Be Bold, Go Red - Girl's Night Out

Be Bold, Go Red - Girl's Night Out

My First Wash

Sooooo my head was killing me. It was itching like crazy and everytime I scratched, I created a storm of unpleasant hair residues. I decided to Google hair washing and locs because I was going crazy. I found a few methods and decided to do a stocking cap wash.

My scalp feels great now!!! :-D

My hair..... :-/ well at least the back doesn't look too bad. I'll prolly schedule a retwist once we figure out a few other things in the land of Mommydom and Daddydom.

Future Programmer in Training?

Since the new year brought tons of projects and lots of work, Temi decided she'd help her daddy out while he worked from home.

Sleepless in Des Plaines

The other day Temi took a late nap and was knocked out for the entire evening. We didn't bother waking her because she was so peaceful and obviously tired. When we got ready to call it a night, we had to move her off the couch. By the time we made it to the bedroom, she was wide awake. For the next five or six hours, she kicked, pushed and pulled me, coo'd, laughed, and tried to bite my nose. She wanted to kiss and stand up. She grabbed my hair and wrapped herself in my arms. By the time she finally let me go to sleep, I was so knocked out, I slept thru Todd's heart-attack inducing alarm.

Coffee please......

Dear Industry, Please Step Your Standards Up

Sunday night I went to the Industry Standard Natural Hair and Fashion Show. I was super excited to go because it was my first hair show and there was gonna be live music. In case y'all didn't know, I LOVE live entertainment.

Carmen and I got there before the doors opened at 6 and we proceeded to wait in line. An hour later and we walked into a room with a few seats reserved for VIP and tons of floor space. Guess this is what open seating means. The room gradually filled up as more people showed up to stand. Behind us were nice plush seats and fancy tables reserved for vloggers. I wonder how many backs and butts will make their debut on one of those vlogs this week.

We people watched for another 90 minutes then the emcee came out to hype the crowd up. I woulda been feeling his energy but at this point my lower back was killing me. I had been kicked off my heels so my feet weren't as bad. Carmen found us a spot on the window to lean up against. Before we could feel what relief felt like, some snotty chick jumped up talking bout "somebody sitting there....me". She must've thought her words were clever cuz she didn't shut up about how she put Carmen in her place. Since we couldn't even see the heads of the performers and the southside was getting ready to come outta Carmen, we decided we'd leave.

We walked towards the door and were told we couldn't. Apparently some genius decided to make the public exit the entrance to the runway. I thought after E2 or whatever that club was called it was illegal to only have one exit...... One of the event people came to talk to us to convince us to stay but all she did was make us glad we were leaving. Event planners please note, "Well it was a rush job" is NOT a valid reason for unorganization.

The first scene ended and we boarded the elevator with about 10 other people. Maybe my next show will live up to its potential.

Mommy Look What I Can Do

Temi's discovered her toes lol......

A Mother's Touch

I've heard of sick children wanting no one but their mom, but I've never heard of well children wanting no one but their sick mom.

I woke up Saturday with a cold and it seems like Temi cried every time I walked away or put her down. She didn't wanna be held by anybody but me. She'd look at me with the biggest puppy dog eyes and hold out her arms for me. Then once she was in my arms, she'd hold on for dear life buried in my neck. I got the "best" sleep cuz she hugged and kicked me all thru it.

It feels unbelievable to be loved this much. It gives new meaning to "a mother's touch."

It's Playtime!!!

Such a playful little thing, that Temi girl

I Made It

Today is Friday and that means...yup...I made it through my first week as a working, nursing mom.

"I'm alive...I can't feel my legs, but I'm alive!!!" *cue clip from How High that isn't available on YouTube :-/*

Me and Temi playing after work

My first week wasn't bad at all. It went by kinda fast and things went smoothly for the most part. I've already written and published three articles for the magazine (check them out at cpapracticeadvisor.com) and I signed up for Twitter :-/ (it's for business purposes, feel free to follow me @TaijaJenkins if you have one, but no tagging me please :-) thanks). And most importantly, I still like my job.

My separation anxiety didn't flare up too badly either. I managed not to freak out too much while at work and it was all smiles when I got home. No matter how tired I was, I was never too tired to love on my Temi. She was great for her granny...she didn't give her any trouble while I was gone, but she DID manage to make her granny think I'm starving her. She was constantly eating and when she wasn't eating she was sucking on everything - her hands, her granny's arms, her pacifier, the cords to her daddy's PS3, anything she could get her mouth around.

BIG thank you to Erica for giving me advice on how to make pumping work while at work. Your system works so well and it's almost effortless. I feel like such a pro LOL. 

Well that's it....it's Friday and I have to work on Monday, so I'm going to enjoy my short weekend with my babies and make every Mommy second count.

Natural Hair Problems

So fitting for today.....

For more natural hair problems, check out http://naturalhairproblems.tumblr.com/

My First Day

As many of you know, I accepted a new position as an associate editor for an accounting magazine in Arlington Heights. My first day was yesterday and what a first day it was.

