning before my eyes, I’ve been doing something right. 

Cheers to the next chapter 🥂 

Back like we never left :)

Happy 2018 parents and readers. I know I’ve been away for quite some time but HELLO I’m dealing with TROUBLESOME TWO! save meeeeee.

So much development has happened before my eyes! My little guy (who has a personality out of this world) I’ve come to learn – has grown up faster, stronger, smarter and it’s just incredible.

His second birthday is just two months away but I meant what I said – trouble trouble has approached since last year – I don’t blame him. A whole new world of exploration, a whole new world of “Jaden,
Mommy said NO!” Which in his little ears means “Jaden, Mommy said YES!”

He’s wired like a cat playing with a ball of yarn, he’s so focused on whatever he desires and suddenly he can stop and focus on something else.

He’s learning how to speak which is great! New words every single day which is wonderful – “Mama and Dada” is all fun for a while but then you really want to communicate with your child and it’s so exciting when he points out and says words – whether self taught by listening or hearing it from me or a book or maybe even SCHOOL (Yup, he’s in school – another blog for another day) I just love it.

What’s even more amazing is the ability to remember. I’ve taught him something once and boom he’s doing it or saying it  – he knows so many songs, and he’ll hum them in his own way but I know exactly what he’s singing and I’ll join in most of the time with the words so he knows I’m listening. My favorite is his ability to clean up his water/juice messes. If he happens to pour some on the floor, he’ll look up at me and raise his hand up asking for a paper towel or cloth and once I hand it to him, he starts wiping away!!! You’re never too young to start cleaning early so I’m proud he takes up his responsibilty (now if I can only get him to pack his toys in Chest) lol funny right, kids know what clean up is but choose what they will clean up. I’ll let it slide for a little while longer but then “Clean up, clean up everybody- everywhere” will take proper effect.

Time really does fly… so new parents with newborn babies ENJOY EVERY SECOND. I did but I also feel like so much was so new to me you miss moments like cuddling your newborn.

I hardly remember holding my son but when I see the millions of pictures I took I somehow remember.

The journey of two has almost begun and bravo to me (If I may) as a first time Mommy to reach this milestone and kudos to every other mom out there too. It’s not easy and achhhhh so many countless meltdowns but I’m still here doing the dang thing (like I have a choice) lol !!!!!

My childhood to yours

I remember having a great childhood. I did so many fun things. I used to play outside and ride my bike and climb trees and just found adventure in everything I did whether dirt or water. I was lucky enough to travel to different amazing places with my family and friends from cold to hot and just remembering everything makes me feel happy and blessed at the same time.

Now that I’m a mother, there’s nothing better than sharing as many of my own childhood memories with my son the best way I can. It’s so surreal. I take pleasure in seeing him enjoy his new surroundings and taking great pictures to show him as he gets older. I definitely have a world traveler baby… but why not?! I’m taking full advantage of him sitting on my lap and paying hardly anything for a ticket… soon those days are over and it’ll be full price from there lol

I believe it’s very important to leave our children with a happy lomg-lasting memories. We live in a world now that is so technology based, I feel that many children don’t to take enough advantage of their surroundings.

There are so many things they can do but get locked up with “Disney channel” I had an article about how my son does watch “word party” but it’s educational and I make sure he also has as much play time as possible. I recently found an indoor playground called “Hippohop Atlanta” it’s amazing, fun, environmental friendly and the minute I took my son there he felt so free and happy and he could interact with other children which is great to see. All of these moments counts.

As the babies grow to toddlers and toddlers to young children to teenagers, finding ways to entertain them OUTSIDE OR CREATIVELY is a must. It Doesn’t matter how simple it is as long as it gets their minds and memories going that’s the key.

 
– Face painting
– Water and hose
– Racing
– Building
– Swimming
– Hiking
– Visiting museums
– Botanical gardens
– Traveling
Etc….

The list could go on Forever.

My elder sisters and I along with my cousins and close friends used  to have a blast doing all sorts of things together. I especially remember us riding our bikes and scooters and getting in to “kid trouble” lol whatever we did…  it shaped us in someways later in life because we all are good with people and we all have great friends and I believe can make friends fairly easy.

