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YUMMommy Receives Trendy Blog Award!!!

I am proud to announce that Mommy Glow has bestowed YUMMommy with the Trendy Blog Award!! 

This is our very 1st blog award.  I feel so honored and humbled that anybody would think of my blog as trendy.  I always thought of my blog as being different or unique. Now it’s great to be able to officially add trendy to my description.  As I accept this award, I just want to thank God first of all for giving me the courage and strength to put myself out here the way that I do.  I want to thank my mom because without her, I wouldn’t be here. 
And I have to thank my lovely daughter, Moo.  She has been the topic of many of my posts already and I’m sure that she will continue to be going forward.  Thank you to all my supporters and friends who keep me encouraged and motivated.  Thank you to all the silent stalkers who come by and read my posts but can’t bring themselves to comment.  Your presence is still greatly appreciated.
And finally, I would like to nominate the 8 (well 9 because I’m going to renominate Mommy Glow) Trendy blogs listed below for a Trendy Blog Award of their own:
 
To receive this award,you must share this with 8 other blogs that you think are Trendy!
1. Post about your award in your blog.
2. Share with your fellow bloggers.
3. Ask recipients to give this award out to 8 as well
 
Be blessed guys!!
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What I'm Making Monday: Letters to My Daughter

Let me start off by saying Happy Belated Mother’s Day!!!! I had a blast on my third one. It was even more special being able to celebrate with my mom and aunties. I’m already looking forward to next year and planning an even bigger surprise for them.

So, if you don’t know by now, I love writing. Seriously, I could write all day if that were possible. Anyways, when I was pregnant, I didn’t write a lot. Mostly because I was stressed about my pregnancy. It wasn’t exactly the most complication free one. It probably would have helped if I had kept a pregnancy journal or something and that’s one of the things I do regret not doing.

But once my little Moo got here, I knew that everyday with her would be special. So, I decided to make a scrap/storybook chronicling her first years of life. I call it ‘Letters to My Daughter: Days in the Life of My Little Moo.’ And I have to tell you at first it was kind of hard making myself get back in the hang of writing everyday. By the end of the night, I was so tired from having not gotten a full night’s rest the night before, I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to write.

But here we are almost two years later and somehow I have managed to chronicle everyday. And while some people say not much can possibly change from day to day, it can. I was recently looking back thru some of the notebooks I wrote in (we’re up to 4 now)and we had some great adventures, some heartbreaks and some times I wish I could rewind. I’m very honest in my letters to Moo about what I’m feeling, how things were going with me and her father and much more. I also took some pictures of her just about everyday.

So we have quite the collection. Babies don’t really remember their infanthood (yes I made that word up)and I felt like it would be great to help give her some insight by doing this. I certainly recommend that all moms and dads do this. You don’t really have to write in it everyday like I do, but weekly would good.

All you need is:

A Notebook,
A Pen,
A camera to take pictures,
And Quiet Place to write.
Then once you’ve finished your first year you can get a scrapbook kit and type it all up or just paste the handwritten pages right in the scrapbook. Adorn the pages with the pictures and you’re done.  This is truly a great gift for a high school senior.  I’m sure your daughter or son will love it.
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Father's Day Reflections

I just want to say Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads out there who are doing an amazing job at trying to be in their children’s lives and handle their responsibility.  And even to the dad’s that are expecting but still being supportive on their wives or significant other, Happy Father’s Day to you too!  I have to admit that for me and my siblings, Father’s Day is always a bit bittersweet.  While others are out celebrating with their dads, we are left with a void and broken hearts over the distance and lack of involvement our father has with us.

And trust me, it’s not because we haven’t tried to reach out to him because we have.  It’s just that somewhere over the expansive length of my parent’s marriage my father fell out of love with the Family Life.  Having been a teenage parent, I guess he always felt the yearning to reclaim his youth.  And I’m sure the fact that his mother died when he was 12 and leaving them with an abusive father didn’t help matters either.  In fact, I’m pretty sure the latter had a lot to do with it.  I was always led to believe that all my grandparents were deceased as a child. 

It wasn’t until I came home after a breakup with the love of my life  that I found out my father’s father died when I was four.  And all those years, I walked around not knowing.  I was helping my mom clean out some old papers and stumbled across the his obituary.  At first, I didn’t know it was him.  I saw the same last night and thought it was one of my great uncles, but when I opened and started reading “He leaves behind to mourn his death…” and saw my father’s name, I felt a rush of emotion.  I felt hurt, sad, betrayed and angry.  Then remembering how my father told me of some the horrors they lived with their father, understanding sunk in.

