Family Road Trip to Tennessee

I've let this post marinate and for good reason. Although, this trip was taken right after the New Years, (yes I like the S) I didn't wanna post it up right after becuz I've been relishing in the moment. Over the holidays, my parents came to visit us from overseas for a few weeks and they are now safely home. While brainstorming this post, I've been able to relive and laugh at the great times we shared during this trip. It's so funny as a full grown adult to have ur parents stay with u and it's a different experience than when u were growing up. I remember as a child my parents always sayin the infamous "THIS MY HOUSE" line and have the attitude of being able to do as they please with they own roof supplied and now I totally get it lol. I actually kinda miss them and had gotten used to seeing them when I came home from work or my dad still being on his overseas time greeting me at 4am while he scrolled FB and steady sending videos **cringe** My stepma spoils us with cooking. I hadn't seen Wegmans for 3 whole weekends and she cooks dmn near EVERY day which I'm sure threw Mason's stomach off from the weekly noodles n Popeyes becuz iiiii do NOT cook everyday. TUH.

After Christmas, my brother and stepma kept talking about the road trip they had taken.

Disclaimer: I have long legs and short patience for loooong road hours. Anything longer than 4 I'm antsy but the longest I've done was 13 hrs to Myrtle Beach but I was young n it was in a van so that wasn't so bad. As an adult-7 hrs and that was recently when we went to SC to see Marci WITH a baby **blank stare** Yes, I survived but still; I also don't like driving much so there's that! 

Back to the story: They had all these cute little mom n son inside jokes on their experience road tripping to Chicago n Detroit n I'm steady giving the Kanye smirk n wondering how much flights would be. So the question was presented to everyone, if we could take a road trip where would it be. Mason: LA (he's been mentioning LA a lot **le sigh** ) and I without hesitation said: NASHVILLE!!

I used to be UB-SESSED with this show! I was horrified when it was removed from abc n went to another network n then u could really see a drastic change in the story lines but I remained a true fan of Nashville and I miss it to this day **pours out a lil licka** So, I became entranced with the music of the show and always told myself, I'd love to visit. Surprisingly, the trip always seemed costly and my dreams fell by the wayside. That was...until my parents resurrected them n settled for us to take a road trip to Nashville. EEEEK!!! During my doodling dreams I had planned out where I wanted to go, where I wanted to eat and stay but all that was tossed out n I said phk it...lets just wing it. I did know I had one thing that was MANDATORY during my visit to Nash and that was: BOOTS!!! I can NOT leave without some boots. 

So now that we've targeted our destination...after a New Year celebration in Bmore with family, we headed out. First stop: KNOXVILLE (well, it was actually a quick stop at Harpers Ferry but they were closed). I knew beforehand it would be a rainy week and I didn't care. I wanted to get the real feel of a road trip so I packed simple. No makeup, No wardrobe changes for photoshoots n no idea of what was to come. I just simply wanted to goooo and enjoy family with no intentions of anything planned.


We just drove til we got tired and stopped to eat at Storming Crab ooooomg!!! Delicious is an understatement. We had a full on family bucket of seafood goodness n the sauce was **muah**

After a well rested night, we got up n headed to downtown Knox where we went up in the observation deck to the Knoxville Sunsphere that gives a 360 view of World's Fair Park. From there we walked over to a historical spot called Market Square  where there were small shops and restaurants. The town was pretty empty being as though the neighbors aka college kids that attend UT were away for the holidays so we headed for our last stop...but not before some photo ops haha.

I must say...it was quite freeing with less! Less was my go to when I thought of packing. My onesie (aka catsuit) from Forever 21 n my everyday converse with a hint of Chico's got worn in more than one way n times!

My dad became my "creative director" scouting out places for me to blog and while he took "photo cred" to his own interpretation lol he also enjoyed photobombing me n reminding me to give him his photo cred for the creative eye!