All of this wouldn’t be if we were children stuck inside playing on our game boys all day long and watching Tv. We definitely had our Tv time watching Cartoon Network and other great shows back then but it wasn’t a constant thing. We all loved going outside.

I’ll make it my mission that my son enjoys his very own childhood the best way I can.

Clingy baby

Ever since my son was born, he’s been latched onto me like he’s my very own twin. He’s obsessed with me & I do believe that’s normal – after all, he holds the key to my heart.

I’ve noticed that as he’s getting older he’s being more independent which is great because he loves interacting with other children and he’s learned how to entertain himself. Jaden has a toy bus and he loves it. He’ll drive it up and down, chasing after it and press all the buttons until he’s tired. I can even put him in his crib full of blocks and toys and he’ll find some way to amuse himself. I am thankful for this because it gives me moments to get things done.

Despite him showing his new-found independence he still has many moments where all he wants is me whether it’s to pick him up, or he holds on to my leg why I walk around and the worse, when I leave the room and he bursts into tears (most likely crocodile) I’ve even hid behind a door in front of him and still he’ll start shouting and screaming…

So what exactly is a the trick for this to
Stop?! Does it come with age… does it come with him wanting a play buddy. I’m still yet to figure it out with my new mommy self BUT I’m almost one year in which is unbelievable to think about.

I must admit I give my little guy all the attention he needs and all the attention a baby should be getting I just hope it had all positive effects on him. We shall see. I never had separation anxiety to the point where I couldn’t leave my son anywhere but I definitely need to improve giving him some time away from me not only for him but also for myself.

Cord blood banking & what you need to know.

While pregnant, us women have to go through many check ups just to make sure our babies are healthy and nothing wrong is going on inside our womb. While I was pregnant all was smooth and well but I did come across some information about Cord blood banking which I thought was fantastic.

I was recommend by my doctors to look into it because papa bear and I had a similar blood group. Was it something I worried about? Yes, but with faith and knowledge our baby came out perfectly healthy & that’s all anyone can ask for and on top of that I decided to do Cord blood banking which I believe was the best decision I made for his future.

 

What is Cord blood + Cord blood banking.

“Cord blood is the blood in your baby’s umbilical cord. It contains stem cells that can grow into blood vessels, organs, and tissues.

Cord blood banking involves collecting blood left in your newborn’s umbilical cord and placenta and storing it for future medical use. Cord blood contains potentially lifesaving cells called stem cells. The stem cells in cord blood are different from embryonic stem cells.” (Via babycenter.com)

How to do it?

Once you feel you’re ready for this step, you contact a company of your choice, I chose CBR. Once you’ve set up your account they will send you a Cord blood package with everything your doctor or nurses need.

It is a process done right after you’ve given birth to your child. As read above they take the blood from the umbilical cord & everything else they need and then the company carrier will pick up the package and take it to the company storage.

What’s great is you’re notified a long the way via email of everything going on with your child’s blood banking until the very end. I even had a great representative who called me and sent a thank you note which was appreciated.

Benefits.

The reason I choose to do Cord blood banking with Jaden is because of the benefits for not only him but also one day for his future sibling.

Here’s a current list of what Cord blood is helping with.

– Cancers
– Immune disorders
– Blood disorders
– Metabolic disorders

Within each of these categorizes our child’s Cord blood can be beneficial.

– It can help by having immediate access to minimize disease progressions early for any types of treatment needed.

– “Ability to use one’s own stem cells for conditions that currently lack medical treatment options, also known as “autologous transplantation” *CBR.com* (This can be great because certain origins of people have a lower percentage of matches and using your own could save or rather give you desired time needed)

– With your Cord blood as an essential supply, if there is a situation where any type of transplant is needed there is less risk of complications.

– “Preserving them”stops the clock” and protects the cells from aging and being exposed to environmental factors and common viruses” *cbr.com*

Cost.

