20 Week Update: Baby Kendrick Ultrasound video

At today's 20 week ultrasound appointment, we brought along a Flipcam to record the video. The video lasts about 5 minutes. To catch the most movement:

1:50 Baby Kendrick touches his/her face

2:30 squirming

3:00 wiggles for almost 1 minute

4:01 Baby Kendrick is "climbing the walls" of my belly.

Amazingly, I'm not feeling much movement because of where the placenta is. The ultrasound tech said the baby is head down and the feet are kicking the placenta, not my uterus.

It was a fabulous experience. We saw the four chambers of Baby Kendrick's heart, the kidneys, the spine and everything looked good. There's nothing like the smile on my husband's face when he sees/feels the baby. He was glowing when we heard the heartbeat.

Daddy Kendrick wouldn't budge on his stance to NOT find out if Baby Kendrick is a boy/girl. The ultrasound tech was nice enough not to "zoom" into that area!

In case the above video doesn't show, you can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWCmO7Uhx1o

"Happy to be Nappy" Slideshow

Happy to be "Nappy"

Today I made a bold move. I cut off my relaxed and highlighted hair to reveal my natural texture. (Much love to Sharon of Salon Balisi!!!)
It's been something I've fantasized doing for years but never had the nerve to do. Mostly, because chemically relaxed hair is more "acceptable" for a black woman who appears on TV, like I did for over a decade. Now that I'm not appearing on-camera anymore I didn't have to worry about any work-related issues.
More importantly, now that Baby Kendrick is in my belly I really didn't want to subject him/her to the chemicals that would enter my body if I continued to straighten my hair.

This is the first time in at least 22 years I have not had my hair chemically straightened and the first time in about 13 years I haven't had my hair highlighted or lightened.

What clinched the deal for me was seeing Chris Rock's "documentary" film "Good Hair." My review wouldn't exactly be complimentary to his film, but I was concerned by many of the issues Rock highlighted. Watch the trailer HERE.

Here's a look at my adventure today: http://www.photoshow.com/watch/WU6wc3un

I have a "supportive circle" who agrees with and understands my decision. On the flip side, I've already gotten some negative comments from family and friends. Can't say it didn't hurt a little. I'm only human. But it's a personal decision and I made it FOR ME.

17 week update: Thank God for Bella Bands

Here's a look at my 17 week belly thanks to my "gift" of maternity clothes and a Bella band from Jeriah's mom, Renee.

I admit, I didn't know how to put on the Bella band at first. I had to google it and check out how other expectant mommies were wearing them.

The bands give you some flexibility in wearing your pre-maternity clothes. You can wear and old pair of jeans without struggling to zip or button them over your growing belly. The band covers the gap in your pants and offers an elastic covering for the rest of your belly.

I really didn't feel like I looked pregnant until the day I wore the Bella band. It helped give my tummy more of a round vs. flabby look.

Really Simple Recipes

I am not a great cook. In fact, before I stopped drinking coffee I really only used my stove to boil water for my daily cup of decaf.

My husband knew this long before we got married, so it's really no surprise to him. To borrow a line from Eddie Murphy's "Boomerang" and the uncomfortable dinner conversation between David Alan Greer's parents: "He didn't marry me for my cooking!"

But already this week I've made him at least one item he could eat: turkey meatloaf. It was simple and that's why I made it:

• Ground Turkey



• Seasoning



• Diced Onions



• Egg



• Crumbled slice of wheat bread (since the bread crumbs in my pantry were years old)



• Packet of meatloaf seasoning

See, if a recipe has too many steps, I lose interest. But since I love to eat out, I like to "attempt" to make my menu favorites at home. Last week, I made a wonderful "dinner for one" since my husband usually makes his own late night meals when he gets off.

I made BBQ Salmon Salad based on the Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad I love to order at Panera Bread. The items were easy, handy and cheap. Plus, I'll use them later to make something else. Isn't it annoying to buy weird/exotic ingredients to make one thing that you never make again??? In this case, the salad recipe requires light Three Cheese Ranch Dressing and Kraft BBQ Sauce (which I'm convince is coursing through my husband's veins since he eats it on everything!).

Check out the recipe: http://www.ehow.com/how_5508077_make-quick-bbq-chicken-salad.html

I'll try to keep posting my recipes here (which probably won't be very often).

Baby Kendrick's Nursery

Since I'm following my husband's wishes and NOT finding out if Baby Kendrick is a boy/girl, I've been hard-pressed to find a suitable nursery theme.

At first, I was cool with yellow/green "gender neutral" decorations. Then I changed my mind. So I started thinking "out of the box" since pink/blue would not be suitable until after Baby Kendrick got here.

So I headed to Ikea and was inspired by this black and white changing table you see on the right.

It's a Spoling changing table: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00147337

There are a few matching Spoling items, a high chair and nursing bag, which I'm just posting here so you can see more black/white nursery decorations.

To me, black and white is very gender neutral, yet modern. I'd also like to add red accents to the nursery. Daddy Kendrick was cool with the idea since yellow/green doesn't appeal to him either.

A call to Grandma Brewer left me with the impression she was OK with it too, although her first suggestion was to decorate the nursery all white. In a follow-up call, Grandma Brewer revealed she's not necessarily "in favor" of a black/white/red nursery. Instead said, "It's your baby. Do what you want."

Actually, the nursery probably won't have as many "patterns" as the Spoling items, but will be more solid black/white/red mixed in. I'm also imagining zebras, panda bears, soccer balls, etc for decorations.

If a black/white nursery sounds weird or different to you, I was surprised to see how much baby bedding is available in those colors.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not hoping anyone BUYS me these gifts. I'm just pointing them out as inspirations for Baby Kendrick's nursery.