Comparison Pics: 14 to 24 Weeks

Early in my pregnancy, I felt like I wasn't showing and didn't look pregnant.
I was quite frustrated about it. Those days are long GONE!!

Here's my belly at approximately 14 weeks:

Today at almost 25 weeks: (and with much less hair)

This "growth spurt" has been interesting and uncomfortable. But we've only got 3 months to go!!!

24 week Update - Baby Kendrick's Supplies

Stage 1, 2 & 3 Pampers

We've been making some efforts to get Baby Kendrick's supplies in order. I've bought three stages of pampers plus wipes. All of the pampers were on sale and bought with a coupon.

First outfit

Since we don't know if Baby Kendrick is a boy/girl, we're left with gender neutral clothing options so far. Thanks to Auntie Mignon in NY, Baby Kendrick has this 7 piece beige outfit to come home in. I'm glad it includes a hat!

We're hoping March won't be too chilly for when we bring the baby home.

Onesies

Daddy Kendrick took us shopping a few weeks ago. Grabbed some good deals at Burlington Coat Factory. Made sure to buy clothing in stages - from newborn to 9 months.

Mommy's christening blanket

While we were home in NY, Grandma Brewer gave me my crocheted christening blanket and pillow case. The first time she used these with me was back in September 1973!! Thank you Grandma for preserving these so we can use them 36 years later.

23 week Update

Baby Kendrick's feet at 20 weeks

Sorry for the lapse in posts and updates on Baby Kendrick.

I had to fly home to NY because my Mom broke her wrist and hurt her back during a bad fall. While I was there we got the sad news that my Aunt Shirley in Philadelphia passed away. On the flight home to Atlanta, I started feeling sick. That turned into a 10 day cold that I really couldn't "treat" with typical medicines because most are not safe for pregnant women. As soon as I got over my cold, my husband caught it. Oh well!!

On a happier note, we were able to shoot the 20 week ultrasound video you saw below. We also got a few pics of Baby Kendrick including my favorite: his/her feet above.

This has been an incredibly active week for Baby Kendrick in my belly. Maybe it's because he/she is getting larger and stronger, but I feel movement EVERYDAY! It's not the kind of movement that keeps me awake - thank goodness! It's just those reassuring kicks that the baby is saying "Hey, I'm in here!" If I lie very still in bed and lift my shirt, I can see my belly shake.

After a rough night of some hip joint pain, I even had a dream about Baby Kendrick's birth. Pregnant women have lots of very vivid dreams. Here's mine:

I was in a hospital bed with my husband asleep next to me. My Mom was sitting on the left side of the bed looking ecstatic about the birth of her "newest" grandchild.

She asked me, "Is it a boy or a girl?"

Sitting on the table in front of me was a burrito I had apparently just given birth to!

I had to unwrap the burrito to find out the baby's sex.

I dug through the beans, rice and cheese to find...........

a BABY GIRL!!!

She was incredibly cute and alert. Weighed 6 lbs 2 oz.

But I was questionning how could I give birth to a full term baby when I was only five months pregnant.

My attention turned to a lady sitting in the room who was giving me a "face" because she apparently thought I was further along in my pregnancy.

Then I kissed Baby Girl Kendrick's face and her head jerked back as if I alarmed or startled her.

I asked "Are you OK baby?"

The newborn nodded as if to say, "Yeah, I'm good."

(I should point out - my husband was asleep in the bed next to me throughout this entire dream!)

So I still don't know if Baby Kendrick is a boy/girl. Although my dreaming mind must think it's a girl. I had a dream earlier in my pregnancy that the baby was a boy, but that dream wasn't as detailed as this one. I believe that dream came from the perspective that my husband said if we have a boy, we can stop at one kid vs. continually trying for a boy.

I say - one and done!

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.

Day 1 in Maternity Clothes

Yesterday, I got a long awaited care package in the mail: Jeriah's mom's old maternity clothes!

Renee and I are about the same size and I was hoping she had a few wearable items left when I called last month her pleading for donations.

She hooked me up with some maternity tops, jeans, a bella band and bras. I could hardly contain my excitement and wore the new clothes today! I really didn't have anywhere to go except a neighborhood watch meeting for our apartment complex.

Don't be fooled by these pics. I really don't have a"baby bump" yet. It's really more belly fat vs. baby. But these maternity clothes have a lot more GIVE than my regular clothes.

13 week update: Baby Kendrick waves to the camera

Baby Kendrick

approximately 13 weeks

Each ultrasound in this pregnancy is more amazing than the next. This is a photo of Baby Kendrick "waving" during the 13 week ultrasound. We visited a perinatal doctor's office as part of the non-invasive pre-natal genetic testing. Thankfully, all of our results were NORMAL.


As much as Baby Kendrick moved on camera, the ultrasound tech assured me the wiggles I feel in my belly are gas or something else.


You can see the baby's facial features here in these profile pics:














The newest dilemma is finding out if Baby Kendrick is a boy or a girl. Antoine first said he was cool with finding out, now he's changing his mind. The journalist in me wants to know NOW!!!

But I'll play along until he changes his mind again.

Any ideas for unisex baby room decor????