The first fee is quite high which is $1650. Afterwards the storage plan is $160 a year but I believe they have lifetime plans which range from $2k-$3k again quite pricey but they are flexible with payment plans and you can’t put a price on health.

I n conclusion, I am happy with the decision I made as I said above. This is something you must think about before delivering because it’s not possible after the umbilical cord is gone. Do your research parents & maybe for your next little one you can invest cord blood banking.

“You want some milk?”

Since my son was born he’s been quite the breast feeder. I’m not sure what it is that has drawn him in but I’m all for it because I believe it’s very healthy for him although it can be annoying because something I feel I am limited to wearing certain clothes just in case he’s ready to throw a fit and now I have to rush somewhere to take off what I have on.

I’ve already stated introducing Jaden to solid food which I talked about in an earlier blog. I’ve noticed that because of this food substitute he still loves his breast milk but now I can give him various food and drink items throughout the day and then towards the evenings, I give him the breastmilk. This has become my way of weening him off gradually. It’s definitely working. As long as I have the right food on me when we’re out he seems to understand that it’s not the time for breastmilk.

Now other mothers who are also breastfeeding can say, “well pump.” Sorry, that’s just not for me. . . I did love my pump in the beginning then it become a task for me, literally! I’d rather to laundry than pump milk. To each their own but I hardly use the device UNLESS I am super swollen and Jaden is around then yes I’ll use it but otherwise no.

I believe every mother has their own method for her own child & our babies have their own method of letting us know what they are ready for and what they are still wanting to stay the same. It’s really about communication. When I tell Jaden “Do you want some milk?” He literally turns around and looks at me because he knows what MILK I’m talking about. If I say “Juice” he doesn’t pay attention until I show him the juice carton and then he crawls over fast because he knows that’s the little juice box of sweet yummy goodness.

Breastfeeding is a big task whether you believe in it or not but I’m getting to that point where although I love him taking my milk, I’m over it. He’s got his teeth coming in and sometimes he thinks it’s funny to take a bite and it really hurts.

I think it’s time to put and end to it. I’m not sure how I want to go about it… where I am it’s cold so I could do the turtle necks for a week and there’s zero access, maybe he’ll get the picture but I’m definitely ready to try something.

He’s becoming a big boy and I’m also realizing as a mother, I really am the boss of him so although he might not “baby like me” for a while, he’ll get over it and I won’t feel so guilty.

What are some of your ween off methods mom’s?

Bath time reaction.

It’s no surprise that washing our little ones is a daily and nightly routine. I actually enjoy bath time because it’s also a type of bonding time. Lucky for me Jaden loves water ever since he was born and I’ve seen him enjoy his bath water more and more that sometimes he’ll even cry when I put he towel around him.

The products I use for him are usually light perfumed & I use a soft sponge to clean his body down. Always use a sponge, I wasn’t a fan in the beginning but it’s necessary after all they get into so much throughout the day and there’s nothing like a good scrub.

Recently I used Johnson & Johnson product (I’m sure you’ve noticed their rep is changing gradually sadly) anyways, I noticed a slight rash on my baby. Nothing too alarming per his pediatrician but we discussed switching to NO PERFUME anything. As a test I am now trying : Aveeno baby body lotion & Comforts for baby body wash. I’m hoping that’ll help and to top it off I also add Eucerine baby relief for eczema.

TAKE NOTE: just like with milk based formula always be alert on our children’s skin. Reactions can either occur immediately or gradually, never wait & switch.

I’ll be sure to keep you updated on how Jaden’s skin looks within the next few weeks.

What’s the time Mr. Wolf? “Time to EAT”

Food is one of the most important things we can care about, especially when it’s time for feeding baby.

First and foremost, BREASTMILK is #1. If you believe in it of course, I don’t judge anyone because everyone has their own reasons as to why or why they don’t want to breast-feed. I believe in it & my son loves it so much I don’t even know how on earth I’m going to ween him off. It is a proper meal especially if you’re producing enough and my son was consistent with his breastmilk  up until he was 5-6 months old, then I started introducing other solid foods.