I’m not sure that I’ve still completely accepted my parents reasoning for leading us to believe that all of grandparents were dead, but at least I know why they did it.  They didn’t want us to be disappointed.  My grandfather wasn’t much of a father to his children and stepchildren and probably wouldn’t have proved to be much of a grandfather to his grandchildren.  From what I understand, he didn’t come to any of his children’s weddings, school activities or graduations.  He never tried to make peace with his jaded past until he was on his deathbed.  And even then he wasn’t very apologetic about the hell he’d put them through or the fact that he probably contributed to the cancer that killed my grandmother.

But still here we are years later and still we ended up disappointed of sorts.  I’m not going to sit here and say that my father has never been there for me, because he has and if I truly needed him again he probably would try his best.  However, what I am disappointed at is that he doesn’t make an effort to call.  My Moo barely recognizes her own grandfather.  She’s seen a total of maybe 6 times since her birth.  And it took my father months to remember her name (the sad part I gave her his mother’s name for her middle name).  For months, I heard my aunts and uncles telling me how they saw my dad and asked about the baby and he couldn’t even recall her name.

I cried the first time I heard that.  It hurt down to my very core.  I never felt so unimportant in my father’s life than at that moment.  I mean I spent almost three weeks of my pregnancy living at his house!  We watched kung fu movies together.  There was the night he went out and got us a 100 piece bucket of chicken nuggets from McDonald’s because I was craving them and my fiance had gone to work.  He gave up his room for me to sleep in and moved to the couch.  (My fiance slept in the other bedroom down the hall because my parents did not raise me to be disrespectful to their house rules even if I was grown and with child.)

And I was pretty sure that in those almost three weeks, I had surely mentioned the name I was decided on and he seemed to recall it every time he rubbed my belly and cooed to his unborn granddaughter.  Thank heavens that Moo came out a girl because we had chosen not to find out the sex, but common sense told me that my mother had five girls, my grandmother had nine girls and her mother had mostly girls and I too would 99.5% most likely be having a girl.  Her dad and everybody else swore she was coming out a boy.  LOL.  Imagine the shock when she came out a girl.  

I can only hope that Moo’s baptism will bring about a much needed change.  During her service I plan to pay tribute to my deceased grandparents and even insert a little reading about the importance of raising children and being their for them even when they become adults.  I hope that my father will get the message.  I know that he has done somethings to us that will never be forgotten, but at least we can all move forward to a place of healing.  I don’t want to have to lie to my daughter the way my parents did to me about not having a grandfather.  I pray that God hears this and throws us a miracle.

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Montastic Monday

For starters, I just want to go ahead and put it out there that yes, I created the word Montastic. LOL.  And second, I’m taking a break from What I’m Making Monday until next week.  I know, I know, we had a little routine going here.  But I have something to share that might make up for it.

So, if you’ve checked out My Networks blog on right sidebar, you would know that I am a member of The Product Review Place.  In a nut shell, the title pretty much describe what the site is all about. It’s place where bloggers and businesses collide and work together to help spread the word out about products, giveaways and more.  Check them out if you haven’t already.

Anyways, I was on there surfing through some of the posts when I stumbled across one that read 

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Tour – 60 Cities This Fall/ Blogger OpportunityNow, I will be the first to tell you that when I first saw Yo Gabba Gabba, on Noggin (now Nick Jr.), I was like what in the heck.  I couldn’t believe that little kids found those creatures funny.  I was sure that they all looked a scary and not the least bit friendly.  However, by the third episode I was hooked. I mean that show is dope.

 What other kids show teaches kids about manners, how to dance and they can learn how to beat box from one of the best in the business-Biz Markie.  Like that is seriously awesome.  I take my hat off to DJ Lance because truly he is the highlight of the show.  I especially love the episodes where he dances and sings.  I never knew he could sing until I was watching an episode this past Saturday.

 Back to the post…when I saw it, I was secretly screaming for joy on the inside.  At this point, I am completely in love with the television show and to win an opportunity to see it live with Moo, is like icing on the cake.  So, I clicked on the post and apparently, Michell from Michelle Sisco PR is looking to set up an opportunity for bloggers like you and I to blog about our Yo Gabba Gabba Live.  Check out Michelle’s post below:

“I’m helping to promote the Yo Gabba Gabba! LIve! Tour: There’s a Party in My City, which launches in Bethel, NY on August 27th.  I am looking for bloggers in ALL the cities to assist with promoting the show in return for tickets, or other possible items to giveaway (CDs for example). Details are still TBD depending on the response.

If you are interested, please email me with the following information:

Your Name, city you’d want to promote/attend, blog URL, twitter/facebook if applicable, stats if you have them.

