Special Guest

  As quickly as we found out we were expecting a second baby, disappointment came knocking at our door and interrupted our joy of being pregnant. Two weeks after my husband and I found out I was almost seven weeks’ pregnant, we had a doctor’s visit that revealed the pregnancy was unsuccessful. The ultrasound revealed […]

  We have definitely learned (the hard way) the importance of allowing your child to self-soothe. We never allowed Taylor to do this until two weeks ago. We have been operating on about five hours of sleep for 14 months! Now, we are finally able to get our beauty rest. It was never our plan […]

  It has been 13 months and three days since Taylor was born. It has been 13 months of joy, 13 months of discovery, and 13 months of breastfeeding. I started breastfeeding Taylor with the intention of weaning her at six months old because everyone said that babies start biting at this time. Not true! […]

  This past Saturday, our little clan decided to venture past the confines of our home and take on the city of New Orleans, as if we were tourists. Our plan was to leave home around 9 A.M. in hopes of arriving at the River Walk before the heat and humidity took over. Unfortunately, we […]

  Dearest Taylor, A year has passed and you are now a one-year-old! I have watched you develop from a newborn unable to talk and lift her head to a toddler talking and cruising around our home. I have so much to thank you for, because though you may not know it, you have brought […]

  Taylor was fortunate to have two birthday celebrations. Her actual birthday was Wednesday. That day our trio celebrated by having Taylor’s favorites: pizza, and her new favorite, cupcakes. We bought a couple of toys and had fun playing with her until she fell asleep. Taylor actually had so much fun that the following morning […]

  One of the things I have really grown to love and appreciate is watching my daughter in social settings. I am really able to take in her personality. Taylor was invited to a three-year-old’s birthday party this past Saturday. We made a family outing of it and traveled the 60 miles to Baton Rouge […]

  Ahhh, the moment has finally come: My daughter has said mama! According to me, two months ago she said mama for the first time while sitting on the couch and being recorded for the grandparents. According to everyone else, that was a figment of my imagination. I side with the majority, now, regarding that […]

  Taylor has been suffering from an ongoing ear infection. Every month she is given a new round of medication that will “do the trick.” Within about three to four weeks, cue in the fever, appetite loss, and scratching and tugging at her ears, the magical potion just didn’t work. It seems like a never […]

  Living in Louisiana definitely keeps us busy with the various traditions and holidays that only Louisianans partake in, specifically Mardi Gras. Our state has celebrations leading up to the big holiday. Taylor was a maid in her daycare’s Mardi Gras ball. It was so fun getting her dolled up in her satin, pearl-colored dress […]

  I heard the tragic news about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School from my mother. While I was driving home from work, a middle school on the west bank of New Orleans, I called my mother to tell her the happenings of my day at school; she told me the news of the […]

  Since I’ve last blogged, many things have happened. I have a new teaching position in a district that offers more of a work/life balance. Now when I make it home, 90 minutes earlier than before, I can stop, breathe, and spoil my little ladybug. I can even go grocery shopping before I pick up […]

  I have returned to work. The time has come for this mother hen to leave the nest and venture out into world. Taylor has fully adjusted to daycare; she is thriving there! I see more of my baby girl’s personality every time I pick her up. She is sensitive, friendly, and fearless. She really […]

  Sometimes I sit back and think about the journey my husband and I have been on since the birth of our baby girl. I can hardly believe that eight weeks have passed since the doctor placed her in our arms. These eight weeks have been full of joy and discovery. Since I never babysat […]

  A video of a nine year old boy physically abusing several infants at a Mississippi daycare has gone viral. I came across this video in my Facebook newsfeed. This could not have come at a worse time! Taylor will be starting daycare in two weeks and I will be returning to work in three […]

  This past Saturday was Taylor Miriam’s dedication service, also known as a christening. During this ceremony, parents make a commitment to raise their child in accordance with their spiritual beliefs, announce godparents, and thank God for their little blessing. We did just that in a very intimate ceremony at our home. Our guest included […]

