Do what you neeed cause you need it.

So nI had a dream I went to Egypt with Michelle and a guy friend. I dont remember the who the guy was but I went to egypt. I was a tourist and walked on sand. I saw a truck ride by on the sand creating fake steps for a marcing band to follow. Yes, a marching band. It was Southern University's marching band. Then the kiddie version marched by. I asked Michelle if I could take an evening flight and make it back for work the next day and she didnt look confident. We decided to walk toward the Nile River. The river was wide and it reminded me of standing on the levy by my grandmothers house watching the Mississippi rush by. But the sun was shining brighter in this scene. We stood and I thought to myself, how can life be bad living near something like the Nile.

Well, that was my dream and yesterday I felt good physically. I'd been meeting the last three or four weeks with my friend who is a doula for birthing/nutrition/baby planning classes and the nutrition part was really paying off. Transitioning from a diet that accomodated a horrible nauseas 4-5months is very different then the diet of a pregnant woman that needs some very basic things. I was/am scared to eat raw salads cause as much as I love them they made me throw up instantly. But Im trying them plus supplements in smoothies she helped me design based on my specific needs. In valuable. I really really needed to have someone to talk to and I am so glad somewhere in my lost pregnancy-ness lol I sought out what I needed. I spent yesterday feeling so much better. I couldnt beleive it. I couldnt believe how bad I was feeling before. Just like the dehydration. Its funny what we will deal with when we dont know any better. Well thank God for my friend's knowldege and my own personal desire to get what I need cause I can see easily how this could have been a miserable pregnancy.

I came home and was hit with this wave of panic instantly that

1. Im getting bigger

2. I wont be able to take care of myself in a little while

3. Im getting bigger

4. I have to figure out how I will survive and plan the next six months AND take care of my new baby

I know, I sound like a single mother with no husband no family and no friends. None of that is true. I remember the six weeks of bedrest and how lonely that was and Im frightened it will be repeated. I think thats the problem. Well what you fear s what you create and Im praying 'literally this morning to not be at the mercy of unhappy circumstances.

We are planning. We both meet with the doula for the classes but my lack of sticking to my challenge due to being naive and just plain feeling bad physically had me abandon the one saving grace on this scary new beautiful journey Im on all by myself. No one can push this baby out for me. Its a daunting responsibility and a rites of passage just for me that has another being's life at stake. I guess I just miss having my great grandmother around to help me feel strong. Strong like the women before me who had no clue either. Its so important to have elder women around when these major life changes happen. They remind you what you are made of without saying much but "peel these potatos".

Well after my panic attack LOL I ofcourse dozed off to sleep and was just exhuasted from the day. On a good day I am exhausted by 4pm.

I also had a good convo with my cousin Jabez. Its nice to be continuing to build with new family and with friends who take the time to listen and have a genuine interest in you being ok.

And Parris. Parris has been very busy and on his own journey through this. Its funny how marriage will teach you how to respect someone elses path, someone elses rites of passage. The difference is this process is different for men and women and although we respond different and are affected differently we are forced to share the same timeline and are forced to find a way through being completely clueless and new to agree on major things. He's been so kind to me while still bumping along in the dark himself and I try to rememebr that.

So, back to the challenge cause clearly my slipping has leeft me in a tizzy.

******************* 365 days of Prayer & Meditation twice a day ***************

I started December 18th and today is January 26th. Its been over a month Ive been doing this challenge while being pregnant and I tell you LOLOL I needed it and its hard.

Most mornings now I have a truncated timeline but still a fruitful experience. I sit on the couch, belly has gotten bigger and my back is feeling it big time, and talk to God outloud still. Its been working for me. I still say my fears and learn how I can overcome them just by hearing them come out. They sound silly but Im always glad that I dont need to be embarrased when talking to God. I then without planning move into being thankful. I say things that are small and large I'm thankful for. I do feel myself becoming stronger each time I do it. In the last seven to nine days Ive prayed 80% in the morning and 5% at night. The fatigue is kicking my butt.

