Tap, Tap, Tap... is thing thing on?!

My husband gave me this post title and I thought it was very fitting considering how MIA I've been. I know I said that I wanted to get back into the swing of things (over a month ago) but clearly things have not gone as planned! So I have a new plan... starting with some updates:

We finished moving! Well sorta. We're all moved in but not completely settled and we still have storage items back at our old place. And I bet you are dying to know which house we choose. I'm going to get to that in a different post but first I have some disclaimers. We decided to rent instead of buy. It was easier for us to make a less permanent decision right away. Because we rent I haven't decorated nearly as much as I did our last home. I mean it doesn't look horrible here but there is almost no color. AND?! I broke my camera. Well, its just missing a piece that I need to order (procrastinator much?) so all of my home tour pictures will be coming from my phone- bare with me.

Your prayers worked!! Thank you so much for all of your kind words and thoughts. My friend read each and every one of them. On September 22 after over 24 hours of labor she delivered a healthy baby boy!!! He's so squishy and absolutely sweet :) The adorableness kills me!

I lost this competition but Thanks for your support! I know the concept of a healthy hair journey is kind of crazy to some of you but it's kind of a big deal for a lot of African- American women. Thanks for sticking it out with me!

The whole reason I started this blog is because of my little guy and things are going pretty well with him. He is adjusting to our new home very well. However, you can definitely see a difference in him now that I'm home with him full time. Yep, I'm a SAHM now!! More deets on that in a separate post of course. As far as his "differences" are concerned there is some good and some that I feel aren't so good... maybe it's just me.

Now that we live away from my family, my husband and I have very little time to ourselves. That being said we have to make a concerted effort to find a babysitter. And that my friends is causing me some pretty sleepless nights. I'm really not comfortable with the idea of leaving my little guy with someone while husband and I hit the town for an evening. My first thought was to have the potential babysitter spend time with us as a family- while hubby an I are home. That way my boy won't feel like I abandoned him with a total stranger. But still something about not leaving him with family makes me very nervous and uneasy. I know people do it all the time but really guys- I'm nervous. More on this later.

Mommy friends. I need some, for real. I think my son gets tired of looking at me all day everyday. But (of course there is a but), I'm thinking we don't have time for that! Seriously my day is consumed with all things waddler (that's the in between baby and toddler stage #momwords) that I think trying to fit in play time with someone else is nearly impossible!

I want to start a new photo project now that my little guy is a year old. I'm thinking something along the lines of...




I also need to schedule a family photo sesh. The last time we did one the babe was a month old which now makes us one month over due. I need to figure out if we will do it here or back in Jersey, choose a photog, plan our outfits, and get it all done before the end of the year- preferably before December 1 so we can use some photos for Christmas cards. This is a lot to accomplish when you are talking to a procrastinator...

Speaking of to do lists, I feel like mine are a mile long. I really didn't think relocating would be this serious! Okay, back to the babe... We celebrated his first birthday and I can't wait to share the deets. I have to edit all the pics though and that may take me years. I also intended to put together a few giveaways for me and the babes birthday (5 days apart) but I don't know what the heck I'm doing! If you blog and do giveaways please email me and clue me in!

I think that just about covers it! Okay, not really. I could go on and on and on but I'll just write some posts instead. And in this moment I want to thank my IRL friend and fellow blogger friend Ebony as well as Dani for checking in on and my little space on the interwebs. If was in your thoughts and you are here now- Thanks for coming back !

Happy Anniversary!!!

Much like last year's post, my husband has the little guy so it's going to be short and sweet...

4 years down and a lifetime to go- I love you babe and Happy Anniversary!

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WW: 12 months

WW: Batman

Butter Zones

The other day Baby Center posted one of their blog articles on Twitter regarding airlines and the use of peanuts in relation to food allergies. The author posed a very interesting question of 'should peanuts be allowed on airplanes'? The article itself was a good read and it got me thinking. When it comes to these types of articles I'm sometimes more interested in jumping straight to the comments.

I've learned a great deal from other moms and the 'mom community' so I thought for sure this would be controversial. I even learned what the heck a butter zone was (in mom speak). I've been fortunate not to have deathly food allergies- in fact I'm not aware of anyone (in my circle) who is THAT allergic to food. Which brings me to my POV.

If I had to comment on that post it probably would have went something like this:

"I'm not opposed to airlines no longer serving peanuts for the sake of potential child passenger who may have a severe allergy but I probably would still be a part of the problem because I tend to bring my own snacks (not just on planes but where ever I go) and it always include peanut M&M's. They are my fav!!! As I type this post I have a bag right in front of me. While butter zones are not of my immediate concern -because peanut allergies do not affect me or my family- I am concerned with (what seems to me) the high incidences of autism, ADHD, severe food allergies, and things of the like."

I've seen responses like "it only seems higher because advanced technology allows doctors to better diagnose" Or a lot of things went undiagnosed because of less access to medical professionals. While both those statements are true- I'm not buying it as 'the full story'.

As a pregnant woman you are advised not to eat peanuts. Then as a mom you are advised not to introduce peanuts to your child for their first year- sometimes longer! I took an informal poll of moms in my family and while most of them don't remember when exactly they gave their child/children peanut products for the first time- they didn't necessarily withhold it for a predefined amount of time. None of those children have food allergies. And I get it - my small non random sample shouldn't be the basis for the rest of the population (or exception to the rule) but again- I'm not buying it.

Other hypothesis include the increased consumption of processed foods and lack of exercise.  I'm really concerned about the children being diagnosed with ADHD and then given medication to "control" it. I'm concerned that video games have replaced 'mother, may I', 'red light, green light' and 'playing house'. I'm concerned for my child and his well being, growth, and development. Of course I am going to play my part and do all I can to ensure that he is healthy. Overall I think there is something deeper going on, something that has gone madly wrong and I hope that answer is found cause I'm scared.