  Taylor Miriam is turning six weeks old on Tuesday; I can hardly believe how quickly time has passed. She is back to Gold Medalist status regarding her feedings. Her latch has improved despite over-lactation problems. She is now able to latch without my guidance! She’s such a big girl! She has also been very […]

  Life with my now four-week-old daughter has been pretty swell! I have enjoyed caring for her each day: soothing her, rocking her to sleep, and spending quality time with her during feedings. Taylor Miriam has certainly been a blessing to both my husband and me. One of the things that has been a challenge […]

  As pleasant and hospitable as the staff members at the hospital were, while in the hospital, I kept wishing I was home. I was ready to care for my daughter and have some sense of normalcy, after the labor and delivery of Taylor Miriam. Unfortunately, I did not take full advantage of the hospital’s […]

  As I get closer to my due date, I have started to reflect on the past 38 weeks of pregnancy. There have been many exciting moments throughout this journey. Over nine months ago, my husband and I started discussing the idea of starting a family. The discussion was prompted by the celebration of my […]

  The closer I get to Taylor Miriam’s due date, the more I feel the need to buy new sheets and stock up on toothpaste, soap and other household items. For some reason, I feel I need new bedding, new towels and new rugs for my home. I heard about this instinct to prepare for […]

  Pregnancy is filled with unexpected experiences. Some are manageable and some are downright embarrassing. When I first found out I was pregnant, people had many things to say about backaches, sleepless nights, swollen feet, skin discoloration and stretch marks. They definitely warned me of those common ailments. No one mentioned the not-so-glamorous, uncontrollable bladder […]

  Taylor Miriam is here! Our special gift arrived Tuesday evening at 8:01, after a very short pushing session and typical pre-labor. Marcus and I are completely in awe of this special girl. She is alert, healthy, and as cute as a button! Measuring at six pounds and 13 ounces of pure “lovableness,” she is […]

  I am exactly 35 weeks’ pregnant today. Taylor Miriam’s room is set up; all of her clothing has been washed, folded and placed in her dresser. Her play yard has been placed in the living room and is set to hold Taylor Miriam during her idle time. Her bassinet has been fitted with clean […]

  This past weekend I celebrated Taylor’s upcoming arrival at a baby brunch hosted by my mother. The morning was filled with great brunch menu items, diva-status decorations, and raffled door prizes, in lieu of those boring games. It was a wonderful day spent getting advice from family and friends, and catching up on all […]

  Last week, my husband and I celebrated three years of marriage. Though the rain caused a change in our plans, we enjoyed our lunch date together at Emeril’s, in downtown New Orleans. During our date, we reflected on the past three years of marriage and our past five years of knowing each other. We […]

  In recent celebrity news, there has been talk about Beyonce’s public breastfeeding. While at an upscale restaurant, Beyoncebreastfed her newborn daughter at her table. Some people were appalled by her doing so. One man said she should have breastfed her daughter in the bathroom. I thought, How silly! When is the last time he […]

Growing up in the heart of Acadiana, better known as Lafayette, Louisiana, I have eaten spicy, Cajun and Creole cooking all of my life. Now that I’m living in the New Orleans area, I have more dining options that suit my Southwest Louisiana palette. This month, not only is my state celebrating Mardi Gras, but […]

  This Valentine’s Day, my husband and I decided that instead of spending our evening waiting for seating at a popular New Orleans restaurant, we would enjoy a romantic Italian feast at home. We decided to spend the night cooking and enjoying each other’s company. It was definitely time well spent! However, throughout the night […]

  As a third grade Science and Social Studies teacher, I get asked a lot of random questions. “How do fish get rid of waste?” “Do kids have to follow the law, since we can’t go to jail?” And even more random questions in the form of riddles: ”What did the librarian use to catch […]

  I knew it was a little girl. From the very beginning, I told everyone that I feel I will have a little girl, and my husband and I will name her Taylor Miriam. (We agreed to name a girl Taylor Miriam or a boy Taylor Luke.) I dreamed of a little girl, filled online […]