The meditation. My meditations have turned into straight sleep in the night time hours. I heard someone say if you fall asleep during meditation then you needed it. Trust me I was knocked out. When I first started I was a lot more frustrated with myself for not doing it. Now I am developing a bit more compassion for myself and I just have not been feeling well. I still want to know how people with chronic illness focus past the physical discomfort and still find a place of peace. I know its possible. For now my morning meditations are breif but potent as well. I like that feeling now. Its becoming something I have a taste for. Calmness.

******************************************************

The Pregnancy

The classes and help with nutrition has become invaluable. I went to the doctor last week for a check up and I cant tell you how much western patient care is not my friend. Crazy part is I really like my doctor but shes like the boyfriend thats fabulous but his career doesnt allow him to spend quality time with you so I dont want to cancel the dates cause you like him but you leave frustrated cause you know you needed more time to get what you need.

Food

So I was instructed by the Doula class leader to track my eating and I did. She provided me with a form and I wrote it alll down. She assessed it last week and gave some excellent recommendations that honestly was the key to me feeling better. Im so happy about that. I went shopping like a lost puppy that has recently graduated to "knowing what I need land". It was nice and now my days are spent preparing the foods me and the baby need. Its a feelingyo9u cant replace.

Baby

Strong and clear. This baby has developed a relationship with its mama that includes elbowing the poo out of me to remind me its here and boy do I love it. The pain, no but the communication yes. I love this baby.

People

Its interesting cause as I change people have been changing. Some friends talk to me more. I think some were scared I wouldnt make it this far since I did experience a miscarriage four years ago. I think some just were busy and others didnt know how much I needed them.

I have learned to limit gatherings that have people Id rather not spend a lot of time with and I have lightened up on people and my expectations of them. Ive lightened up tremendously. Just praying that when Im in need I will help the help I need to make it through. I know God has never dropped me on my butt before so no need to worry now. People have been good. I think I can see that better now cause I have been feeling better and stronger.

Daddy

Daddy is getting into a good rhythm. The classes have been enlightening for us both. We were given a sheet with a list of values and those values were things we value about the birthing experience to be. We learned a lot and it was nice to know what he valued. The classes are helping a lot.

***************** The picture ************

Thats my mother at Southern University in Louisiana with my aunt, may she rest in peace. I look at photos of my mom when she was young and I know she had to be just as clueless as I was. Not only was she probably scared but they had deafening effects of racism all around them. Somuch to deal with. I have only seen a few pics of my mother pregnant and she wasnt smiling in any of them LOL. I completely understand why now. But I think thats why I choose to smile so much in my pics I want the baby to know how happy I am its coming. I want the baby to look back and know that mama was happy. I hope the journals I write can give the balance to a seemingly 1 emotion photo.

My mom is coming down to help and although I didnt grow up with her I am looking forward to learning more about her and how it was for her when she was pregnant with me.

Thanks for reading. Sorry for the typos, hunger is taking over proof reading time.

:) Nana

Where you focus is where you live

Im nauseus today. Trying not to focus on it. The baby is a joy. Definitely developing a character. Prayer is a saving grace cause this Haiti situation would have hurt my heart too muich if I hadnt begun praying.

Honestly Im trying not to throw up at work right now. Can't wait to meet the baby.

*** Baby update ********

* here is a reference on 24week old fetus and mama development from a preganancy website.

This week your baby's crown-to-rump length is around 8.4 inches and your baby will weigh approximately 1.2 pounds. Although it weighs a little over a pound at this point, your growing baby is still tiny. Your uterus can easily be felt 1.5 to 2 inches above your bellybutton. The fetus does not appear to have much room in the uterus anymore, but as your pregnancy progresses, space gets much tighter! Because your uterus is expanding and putting a great amount of pressure on your abdomen, you might get stretch marks. (LORD HAVE MERCY) Your weight gain may also be taking a toll on your body at this point. Many pregnant women experience backaches(CHECK), bladder problems, sore feet and fatigue(CHECK) that affect their daily routines. You might also have some nasal stuffiness or nosebleeds(SIGH CHECK). Your baby's face is basically complete now. (AWWW) The fetus's eyes are close together on the front of his face and they are still shut. Your baby's ears have moved into their final position on the sides of his head.