I’ll be putting one massive spreadsheet together, and it’s going to be a while before we can start guaranteeing anything! But the sooner I get responses, the better.

For the tour info, including the list of cities, go to http://www.yogabbagabbalive.com/

Amex presale starts today! If you’d like me to email you the release about the tour to post on your blog, let me know and I’ll send it as an attachment.

Thanks!

Michelle Sisco

So, I’m encouraging all you other Yo Gabba Gabba fans and moms to jump on this wonderful opportunity.  I know that I am looking forward to join thousands of other excited fans in Charlotte, NC this October to see that show.  So, what if the fans will all be shorter than me and younger than me by say almost two decades. I will be there front and center sporting my Yo Gabba Gabba gear.!!!  For the tour info, including the list of cities, go to http://www.yogabbagabbalive.com/ and don’t forget to spread the word.

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Adventures in Potty Training: The Beginning

Well, I think that I mentioned a few posts back that I was going to try to have my adorable Moo potty trained by the end of the Summer.  And I have to admit that at first I didn’t put much effort into it.  I know Boo me, but in my defense, I was just tired.  I had a lot on my plate. (Not really unusual.)  And of course, let’s  just face it, I was just lazy when it really came to the task at hand.

However, I am happy to report that I have since recovered from my laziness.  I can’t say that I’ve taken some of the things that were on my plate off.  If anything it’s been quite the opposite.  I’ve actually put more things to my plate, but I will save all that for a later post.  The important thing is that we are finally on the journey to leaving behind diapers and saying Hello to big girl panties!  Now that I have taken the plunge, I’m truly excited.

It sounds crazy but I am genuinely excited about Moo soon being able to go potty.  For starters, my diaper bag will be lighter.  I won’t have to carry a stack of diapers, ointment and all that other stuff.  I can just keep a few pull-ups in the car and I always keep wipes.  Second, I’m excited about taking her shopping to get her first set of panties!!!  That will be a milestone to write about in her baby journal.

Every time, I go to Super WalMart or The Children’s Place or whatever shop I’m at, I can’t help but glance at the little girl underwear and wonder when my Moo will have a collection of her own.  My mom always says that nice underwear helps you to feel sexier and better about yourself.  Of course, Moo is too young to feel sexy, but at least she will feel good about herself.  She’ll like the big girl she tries so hard to be.

This morning, we sat on the toilet using the Sesame toilet seat my mother got.  She did a little tinkle.  And then later on this afternoon at the office, she tried taking a poo on the toilet!!  That might be TMI, but I can’t help it.  I’m motivated and fully committed to helping her progress.  I’m learning that motherhood is what you make it.  And I choose to make my journey fantastic.

I can either complain like I see so many of the other moms doing, but at the end of the day Moo didn’t ask to be here.  So, instead of viewing this process as a messy one, I’m keeping my eyes focused on the prize.  I’m also trying hard to let this be a positive experience for Moo as well.  If my attitude towards potty training her is negative or ill then she won’t feel motivated to let me know when she has to use the bathroom.  Instead she’ll be more content to urinate in her diaper and not have to bother me.

So, I’m already on the hunt for a cute frog potty that we can decorate with her name and maybe some more frog stickers.  I’d also like to get one to go in the car.  That way I can get her used to going to the bathroom on the go.  Not to mention, I won’t have to put out a boatload of sanitizer and Lysol just make the public restrooms clean enough to go in. I can just lift up the trunk of our minivan and sit her on the potty. (I have privacy screens that can go around her potty of course.)

I can’t wait to see how this adventure progresses.  Wish us luck!!!

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Putting on Our Crowns

Did you know that inside everyone of us as women is the power to find our inner queendom?  According to the Queen-Queen Latifah that is-“there seem to be an epidemic of lousy self-esteem in this country, especially among young women,…We ladies have stopped putting ourselves first, and I wanted to share something with you that would help you feel empowered and make you recognize the individual and innate beauty that is you.”  Put on Your Crown: Life-Changing Moments on the Path to Queendom is Grammy Award winning songstress, talk show hostess, Oscar nominated actress, Queen Latifah’s author debut.

In her book, Queen is quick to point out to readers that she “never set out to be anyone’s role model. That’s too much responsibility for any flawed human being to carry.”  She also lets it be known that this is not some mapped out self-help book either.  Instead, she bares her soul and shares some of her most intimate stories and experiences of success, fear, love and much more to serve as guides or lights on readers individual journeys through life.