And while it was a good thing I wasn't "working" cuz this is why u can't work wit family lol. Here I am tryin to focus on "blogging" and look how much respect my stepma gave to my craft by showing me her future home in TN n chatting bout the prices lmao!!

Fun Fact: My dad is a...well he was a well-known photographer and had a studio back in the days in Va Beach. He did the double exposure trick in the early 90's; waaaay before D Blanks made it his signature but that's neither here nor there and Mason is my sontographer when he's not ditching me to have a social life (then sends me an invoice **sigh**) so they had a "who's shot is better" competition. So competitive they didn't care that the subject-ME was lookin raggedy n failed to fix my clothes :7

As much as I can go on...this is where I pause. Y'all know I can write forevaaaaa but to wrap up Knox...it's a quaint market-y small town I'd love to stop pass again to enjoy the locals. Nash is about 3 hrs (or less I think) and they have good shopping centers nearby. Now of course that wasn't my priority so I didn't even wanna tempt myself n stay focused on the prize...UP NEXT...Nashville!!!!

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Pregnant After 35: Happy Birthday

This is such a full circle moment for me and I'm quite excited. 

A WHOLE AZZ YEAR YALL!!! 

Jan 2019; 37 wks 

I have survived the Christmas Holiday which I totally wasn’t in the mood for n ready to head into the new year-FRESSHHHHHHHHH. As I rub this belly that constantly kicks n takes cat naps, this has been a wild ride. I won’t lie n say I’ve enjoyed every minute yet I am grateful for it. By next week, my job will be DONE in Jesus name. I am more ready than Tevin Campbell could ever be at this point. Baby Bae Bag is ready…my bag been packed since last month n the closer the date comes, the more anxious n excited yet nervous I get. I am TEAM C-SECTION. I am also TEAM PUT ME TO SLEEP to go along with it. I don’t care about this so called recovery time n V Backness n blah blah blah. Folks kill me as if they deserve a cookie for doing it naturally wit no meds or pushing **slow clap** the end results are the same: motherhood. Plus wit me bein stitched up I have no option other than a c-section so I’m cool wit that. Surprisingly, I’m able to be more mobile than I expected. The TTB (teeny tiny bump) hasn’t doubled in size (this baby loves me already) n I rotate the same 4 outfits a week. My greatest fantasy to keep me motivated within these last moments is envisioning good SLEEP in a comfy bed. I dmn near wanna plan a staycay in a hotel to luxuriously dive into those comfy duvet sheets n sleep-UNINTERRUPTED!! After this grand finale…I will rest n snap back into life as I gotta hit the ground running becuz Spring 2019 semester starts mid-month annnnd I wanna head up to NY for my bday weekend. I am ready for a full makeover n overhaul for myself into a better me. Shedding that dead snakeskin to reveal the New Year, New Me.

Jan 2019; 38 wks

Happy Birthday!! OMG HE’S HERE!! HE’S HERE!! We got to the hospital early cuz we were scheduled to be first up. As calm as I was being, I was secretly listening to my heart pound with anxiousness. Like wow, this is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Time went by slow n sped up outta nowhere. I go to the back to get prepped up n monitored-SHYT IS GETTING REAL-REAL! My mind is racing. I haven’t been in this position in 12 yrs. WTF AM I DOIN? I said I’d do WHAT? My doctor comes in cheesing like YALL READY? As if i can say no lol. I feel like my body is shaking n then we arrive in that bright cold azz delivery room. The team is getting sooted n booted. My mind automatically starts processing from start to finish how we got here. I AM CRAZY AS HELL FOR DOIN THIS!! Babydaddy is next to me…I don’t care cuz at this point I hate all men! Anybody wit a penis I’m mad at. Why they can’t be in THIS position. Shyt just ain’t fair…ok focus…at this point all I hear is Charlie Brown’s teacher n then “Happy Birthday” wit some crying. I know in the movies they put that dirty gooey messy baby all up in ur face for the 1^st glimpse. I SEE NOTHING!! My eyes are either focused on the ceiling or shut tight. Babydaddy is fascinated by the science of it all. As my insides shifted n prolly dangling (hell I can’t feel it), I remind him to not make me laugh. I ain’t want no mishaps when they was tryin to put this humpty dumpty together again. While in the recovery room, I couldn’t help but stare in awe as happiness filled my heart for my boys. WE DID IT!! They’ve been here every step of the way. To think it all started from a drag cruise haha. I didn’t think I could love them anymore than I did until I seen them hover over this new life I helped bring into the world. My Boys became Two n Uh Half Men.