Where they are now is where they will be when your baby is born! Hair will continue to grow on his scalp and his eyelashes are well developed. Most of your baby's features look the same as they will at birth. Because your growing baby is getting plumper, he no longer has room in your tummy to do cartwheels and somersaults. (PUHLEASE this baby is definitely creating opportunities where there were none LOL)Now is a good time to ask about prenatal classes being offered in your area. (WE STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO) Many local hospitals offer classes for expectant women and their families. You should aim to complete the classes approximately one month before your due date. You may sometimes get a stitch-like pain in your side from time to time. It's simply the muscles of the uterus stretching. (UHHH YEP!)

the unborn child is covered with a fine, downy hair called lanugo. Its tender skin is protected by a waxy substance called vernix. Some of this substance may still be on the child's skin at birth at which time it will be quickly absorbed. The child practices breathing by inhaling (up to a liter/day) amniotic fluid into developing lungs.

Illusion of the drug 'Normalcy'... up early again

Its 3:37am and I cant sleep. From the sinuses to other audible distractions I’m thoroughly irritated thinking about struggling through another work day sleepy tomorrow. Everyone thats a parent or mom, and I do mean everyone, with a smirk or with love says “get all the sleep you can cause when the baby comes you’ll want to cry from sleep deprivation”. Little do they know this pregnancy, minus a few blissful weeks, has been riddled with sleep deprivation. Knowing there is a visual ball of joy and tears and hunger waiting for me when I get home is one thing but the frustration to know that the only company you have is a stuffy nose to distract you from a silent home and a good nights sleep is more than frustrating.

As I laid here listening to my own nose’s symphony of rhythmic struggling sounds I want to get dressed and head straight to my $25 Korean sauna house ( jejusauna.net ) and be amongst the moisture and quiet. I wanted to get the new humidifier yesterday but I was exhausted and poor Parris had a horribly busy day at work that didn’t end until 1:30am. I sat in the car for two seconds after work last night and wanted to spontaneously cry just trying to pull the tangled bag past the emergency break. Hormones, probably. I was also just so tired. And yet, I sit all day. I don’t have a strenuous job. No one really bothers me. I’m a project manager during the day. All this is not to complain.. wait nope.. take it as you will. Which brings me to my new revelation about 'normalcy' below but first my challenge update.

*****THE CHALLENGE STATUS: 365 days of prayer & meditation twice a day ****

The last nine days I have been spotty. As a triumph I actually prayed on days there were no issues no problems and no big successes. They were just days I chose to talk to God. For statistics sake I will admit it was only 3 of the 9. The other days, only once did I pray and meditate twice in a day, I merely hit up a prayer as a way to calm myself down from an irritation. And to tell you the truth it worked. I was amazed at how instantly when I spoke the truth, the childish immature truth, about how I was feeling I dropped off into a deep peaceful sleep. I’m trying on this wretched morning of clogged up sinuses, puffy eyes and a sleeping angel in my tummy to recommit, yet again, to the challenge.

Honestly, if I think about it, I believe I haven’t written in a week for two reasons, ok no, three reasons.

1. I was sick again for some of those days and for some reason when I’m sick I completely fall apart. How do people who regularly pray handle being physically sick and keeping to a prayer and meditation schedule? I have my theories about why, outside of it being human to have a hard time in general when they are sick, I can say I feel the most vulnerable and less connected to God when I’m sick.

2. I was in a crappy mood at the times I was able to write. For some reason I just don’t want to deal with hearing the ‘cheer up Anana instantly cause I said so’ sentiments I tend to get stemming from good intentions and a consciousness about the baby feeling my thoughts. I find it hilarious that people think its that easy but will go off and stay grumpy as heck as if their behavior isn’t affecting others. I know. I’m not supposed to lash out cause I’m in a coveted position that’s different. I am not them. I am affecting another life. Trust me if there is anything everyone reminds you of every second of being pregnant its that. I just want to say sometimes, your behavior if affecting someone too. What REALLY pathetic is before being pregnant, I was saying the same thing to some other pregnant woman. Maybe not as indignantly but I was saying it. Funny how life and God teaches you to have compassion. But if I constantly ignore how similar I am with folks that irritate me I don’t think Id ever get it. EVER (laughing).