Put on Your Crown is pretty much like saying ‘here are the mistakes I’ve made.  This is what works and this is what doesn’t work.’  A conversation similar to the ones many of us have shared with older siblings or our closest friends.  This is certainly a must read for all women out there, especially those of color.  Join the female empowerment movement by picking up this book.  Don’t forget to share this book with your daughters, sisters, mothers and friends.

You can purchase Queen Latifah’s Put on Your Crown at the following retailers:

or
You can enter for a chance to win a copy by commenting on this post.
Extra Entries (Leave one comment for each)
-Subscribe to my blog
-Follow me on Twitter (@Yummommies)
-Like YUMM on Facebook (See badge on right sidebar)
-Tweet about this giveaway/blog 

2 winners will be chosen on Sunday, May 30th.
This giveaway is sponsored by
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My Weekend WrapUp

My Moo has been officially dedicated to GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!  I’m so excited and happy.  Oh, this weekend was awesome, a little bit stressful and amazing all in one.  As you all know, Saturday was the BIG Day!  I was happy that my brother was able to make it.  This is his senior year of college and we don’t get to see as often.  However, he came him Friday afternoon and we had a blast.

Saturday morning got off to an early start thanks to Moo.  She is an early riser for some reason.  I wish she would sleep in more.  Of course, I wasn’t really planning on sleeping in too late Saturday because we still had to make Moo’s gown. Yes, totally last minute, but not my fault.  Her gown was suppose to be made two days prior to this event. However, somebody (who shall remain nameless) decided to procrastinate and wait until the day of.

And of course, that’s where my stress came in.  That and the fact that Jay and I had gotten into a rather unpleasant dispute the day before and he had said that he wasn’t going to come to her baptism.  So, I was on pins and needles waiting for him to show up.  In the back of my mind, I kept telling myself that he wouldn’t dare miss his child’s baptism ceremony.  Then again, I wasn’t too sure.

So, here we are sewing, ironing clothes and curling hair.  Meanwhile, time is just flying by and before we know it it’s time to go.  Actually, it was past time to go.  We were late to venue and had to rush to set up.  However, we managed to get everything sat up on time.  And her father did show up.  I was thankful.  I want so much for him to win back my family’s good graces.  And I knew for sure that if he missed this event, his chances would be even more shot to hell.

I’m a family person and it’s very important that we all get along.  He’s done some stuff in the past that has made my family a little bit cold towards him, but I feel like he’s trying to seriously turn over a new leaf, but only time will tell.  I’ve given the matter to God.  Whatever happens from here on out is in His hands.  Anyways, the ceremony was beautiful.  The gown turned out amazing.

As you can see, we did not go with your traditional white gown.  No, I wanted something unique and something that paid tribute to her African heritage. Excuse the back pic.  She was having a diva moment and refused to be still.  Had to catch her at whatever angle we could. LOL.
Anyways, I loved the gown and she did too.  In fact everybody loved it.  I can’t say enough about how happy I am to know that Moo is officially welcomed as one of God’s children.  My faith has always kept me grounded and gotten me  through hard times.  I very eager to help Moo establish an equally wonderful relationship with the Lord.
Sunday went well, but could have been better.  I’m learning to not let everything affect me on such a personal level.   Hope you all had a great weekend.
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Wishful Wednesday

Ok, I’m pretty sure that what I’m about to share is probably TMI, but I’ve read worst on other blogs.  And besides I’ve come to think of some of you as really good friends.  So, here goes…. As you all know, I have a little shadow that follows me everywhere.  And I do mean everywhere.  She’s about 30″ tall, 23 lbs and has the cutest smile and biggest brown eyes that will just melt your heart.

So, Sunday, I’m in the bathroom doing my thing and in walks my shadow right on cue.  Of course, I’m completely used to this and I’ve given up on closing the door because she will simply stand outside and beat on it yelling “Ma, ma, ma, mommy, mommy” to the top of her lungs until I open it. And when I do open the door, her yelling turns to joyous “Mommyyyyyy…” as she pushes right past me.  Anyways, she comes in the bathroom and bursts into her random rambling of toddler gibberish mixed with plain English.  I just nod and say “yeah”, “really” or “she said what?”

Even though I don’t understand what the half things she says means, I still feel it’s important to pretend that I do.  And sometimes, I really try to sit and listen and try to understand if she’s asking for something.  But she has pointing down, so usually it’s just her rambling. But clearly, this time it was not just aimless chatter. No sooner had she finished her run-on sentence of gibberish did she proceed to pull down her pants and snatch off her diaper.  I was about to launch into a “why would you do that” rant when she came and sat down on the potty next to me.