11 Week Update: We're having a soccer player!

Today was our second OB appointment and we got a second chance to see the baby. This time, he/she actually LOOKED like a baby. To our delight, the baby was moving around and kicking! Too bad the picture is another blurry blob, otherwise I'd post it.

The doctor and my husband had a debate about whether there's a football, basketball, or soccer player in there.
We're still on target for the baby to arrive around March 20, 2010.
That's just a few days shy of my sister, Veronica's birthday.

It's amazing how seeing the baby move calmed my "new mommy" fears. Hard to believe so much is going on inside me. I don't feel any kicks or flips yet. But the baby websites and books say I should feel "fluttering" and "butterflies" in a few weeks.

When I was in Jackson, MS earlier this week to handle some personal business, my friends were all saying they wanted to see my "bump." Honestly, I don't think I have one yet. I do feel bloated and full, but still not clear indication that a baby's in there if you just look at me.

Thankfully, husband came home on break and brought me something to eat. So I'll add that to the salad I bought earlier and get ready for my Thursday night TV viewing: Project Runway & Real Housewives of Atlanta!

Beyonce Obsession

I have such adoration for Mrs. Beyonce Giselle Knowles Carter. I even had the pleasure of seeing her perform live in Atlanta this summer.
Here's my review of Beyonce's I Am Tour performance:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/1908474/review_beyonce_i_am_tour_atlanta_ga.html

Thanks to Travoris Adams, director/editor/graphics artist/DJ-extraordinare, I also incorporated Mrs. Carter into my bridal shower invitation:

*Not* on my mommy to-do list

Got a funny, congratulatory e-mail from a friend in Jackson, MS this week.
Since she knows of my devotion to Beyonce (she's my *best* friend "in my head"), this friend wondered if I would buy a Beyonce baby wig for Baby Kendrick.
She was just kidding, of course.
Sadly, some people think it's OK to put wigs on babies.
Hence, www.babytoupee.com and the media buzz it's getting.



Would you buy one for your baby? Even as a joke? Discuss in the comments below, please!

Our first OB appointment to check on "Baby Kendrick"

We had our first doctor's apppointment the morning of Tuesday, August 11th. I was terrified.
I'm in a new city, missing my old OB/GYN back in Jackson, and about to find out how Baby Kendrick is doing.

My husband, the always calm one, didn't seem too phased by all of what was about to happen. The night before he said the sweetest, most shocking thing to me. "I'm really excited about going to see the doctor tomorrow." I got all weepy, rolled over and went to sleep.


We should have known things would be OK when we woke up that morning and were greeted by America's favorite dad, Bill Cosby. His famous stand-up show, "Bill Cosby Himself" was on some cable channel. As we got dressed and came to terms with being up so early, watching Bill helped us laugh and relax about our journey into parenthood:



The doctor took time to answer all our of questions as he went over my medical history.
Then he did the ultrasound I've been waiting for - so I could see the heartbeat. Actually, I couldn't SEE it from my angle on the exam table. But the doctor and Antoine did. So that's a relief.

My whirlwind marriage and mommyhood...

Welcome to my new re-focused blog!
So much has changed in my life since I last posted here.
In April, I got engaged.
In May, I left my TV news career in Jackson, MS, got married to the love of my life and moved to Atlanta where he works.
(Check out our engagement photos, our wedding photos and the wedding video.)
In July, I started by own business AND found out we’re expecting our first child.
(That black and white picture in the top right of the screen is his/her first ultrasound. The baby is in between the plus signs in the dark blur on the left.)

Life has been a blur. But it’s been worth all the adjustments.
So now, in addition to my blog offering news for entrepreneurs: http://www.entreprenews.biz/, I’m also going to blog here.

I hope you will laugh and cry along with me on this journey as wife, entrepreneur and new mom.

Please use the comment section to share your thoughts.
BIG THANKS to so many of you who have already texted and e-mailed well wishes!

The Bestest Beyonce Impersonation Ever!

Some of you may not know this.
But I'm a HUGE fan of Beyonce.
Her music, her fashion, her dancing and her HAIR tend to mesmerize me.
There's been no other female like her since Diana Ross.

I say all that, to say, Beyonce has also transcended genres thanks to my favoritest clip FOREVER.
The bestest part starts at about 2:20 but you must watch the entire clip!

I'm back......

Late December and early January were quite busy for me. So that's why I've been kinda MIA (missing in action)!

The Saturday after Christmas, I flew to NY to spend time with my family and a few friends. Then I flew to Atlanta to be with TMIL for New Years. We had a good time. I relaxed A LOT. Then we ran into some car problems on the way back to Jackson.

Then I got right back to work and did another "Who's Accountable" report. This idea came from an e-mail I received from a woman I'll call Tasha, who's been STUCK in her marriage for years. She wanted to know Who's Accountable for the law that won't allow her to get a divorce unless her "so called husband" agrees.

Check out the story here and let me know what you think:

http://www.wapt.com/video/18515996/

On a much lighter and multimedia note, I'm now on www.facebook.com.
My friends Angela and Jeanine have been harassing me about NOT being on it. So now I'm catching up with tons of classmates from Mizzou and NB class of 91!

But it's time for me to watch the Inauguration of the 44th president!