3. I really had been sinking back into a belief that the challenge, in the grand scheme of things didn’t matter. Logically I knew it to not be true but I think sometimes I just get tired of trying. Tired of creating ways to improve. Tired of trying to talk about it, dig my way out of confusion alone. Even tired of initiating thought provoking conversation with friends and family who quite honestly are tired of their own stuff.

So I’d most likely say a mixture of the three reasons above is why I have not journaled honestly in the past nine days. At least, other than putting forth an honest effort, that I have done is be honest in my journal/blog about the challenge. Sigh I’ve been painfully consistent with that.

I have learned that not praying and meditating, and Im completely clear about it now, really does make for a rougher time in this world for a gal. I’ve understood more when I’ve prayed and meditated in the morning then done the same to dump the junk in the evening. It’s amazing how people bother you less, difficult circumstances are less daunting and you take on less of everyone else’s fears for you.

Crazy thing at work yesterday a co-work said, “ I cant believe you made it to work on Friday you endangered yourself and the life of your child Anana”. It annoyed me and she clearly wanted to make the profound office point so she and the others who couldn’t make it in would feel better in light of our completely unrealistic and randomly punitive CEO. I was glad I was able to brush her judgmental statement off cause I knew I was ok while driving cause the roads were clear for me. I knew I would never endanger my child. But little poisonous statements and people try to find any crack and crevasse they can during the days so you can live in fear with everyone else. No thank you.

I can say this challenge has been helping. But I will also say it’s the most nitty gritty challenge I’ve ever woke up one day in my spontaneous Gemini mind and decided to do.

An added boost to journal this time was a movie I saw and a girlfriend who sent me a text saying, “your mailbox is full and I really like your blog”. It made me smile on the inside cause she is a friend in NY that don’t get to spend much time with and to know she was reading somehow gave me a nudge. Responses have helped. When you choose a challenge, by yourself, for yourself, it’s a lonely journey cause truly no one is making you responsible and you have no company along the way. You just push on some how and thankfully reap the rewards that one day may build permanent character. I hope that translates to my baby.

*************** I thought about the drug 'normalcy' **************

OK its been a while and this is on my heart to write about.

I saw a movie that dealt with the issue of adults, all kinds, covering up the reality of situations affect on children’s emotions to satisfy their need for ‘normalcy’. If you look at the picture above you will fall in love with the idea of a happy ‘normal family’ but its all an illusion. We have happy moments and sad moments and confused moments and fearful moments. Some know that and some don’t. Some will fixate on that image and never care to think any deeper cause they are in love with the television, surface level presentation of normalcy. In my early twenties I chose to deal with (as we all have to) my own childhood frustrations and realized a lot of my push to do the challenge was also to find a center for me and the baby and my family. To not be tossed around the world of ‘normalcy’ that changes in every household, every town, every city, every country, every season of the media, with every president, with every new marketing campaign. I don’t know how ‘The Jones’’ do it. It’s amazing how powerful this idea of hiding from the real emotion of a situation can cause a family to distort a child’s ability to balance things in life later on. I see now it’s mainly because those parents have no center either. I’m currently fighting to leave that club. I don’t want that for my child. I also don’t want to be renegade mommy reacting to the plastic nature of the world so much that I confuse it with the beautiful simplicity of the world. I don’t want to be renegade mommy unless I absolutely have to be. All I can say is I hope to develop the courage I need to not feed into the ‘new normal’ every time it rears its trifling head in my life. It will confuse me and my child and not prepare it for how to navigate in a world of people who are not bad jus afraid. I don’t want it. I also don’t want to be ruled by the fear of it. Mind boggling. Thank God for prayer.

*************************************************

************ PREGGY UPDATE ************

My Body.

I believe I’ve settled into this feeling of the baby kicking a lot. It still wakes me up most times. I really like it. And as soon as I get a little used to the balance and my disappearing view of my legs, I hit another growth spurt bring the joy of stretching stomach muscles. Since I’ve started back dancing a little I’m getting my tone back in my legs cause I was on my way to having weak muscles. I’m thankful to have a little strength back after that long bed rest bout. But the fatigue is daunting at the end of the day and just going to get worse so I hear. I still am not comfortable with how general folks I don’t know fixate on my body and their hands tend to automatically gravitate to my belly. But, for those special people I have installed a wonderful counter forearm judo chop move to bypass their disrespectful approaches without asking to grope my belly. I was smooth last Saturday after teaching the class. Funny thing also is some dude was trying to ‘eye’ me after the class when my belly was covered and I spread my little black shirt open, placed my hands on my hips exposing my round red shirt decorated belly and nodded, “move on buddy I’m busy making a baby here” (laughing). The look on his face was priceless.