Todd and I left the house about 6:35 AM so that he could work out beforehand. I dropped him off and headed to work. I got there about 7:20 and sat in the parking lot for a few min. I HAD to check on my princess to make sure she was doing ok. I finally went up about 7:45 and waited for my boss to arrive. While I was in the waiting area, one of the guys came in, introduced himself and showed me to my desk and around the office. While I was in the middle of my tour, my boss walked in and the craziness began.....

My boss doesn't work in my office so he doesn't have a desk or really know anyone in the office. We spent a good 45 min tryna track down my new hire paperwork that was sent to him. Luckily, someone in the office grabbed it and put it up for us. I was shocked at how on top of things HR was. I had a desk, PC, phone, access to most things, office supplies and emails already waiting for me. (At that other place, I had to wait a week...) They also let me know that if I got my paperwork in by a certain time, I'd be getting paid in four days. WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!! I spent most of the morning on phone calls getting introduced to people that sit in the home office.

We took a break for lunch on the boss and this place called the Dragon Grill or something like that. Then it was back to the office for more meet and greets and setups. I looked up and it was 3 PM and I had a missed call from Todd's mom. My heart dropped. She just wanted to let me know how my baby was doing. Awwwwwww

I finished up the day and it was time to go. Todd texted me to ask how things were going. Great, I've been promised a webcam and second monitor. The people in the office are super fun and funny. I get to wear jeans everyday AND my breasts don't hurt even tho I haven't had the chance to pump once. As I was packing up the Guy across from me and my boss wanted to talk about how my first day went. THEN all of a sudden oh crap, that hurts. I HOPE I'm not leaking. I kept tryna look down hoping that there weren't two dark pink circles shining thru my shirt. Luckily the convo ended and I was on my way to pick up Todd. I called his mom to check on my baby and fought some traffic to pick up Todd. We finally made it home and I ran right into Temi's arms.

Yes Mommy missed you.

*Thank you Granny for watching her and sending me pix to ease my anxiety*

7 Myths About Natural Hair

I couldn't have said it better. If you're natural, contemplating or anti-natural, this is a MUST read. I swear I have this conversation way too many times with Pookie n'em .....

7 Myths About Natural Hair

Family is Everything

The bond between family is a special one that should remain unbreakable - something Temi already seems to know as she loves, Loves, LOVES her family. Here's Temi enjoying the company of some of her family.

Temi on the Move

I know I'm late posting this but better late than never right?

Over the Christmas holiday Uncle Jason and Daddy decided to take Temi on a nice, long, relaxing walk around the couch. Since sitting still is not her thing, Temi was too excited to be on the move. Enjoy! :-)

Watch "Temi Walks" on YouTube

Barney Did It!

Temi fights sleep all day long. She moans, groans, tosses and turns. She will try her hardest to stay up and watch TV or listen to music with me and her dad. She's perfected the sleeping head nod. Seriously. We put on Barney and he immediately has her full attention. Then this happens.... what is it about that purple dinosaur??

Step 1: Twist It

I was debating when to begin the loc'ing process. I wanted my hair to be a nice length but not too long. So I gave myself to March. I was also tryna decide if I should loc it myself. I'm fully capable of learning and would enjoy the challenge. However, finding any considerable amount of time is hard these days. I have two babies I have to take care of and feed and they hate being hungry or feeling neglected for more than 5 seconds - especially my big one :-).

Then I saw my godbrother. Turns out his girlfriend locs hair and is pretty good at it. And very affordable. I was growing bored with my fro and too lazy to do anything with it, so I made an appt...just in time for the new year. Behold Step 1 of my loc'ing process. :-D

Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone

Whoever said "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" ain't never lied.

Todd dropped Temmy off to my mom yesterday around 4. She was keeping Temmy so we could go out for NYE. Todd, Nace and I ate, got dressed, kicked it a little then headed downtown to meet up with some of Todd's friends. We hung out for a little bit then came back to the crib, drank, chilled and passed out. All in all it was a fun NYE.

THEN I woke up.

Temmy has my biological alarm set to 7 a.m. I woke up and she wasn't there. And that's when it hit me. I missed my daughter. I tried to go back to sleep. I tried to keep my mind occupied. Tried to play games, Facebook. I even tried talking to Todd. Anything to keep me from getting in the car and going to get her. (I actually threatened to, but Todd told me it was too early....) I finally called my mom around 11. They were on their way to church so I would just have to wait. The countdown begins.....

My mom finally dropped Temmy off around 4ish. I hadn't even finished loving on her good before I was invited out to catch the Bulls game with my BU bday buddy Mark (he was in town from STL). I met up with Chris and Mark downtown and it was good seeing them but I couldn't stop staring at the cute little Santa Temmy on my phone. And speaking of my phone....why hadn't her daddy text me yet??? What gives? Is she ok?? I cut my night short because there was a little girl somewhere tugging at my heart strings.

I came home and Temmy immediately woke up from her 5-hour nap and flashed me the biggest smile. I grabbed her, wrapped my arms around her, fed her and we settled in for the night.

Let's face it....there just ain't no sunshine when she's gone and she's always gone too long anytime she goes away.

Watch "Michael Jackson - Ain'T No Sunshine" on YouTube