Every child is different and sometimes your baby might not even want your breast and that’s ok! What’s important is that they eat the right amount during their feeding time. Now for the new mom’s who breastfeed who are wondering how do we know our baby is getting enough milk? Well, I always fed him a formula bottle in between just to make sure because you really can’t know. Babies can’t talk so you have to really think for them, if you’re trying to drink water from a dripping tap, you’re gonna shelve it and get a bottle of water right, so you have to think about it that way.

If you’re a formula feeding mommy, that’s all great too. ALWAYS make sure you’re giving your child the right amount and what’s majorly important is to check on your child after drinking. Not every baby can drink the same formula! If you see any type of rash or face swelling, stop feeding your child that milk instantly. It’s nothing to debate, they can be allergic to something so rather than think it won’t happen again, NO! Stop that formula and try another one.

When it comes to introducing the solid foods again, every child is different. In the beginning I was a google mom meaning I wanted to know exactly when to feed & what, and how etc etc! Don’t be like me ladies… yes, you can research and read what other mommies are saying but don’t use that for your child word for word. Although babies can’t talk, if they don’t like it, they won’t eat it – simple. If they like it, they’ll open their mouths as fast as you’ve just inserted the last spoonful obviously asking for more please.

Ever since my son has started eating solids, he drinks breastmilk  less as in, mainly evening feeds however when he wants it, he can throw a baby fit so I gladly feed him how he likes. I think that you shouldn’t be afraid for your child to try new things because the sooner they like something then there’s a huge possibility they will enjoy it as they grow up. Giving your baby solid foods also gives you the opportunity to explore new dishes and find out hmmm what exactly does my child like. It’s actually fun and even more so when they enjoy that particular food because that’s a memory and if you’re lucky enough a snap shot to hold on to. I’m partially West African and we eat all types of food. I was nervous when Jaden’s grandma wanted to give him some of our local dishes. It turns out Jaden was in love with them to the point where I have to learn how to cook them for him on a regular. If google knew what I was giving him it would probably disagree with me but my baby loves it, it’s baby safe, portioned and he’s growing so well that I made the right choice.

The main thing about feeding our babies when it comes to solid food is making sure, it’s not too sweet or too much salt. We have to make sure they are not allergic to anything. We have to remember to feed on time as much as we might get busy & most importantly we have to stick to a healthy meal plan. HEALTH IS WEALTH! Don’t feed you child something you wouldn’t try yourself and don’t get them stuck on anything can harm them later in life. They might be small babies now but you don’t want to be dealing with any issues later because of simple and better choices you could have made. Other than that, let them eat away.
Here is a list Jaden’s snacks & meals. (In another blog I’ll be more specific with ingredients especially for his West African meals)

– Apple sauce
– Vegetable purée
– Cream and milk purée
– Spaghetti and meatballs
– Okra & fufu (Ghanaian/Nigerian)
– Okra/meat & Eba (Nigerian)
– Potatoes and boiled egg
– Chicken & vegetables
– Broccoli & cheese

Keeping the Love alive.

Once you have a baby most of your attention is on your precious new bundle of joy. Of course it is, as a mother you were carrying this child for 9 months. You’ve been through the waddling and the heartburn, all of that including giving birth so at the end when you see that tiny little face it’s like *Deep breath* (I did it!!) Even for fathers, you’ve also been on your toes for 9 months, making sure your child is doing perfectly fine and is eating well and the excitement of just seeing your daughter or son is uncontainable & then you finally do it’s like *Deep breath* (there is my child) for both man and woman it’s just a love that you can not explain.

Putting precious baby to the side, it’s really important we remember our partners. Having a child is a two way street and both parents should always make an effort to keep the romance and spark alive.

I’ve already explained how it takes women sometime because we won’t feel like ourselves right away but even at that, men… you should always support your woman. Tell her she’s beautiful, tell her thank you, give her flowers or give her some foot massages or even run a bath. It’s all about the little gesture that sparks the love. Do anything that makes your woman happy, even if it’s something you don’t like to do, for her just do it because it’ll me a lot & to my women…As the mothers we do have to deal with a lot and we can get tired so quickly but we must also must not forget that our partners need love too and we can contribute to the spark by cooking his favorite meal, back massages, treating him to something he really enjoys doing and anything else that might contribute to happiness. On top of all that don’t neglect the love making. That connection and bond between two is very strong and important. Yes our children are a big distraction but intimacy is necessary. Don’t get so caught up that it forgets to happen because it will cause unnecessary tension. It’s good to release those feelings because after all, we did make a child together so as a couple it’s something to really enjoy.