Help. Guidance.

Parris and I finally got to our first meeting with a Doula to discuss the baby, birth plans, our emotions, our health.. everything. I cant tell you how relieved I felt. Going into the biggest change of my life without preliminary talks and planning to the best of our ability was eating at me more than I knew. I also had been completely lost being my first pregnancy about the changes in my body and the random supportive and informative comments from friends, family and a busy doctor can NOT replace one person dedicated to supporting you. Having someone in town focused on you having a healthy, peaceful, informed journey to your birth is worth everything. I will never be pregnant for the first time again. I don’t want to spend it flapping around like an untrained swimmer expending energy on stuff that really doesn’t matter. We have a weekly appointment and will lay out the birth plan, get taught couples massage, be guided on the proper nutrition, work on pain management (I hate typing it) and many other things. I’m so excited. She is not only a doula but a massage therapist and yoga instructor. Im very very happy and thankful.

The baby.

The baby at the last checkup last week was 1lb 4oz. My mom laughs that Im gonna have a big baby. The kicks and punches are more distinct now. I can fell the difference between a punch and a kick and a roll. Its funny when the baby will punch one spot several times. Sometimes Ill push that area and the baby will keep punching back. Its so hilarious and precious to me. Im so thankful during those times that Im doing this challenge because from the hormones and physical discomforts to true life issues I can see why young mothers in turmoil could not enjoy the blessing in their belly. I used to judge them a little. Shake my head and think ‘why cant she just stop a moment and enjoy it”. I was sooo naïve. You can have brief moments of joy but they are still drowning in confusion, fear, worry and pain that can take over your life if you are young scared and lost with no support. Or, you can connect in, get guidance and help, find your space and work every day to be able to treasure the joy as a priority and make everything else less than what you share with your child cause you will never see that time again. I’m getting a small taste of it. I’m thankful for friends and family and Parris for helping to create a scenario where I can enjoy my baby cause so many mothers are not blessed with my scenario. I want to cry for them sometimes but instead I keep them in my prayers.

Labor.

Not looking forward to it. Period. But the doula and Parris made a good point about visualizing the best case scenario and not the worst. I’ve just been blocking it out with a drop of fear lurking in the corners but I will be spending much more time focusing on the best case scenario.

Baby Items.

I started my list and budget spreadsheet of what we will need and this past weekend friends and family had ready for our pick up wonderful items like the car seat and clothing and bouncey’s. My sleepless nights are now decorated with visual signs of our baby on the way. It makes me smile through my thinly aired sniffles. The items bring color to my living room and I am just too tickled about it all. I cant WAIT to see the life that’s currently jumping around in my stomach in those items. I still have to wash everything and continue the preparations but Im so thankful for all the items thus far.

Baby Shower/Blessing Way

Sigh. I have no idea. I know the mom isn’t supposed to do anything but honestly I have so many friends that occupy different social groups, family out of town etc. I worry about people being left out. I know how everyone is very busy and I don’t want folks to be stressed out over me. I was thinking I would through a family event in March (still need to lock down the location I have the band) and that way everyone can come and we can celebrate like our wedding after party. If folks want to bring gifts they can but ultimately it will just be nice for the community to get together and practice welcoming the baby as a community. Unfortunately we don’t live in a time where different communities support each other. Everything is so segregated now even when you as a person are not. I really want to do this part and then if my friend and family want to have more intimate gatherings I will graciously and happily be there. Im so thankful (sounding like broken record but I am) for my friends and family that love me.