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Pregnant After 35: Due Date Set

Dec 2018; 33 wks

Each week I am stalkin the calendar. I am over being preggers. Like no-really. I am ready to get my mojo back, sleep without sitting up (lookin like that I Love NY meme) or being awaken with chest pains n heart burn. Aside from the gripe tho…there have been positives J I walked passed the mirror a few wks ago n noticed a lil junk in the trunk. I ain’t pay it too much attn til my stepma confirmed it over the holiday break **twerks profusely** ayyyyyye :P and despite being 8 months, I don’t have swollen feet n maintaining my Fig-Ya! I am goin back n forth on maternity pics. I feel slightly cheated I don’t have the full overly round bump n mainly lookin bloated but more so just taking advantage of the energy that comes n goes to pull myself together to do it. As much as I love taking baths, its becoming a task in which I gotta dedicate an extra 5-10 min to get out when its time. Phase 1-reach down to let the water out, Phase 2-brace urself to get on both knees, Phase 3-lean arms against tub for momentum to push up, Phase 4-why have u fallen back in the tub, Phase 5-repeat 2 & 3, Phase 6-stand up yet lean on the wall for balance, Phase 7-grab the towel n catch ur breathe, Phase 8-sit down on the toilet continuing to catch ur breathe, Phase 9-stare at the tub realizing soaking comes to a halt til after delivery, Phase 10-Enjoy the victory of surviving Phase 4!!! I shall start nesting mid-Dec-ish. It’s becoming too much work getting up n movin in the am then heading to work or comin from with traffic. The remainder of the year is flying…who’s complaining? NOT ME!!! I am ready to come back in 2019 with a vengeance to be a bigger n badder self. Although my energy is up n down, my drive to thrive n motivation is high-yet on pause until after my job is done lol. Maternity Leave is lookin reeeeal good these days. I’ve been local ALL YEAR **cue horror scream** the sacrifices we make bringing life into the world huh. Which reminds me…I need to renew my passport.

Dec 2018; 35 wks

We officially have a DUE DATE..well tentatively speakin unless Lil Meep Meep decides to come sooner. I am winding down to prepare the nesting phase. I was spoiled when my stepma came to visit over the Thanxgiving break where she cooked n drove me to/from work for a good 3 wks. She is a blessing I won’t ever take for granted. I hated to see her go L After dropping her off at the airport I got behind the wheel I hadn’t touched in almost a full month like-now what. It’s getting harder driving into work each morning sheesh! The stop n go traffic, tryin to drive comfortably, having to sit up to switch lanes smh-so annoying!! Now that we’ve narrowed down a date (which I don’t think they ready for), my bags are packed, paper’s for maternity leave submitted n I do need to do some last minute baby essential shopping. I have not been in the typical holiday spirit. Our trees are still in storage n there isn’t nere inkling of a decoration hung in the house. We will be wit my boys so we gotta keep up with our new ornament tradition to pick out something to hang on THEIR tree. I am in a great mood thinking of what’s to come going into the New Year’s though. I am hype n motivated to get back to self after taking a hiatus to rest easy. I’m also excited to be a part of the next chapter in my boys lives into parenting (and chuckle along the way). OH CRAP!!!! I’ve taken no maternity shoots-ugh…I gotta pull myself together to capture this grand finale of a moment cuz surely n I do me SURELY this is an event that will NEVER happen again (paper work also secured to make sure of it).

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