Now on a truthful note, I know not everyone might not be in a relationship, and that’s perfectly alright. What’s really important is also self love. Whether you’re a single mother or a single father that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take care of yourself. What makes you happy? What is something you have always wanted to do? Whatever those things are find time to do them. There’s a reason that nannies exist. Even if you feel like I’ve had a child and I feel great but I want to meet somebody new, well alright then spoil yourself and go out on a date… It can be anything, just make sure you don’t loose yourself.

Keeping the love alive can mean different things to all of us but it’s all about taking action and I sincerely believe that if you can keep the flame burning whether big or small everything can be a whole lot more enjoyable. Parenthood won’t be felt as burden but a blessings with amazing perks.

I’d love to read some of your own “spark methods” to keeping the love alive in your home. Feel free to share.

The Nerve. (A real story)

It’s already hard enough taking care of a baby then you have to image taking your precious baby out with you. It consists of a lot…. diapers, food, bibs, teething toys, milk and water – a never ending check list not to mention car seat and stroller (mind you I don’t have a car so everywhere I go, it’s Uber everywhere)

Shortly after giving birth I noticed that a lot of my hair was falling out. I heard this could happen. Kind of like when you loose the face glow. It was really frustrating and I got fed up with having to deal with the shedding. There was literally nothing I could do. It got to the point where I made the decision : I am going to cut my hair. How short?! Who knows but that’s all I wanted to do. I seem to be Miss research. I like to know everything before I do something. I had gone on social media every day for hours looking at all the cuts and styles I wanted and made sure I could find someone who could do the cut very well. Finally after sometime I found someone (unfortunately I forgot their name… aren’t they lucky ) I texted their number, told them what I wanted to do, sent pictures & I tried to get an appointment. After four long days of me just wanted to rip my hair out I finally got an official time and date where I could make this big change, I was looking forward to so much.

Going back to what I said at the top, it’s not always easy moving around with a baby. Once baby Jaden and I were ready to go, I called an Uber and we were in the car for almost 30 to 40 minutes. It was a long journey to the hair shop and unfortunately my apartment was no where close. I get there, I’m excited, ready to whip out my phone and show this “professional stylist” *eye roll* what I like … he walks over to me and says “Oh you have a baby, WE DON’T ALLOW BABIES WHILE YOU’RE GETTING YOU HAIR DONE.” You can already imagine the look on my face!!! I was fuming I had to take 5 minutes just to composed how angry I was! I finally asked in a harsh voice “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T ALLOW CHILDREN? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!! MY BABY IS SLEEPING IN HIS STROLLER AND HE’S NOT GOING TO MOVE” and lastly “WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY ANYTHING BEFORE ALL THIS.”

I couldn’t believe what this guy was saying to me. I wish I knew more people so I could call a news crew and tell everyone how they were totally discriminating against me. I felt insulted, I felt hurt and I felt like I wasted so much of my time. I even asked to speak to the manager who wasn’t any help at all. It was at this very moment I understood why some parents really fight for their children’s rights. How can I get penalized for having a baby as if he was going to touch something and cause a ruckus. It was completely out of line and unprofessional on their part especially for not informing me before. I had even asked the guy why did you make me waste all my time especially knowing I lived far away and his stupid response was “oh sorry, I didn’t know you had a kid” and THEN to add insult to injury he had THE NERVE to say “most of my clients don’t have kids.” (Insert multiple f bombs) I had enough of this place. I literally couldn’t look at him in the face because an African palm slap was 10 seconds away. I called an Uber who luckily was close by and I left that disgraceful salon.