Daddy

Daddy is catching on and playing his role. Im learning to focus on doing my part well and allow him his space and time to progress. Not praying and meditating can have me preoccupied with his activities and fearful of stuff I have no control over. I’d like to blame the hormones but I did the same thing before I got pregnant its just highlighted now with more UMPH lol. I’m thankful for his support. I know he is happy to do it cause he is “daddy” but growth ain’t easy for anyone and I have to say he really is growing. Things aren’t perfect and I forgot the pace of the growth is not always the point, but I see definite beautiful necessary and appreciated growth in him. The ride is bumpy but it is still moving …(laughing)… so I’m thankful (laughing).

One thing I am really enjoying are the funny emails and texts I get through out the day from him. I think its crazy how when you strip a scenario of all the excess fat, in just a few words you can see someone’s heart for what it truly is. I do love him. It is the little things sometimes in a friendship that matter the most.

****************************************

Thanks for dealing with the typos and random topics lol. I really appreciate you reading.

Nana Bear

I had a dream last night

I had a dream last night and wanted to wake up and immediately write about it. Please forgive the randomness. I dreamed of a few things (like science community award ceremonies for astronauts lol sorry I have no idea why but that's how dreams go) before the most memorable and impactful part.

There was an old Haitian woman with a son. The son was in love with another not so old woman but the older than him who had 3 grown children who did not trust the son. They thought he was trying to take advantage of their mother. They were mean to him and he had to sneak around to see the woman he loved. The older Haitian woman was reading a series of books and in each of the books she said there were three women who had stories of overcoming grave scenarios. Scenarios that would buckle the knees of a normal person. She wrote to the women in the stories and asked them to send her a piece of fabric they treasured. They did. The woman was constructing a beautiful quilt where each of the squares represented the three women from each of the books. The old Haitian woman with the son said to me in my dream, "there are stories and women who have changed the world and it has never been recorded nor remembered. In this quilt I do both and all will be well."

I looked at the quilt and wondered what I was doing in my life to 'make all well'. I walked through the weathered house, watched the dripping sink then, saw the son standing with his child, a daughter in hand through a corridor to another room. They were both draped in youthful dark chocolate healthy glimmering skin. She had on a blue and white dress and he in red and blue pants. They weren't big or small in size. He knelt down and told her something. She went and laid down in the bed. Then he looked at me and smiled. The woman he loved's three grown male children were in the yard outside the kitchen window laying on lawn chairs listening to the ending of a song that began a language other than English and ended with the acapella 'Amen' ending that began with a high pitched AHHhh, then a mid pitched joined Ahhh, and a third lower Meeeehhhnn. As the notes came to an end they both rose at the same time and headed toward the kitchen window whee there was an old school double deck black tape recorder with the read record button.

The grown children pressed stop on the tape recorder. One said to the other, "is that the end?" The other replied, " yep, that's the end". They looked at me and said, "that's the end"

As I turned around I saw the Old Haitian woman's son had married the woman he loved and moved in. The money he contributed helped to save their home from being taken and his mother, the old Haitian woman, pointed to the quilt, with printed and hand painted images, and said, "That's the end Anana".

I woke up and typed this.

I usually pay attention to my dreams. They offer answers sometimes I'm looking for from elders I cant talk to anymore. Elders that tend to simplify things and yank me back down to the bear nuts and bolts of life.

My sister left this morning early on a 6am flight. I could barely fall asleep cause I knew when I woke up she had to leave. My heart was sad to see her go cause her energy and love and close proximity made me feel like the worries I had were doable tasks that just needed to be checked off the list. I cried a bit just so I could go to sleep and then next thing I knew it was time to take her to the airport.

On the way back, my lip poked out as if I was alone and let it out again. I knew I needed to so I could go back to my life and still enjoy the blessings I have here. Its hard to appreciate your blessings when you are busy bottling up being sad.

So, I let it out. I wondered how I pushed for so long with my family when my family made me feel so good. How in the world?

Well, New Years Eve, the elder in me told me to call just a few people who have really supported me to drop by and meet my sister. Somehow I wanted her to meet the people who have been there for me and for people to meet her. She took 7 days of her busy life and spent them with me. I was thankful cause at 27 people want to go to Jamaica and relax before going back to deal with their jobs.

We had a very mini potluck. I was already tired so I couldn't handle anything big but something in me must have sewn together a quilt of people to see for myself as a reminder of how lucky I am to have these editions in my life, in Atlanta. I had to combine them with her, the sole rep of my blood relatives to see, I guess according to the dream, "this is it".