Oh, my little heart leaped for joy.  I know you think I’m nuts. But do you have any idea what that small gesture means?  She’s ready for potty training.  I sort of figured that she has been ready to trade in her diaper for a pair of big girl panties because:

  1. She started taking an interest in mine whenever I would fold laundry.  She would always sort through the basket of freshly dried clothes and turn up with a pair of my panties to place on her head. LOL. (I’ll have to snap a photo for her scrapbook)
  2. She had started taking an interest in the toilet. No, she wasn’t playing in the toilet water, but she would watch it and always put the lid down. Also, she has mastered the art of working the handle.
  3. She snatched her diaper off in church two Sundays ago and promptly placed it on the floor.  Then she gave me that look like ‘I’m tired of that thing’ and proceeded to stalk away.  I was slightly embarrassed and wanted to disappear.  Yes, I’m THAT mom almost every Sunday.

So, you know what they say about signs-they come in threes.  Therefore, this Wishful Wednesday, my wish is that this potty training adventure will go as smooth as possible. I’m hoping and praying that she will be as easy to potty train as the hints she’s been throwing my way.  Wish us luck.

And don’t forget to check out this week’s giveaway.

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I'm Going Places

I would like to thank Ms Baby Plan for giving YUMMommy the You’re Going Places Award!

She writes a very touching blog documenting her journey to becoming a mother called The Baby Plan.  I was introduced to her blog by Future Mama’s blog.  And I have to say that she is so open and honest with her readers.  Her posts don’t come off forced or phony, but intimate and sincere.

I really appreciate the fact that she thought of my blog to pass this award to.  I am deeply honored and gladly accept it.  This is my Second award for YUMMommy!!! Part of accepting this award requires that I tell you guys where I hope/plan/want/will be ten years from now.  So without further ado….

In ten years, I see myself as an established, multi-award winning, best selling author.  I will be the mom of a very busy 11.5 year old. (Moo is 1.5 now.)  And I’m sure you guys will be laughing uncontrollably about all of my adventures with her preteen issues that are guaranteed to follow.  I hope to be happily married.  Still on the fence about baby number 2.  However, I’m sure we’ll have a cute little Yorkie with nice exotic name.

I want to be more involved with the community and see myself sponsoring charity balls, volunteering and mentoring other young women.  I see Young Urban Modern Mommies as a global foundation that will not only serve as an outreach to American moms, but those in under developed countries as well.  I see my fashion and jewelry line being a huge success.  I see my family and I living in our dream home.

Most importantly, I see myself stronger and more rooted in my relationship with God.  I hope that in ten years I will have met a few of you in person and created wonderful friendships where we send each other Christmas cards and dinner party invitations.

Now, I would like to pass this award to a few special blogs and people that I have had the pleasure of reading and connecting with.  I truly think that these people are going places to say the least.

Kenya Mack: She is certainly going places.  She’s a published author who has mad skills.
She is also a soon to be 1st time mommy!!  I hope to meet her in person one day because
we have had a blast connecting through our blogs and via Facebook.
Mommy Glow:  What can I say? Alex is an amazing young mom who shares about her 
experience of having been a teen mom, not having a stable support system and co-parenting among other things.  This is a must read blog for other young moms out there.  I’m certainly looking forward to meeting her and bonding in person.
The Soul Mom:  Another wonderful blog, I’ve had the pleasure of stumbling across.  She certainly has soul and passion!!  I even used one of her quotes as my Quote of the Day.  (Check out the top box in the left sidebar.)
The Savvy Sista:  I enjoy reading this blog throughout the day because I get my fix about what’s going on in the Black community.  I mean she blogs about everything from entertainment to real life news and more.
Haute Travels:  This is the Vogue of travel blogs!!!  Never has traveling been made so appealing.  I truly recommend this blog to all fashionistas and travel lovers out there.  I was actually inspired by Haute Travels to start doing a little bit more traveling of my own. The world is this big canvas waiting for me to make my brush stroke.
Baby Makin{g} Machine:  I can’t really remember how I stumbled across this blog, but it was the very 1st blog I subscribed to on here!!!  I mean from the first post I read, I was hooked.  I admired the fact that Future Mama put so much of herself out there for readers to get to know.  She is much more than a blog/Twitter/Facebook personality.  She is an amazing person.  And I’m glad that I’ve gotten the opportunity to bond with her through her blog and Facebook as well as Twitter.  I truly hope to meet her in person.  I see so much of myself in her that it’s crazy.
In closing, I hope that all of you check out the blogs I mentioned. I think that you will find that these ladies each have a story to tell.  And while they might be similar, they are oh so unique and inspiring.