I’ll never forget this day. It was one of the worst new mother experiences I have had so far & I pray I don’t have to deal with it ever again or at least as little as possible. I’ve learnt my lesson that although it’s nobodies business to know if I have a child or not I’ll be sure to mention it before I make any type of appointments so I can know the policies. The happy ending of the story is I found someone to cut my hair who happily accepted having my son hang around in his stroller while it got done (if you’re ever in the Atlanta area her name is Brandy and her Salon is called IMAGE IS EVERYTHING) that’s real customer service for you.

To all the parents out there, I don’t wish you come across situations like this one, ever.

The end.

Yay!! Christmas is coming… Toys product review

I hear the sleigh bells ringing because Santa is coming to town. ‘Tis the season.

Here are a list of recommended toys that Jaden has enjoyed very much.

1. Jumperoo ($105) by Fisher price. This product is standing bouncer that is very easy to put together. It’s great because children love excitement, noise & color all in one. The more they jump. The more noise it makes and they really get into. The one Jaden has is a jungle theme with even some birds “flying” above his head. I remember when he couldn’t reach anything but now that he’s grown they are definitely at a friendly reach. The Jumperoo is also great because as the child grows, it adjust along with it.

2. Baby Einstein discover and play piano ($15.39) Whether you’re new to the baby Einstein collection or not, it’s fantastic. Most of the music that is played from the toys is classical and it’s actually not irritating like some toys. The baby piano is a toy that amuses the child as they tap down on the 6 keys. Music will play and you can also change the noises to a piano, trumpet or violin as well as a dog, cat and duck (don’t ask me why a duck) lol … another great thing about this baby piano is its changes languages to Spanish, French and English. For the future this will actually because a great learning tool especially if you’re all for a multilingual child.

3. Baby Einstein Neptune Ocean Orchestra Musical. ($17.99) Simple to use, volume adjust and it’s shaped like a cute turtle which Jaden from what I see loved. What’s great about this toy is your child can be the conductor on their own, with each press an instrument sound will go off until the whole song is composed and you hear the whole tune, pretty neat. My favorite is the “Carmen” piece. There is also an option to hear the tune without the child conducting but that’s not as fun. If your baby is music lover they’ll enjoy this colorful none water turtle (Do not put in bathtub)

4. Baby Einstein Take along tunes ($7.91) very cheap, simple to use. Classical music. The only thing I don’t like is I wish there was a longer selection of tunes. I also would only recommend this for 3-6 month olds. Once your baby can start picking up and throwing, this item will go flying so keep that in mind, it’s extremely light.

5. V-Tech Sit to stand learning walker ($29.99) after the jumperoo this is one of my favorite toys that Jaden has gotten because it’s full of learning and music. The device sings to you once you turn it on and it gives the children good interaction every time they press something, even when you spin the cogs it makes noise or close the window/door etc. At the time that I got this for my son he was only a sitter and crawler so I haven’t even seen this toys full potential but I read from other parents it is also a great walker when your little one is ready for that.

6. V-Tech playtime bus ($50) for a small bus, this toy is quite pricey however it’s amazing and worth every dollar. It’s very interactive for the babies growing up. It makes fun car noises like (honking, engine noise, the bus driver and the students talk etc) As our children get older this bus will be a very useful learning toy because not only does it sing rhymes, there are numbers and letters to learn from and even a challenge time where it will test the children, for example “can you find the number 3” and the child will have to press that #. Once they get it right, the bus will sound off encouragement and claps. Lastly the bus will go to different stops such as the park, school and the Zoo.

7. Fisher price Laugh and Learn Smart stages puppy ($13.29) a cute cuddly puppy who as you press each button teaches you the alphabet and different parts of the body such as foot, hand, tummy and ears. Again another simple toy which as the babies grow older they will start to learn and remember what they are hearing. The puppy also sing it’s own tunes based on what is pressed.

I hope that parents will find this toy review useful. I can tell you that my son has a fun time playing with all of the above and as he gets smarter he enjoys everything more… in no time he’ll be counting 1-10, and singing his ABC’s.

Christmas time is approaching so why not add a few of these to Santa’s wish list 😉