I can type on and on about the get together. The food, the family connections we found rooted in Louisiana happily dialing cell phones to confirm links in my Atlanta living room. Or the little young people who celebrated their New Year and talked about new revised board games that blew our minds. Even the men who graciously cleaned the kitchen for all of us when the fried bread, new years greens, eggs and fruit were all done curbing our hunger. But truly I most remember the entire quilt. The big picture that it took a dream to remind me that "this is it". They are all, each patch a blessing and by showing up in more ways than one are giving me the strength to have this baby with some Faith. That's how I celebrated the last day of Kwanzaa, my niece's name and others, "Imani".

If you couldn't make it, and have been there for me, just know you are still in my quilt and I love you.

I am very full and thankful and now off to do my daily prayer and meditation.

I feel like I should type, "Namaste" and Happy New Year.

**************** The Challenge ****************

Because of my busy days with work, my sister, organizing the storage unit and cleaning up the house before the new year, sleep has been what I have been meditating on and the prayers have been from the reclining position. LOL. I am working on consistency yet, yielding to the needs of my body have been taking precedence which has not happened much before I got pregnant.

My prayers have been potent though cause as I reclined and sat up these past few days with Parris gone and have been able to get to my honest concerns quicker. My thoughts during the day are becoming less fearful and I'm feeling the Creator's presence more and more. God feels more accessible during my daily activities than when I began this journey. Not as near as I'd like but definitely more accessible. I'm thankful and will keep trucking.

**************** Pregnancy Update **************

I CANT BELIEVE IM HAVING A BABY THIS YEAR! 2010.. A BABY.. TO TAKE HOME NOT BABYSIT LOL crazy.

Belly.

I finally ordered a jazzy belly wrap to help my little sore muscles out. I also am determined after getting my hair done to hit the mall for a nice pair (to add to what I have) of maternity jeans. COMFORT IS EVERYTHING these days.

People.

Well, I now see that beefing up on people who love and support you is how you deal/cope/love from a far people who are confused and spit negative energy to you. I will follow that formula to a tee. It makes me want to spend more time building up my house as my new cousin Kamilah says and less time on anything else. I think I see now why as a single person I saw people who had families and kids as sectioning themselves off too much. I had NO idea how hard it was to muster up the energy to grow a healthy family AND fight off those who want company in their misery. It takes energy to protect your household and the spirit of a community that has been broken so many times from the outside in and the inside out. I see that now.

Food.

I will try more raw food this week and Sunday Ill hunt for that Alkaline water. Don't want my baby's body being so acidic so early. I need to balance it with alkaline food too but I have a session coming up with a woman and friend who helps with birth preparation, nutrition .. all of that. I'm looking forward to it.

Daddy.

Parris did a lot this week moving his mom here and he is so tired. I'm proud of him. I see I like seeing him work hard and I also like seeing him get the rest he needs. Funny how we begin to love the fighter in our partner along with the spirit that needs rest just like you. I cant wait to see us as parents. Still nervous but cant wait.

Baby.

Sigh. Id like to think that there is a mixture of circumstantial happenings mixed with true mama-baby communication but I KNOW this child is communicating with me through all these kicks and movements. I ask him/her questions and wait for an answer. We chat throughout the day and I'm feeling a sense of the baby's personality coming through. I'm learning the baby is active clear and definite. LOL that may be all babies but it sure is mine so far. It truely is its own person. I clearly am just a loving vessel and am reminded of that every time I push the eating timelines. LOL I love my baby.

Marriage.

At the get together there were a few other couples there and we spoke about marriage being like being in the trenchs LOL. I have NO idea how hard or pleasurable or both it will get when the baby comes but I am glad I have a little support here and abroad cause truly, its just too hard without it. The fact that Im JUST beginning a prayer regime probably have a lot to do with its difficulty but Im gonna venture to type its just hard in general. This year I will be even more strategic about my prayer, meditation and spending time with people who are building up my family and not just selfishly taking from it. Marriage is too hard to hold down for me to not have a plan like that. LOL And let me add the rewards of growing a family are too great for me to not work hard on myself and work hard protecting the happiness and "all is well" in my household.