Crowns Galore

Man, this year is flying right on by! Can you believe that Thanksgiving will be here in about 2 weeks and Christmas in less than 60 days!? This is crazy! I feel like just yesterday it was the middle of August and the kids were asking to go to the pool! Any who! Let me focus here, my year has been so busy! The kids have all been growing like weeds, eating us out of house and home, one school year ending to another one beginning not only for the kids but for myself. With the new school year came school activities and field trips, homework, fundraisers,  study time, housework, family time and so on and so forth. With everything happening and things always going on, I found myself lost in a never ending cycle of daily routine. I became a walking Mombie, a Mom Zombie (see what I did there?). I was functioning but there was little brain activity going on. It's like my mind and body were on autopilot and I was just moving to get things done. I felt like the scene from one of the Shrek mo...

I have a confession to make as a mom.... I may have bitten off a little more than I can chew and digest, there is so much going on right now that if I did not have my planner to write everything down some things would not get done and there are still some things I forget to write down they literally disappears from my memory not to be remembered until it is way past when it was needed to be done. Like I seriously carry this planner around everywhere constantly writing things down and checking things off. My mind is so full I can't remember my school schedule from day to day or what classroom and building I need to be in for class lol. I haven't seen my laundry room floor in weeks and I'm quite sure I'm working on the backup 3-9 month onesies for JV since the others have been swallowed up by the laundry room abyss. WIth hubby's work schedule and my school schedule we each try to get in as much conversation with each other on the rides to and from his work that we a...

I got a question the other day that pretty much stumped me. What's the difference between BB and CC creams. I stumbled with an explanation that ended with, "I honestly don't even know!" I was then set on a mission to figure it out and equip myself with the knowledge I needed to explain this matter the next time the opportunity arose, hopefully it will come knocking once more. On my quest I found out some interesting details about the two. BB Cream also known as Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm Cream, was originally created to lesson the steps of a woman's beauty regimen, to streamline the routine.  Its a moisturizer, primer, sunscreen, skin treatment, concealer, and foundation all in one simple tube, talk about minimalism! BB creams were introduced to the United States back in 2011 and for the past 5 years have become a staple for many women. You can purchase them from any where for as low as $10 to as high as $100 There are some benefits to using BB creams, the...

I've never been one to wear sunscreen. I was actually taught, or not really taught but followed the concept that black folk didn't need to wear it because we had enough pigment and melanin to protect us from the harmful rays of the sun. Well who would have thought that the things that we were told as children were not all true or even worst that things change over time! I know crazy right?! In my older years as a mom I've researched some of those things I was told as a youngling and sunscreen was one of those things. With summer well in full swing and really almost out of here, I mean school will be back in session in about 4 weeks, sheesh, I think its relevant to visit the idea of using sunscreen daily or at the very least on those days we plan to be out in the sun for the majority of the day. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation , sunscreens are products combining several ingredients that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. T...

Over the past few months, I've been in such a slump. Even with all that I usually have going on and how busy I seem to always be, I've been feeling like I want or need something else. I know you're saying, "More!?, you do not need anything else on your plate!" I mean, yes I have four boys, one who is now 10 months and getting into any and everything. Lately he's been testing out new cries and screams; I guess he's evaluating the response he receives from us using different pitches and volumes. The older boys are having a grand time in school and outside with their friends after school so much so that their time for Mommy has lessened. They still give me random hugs and kisses and they still run back every now and then to tell me they love me; it makes my heart melt every time. Hubby has started a new job venture and I've been helping to spearhead his entrepreneurial efforts with as much support as I can possibly give and then a little more. And th...

Haven't posted in a little while, been crazy busy of course, no surprise there right I know. I've had a few things on my mind lately and decided that the best way to get them out of my head is to write them down, well type them up. I started this blog to get my thoughts and ideas out of my head and out to others with hopes that they are relatable and will help someone who reads my words. So what better way to have this blog serve and maintain its purpose. So, any who, I've been talking lately with myself and with hubby about our decision to try for another child or not. Every one knows we have four wonderful boys and I always get the question of will we try again for a girl. I don't know what the future holds for us as a family but I will say given all the pros and the many, many cons, its not looking too good on the "Operation Jones Girl" front. I'm usually an optimistic realist, meaning I see the glass half full but I understand that the glass can...

Last night I got a call that shook me. It was a call to inform me that a cousin of mine was found dead in an abandoned home. I kind of went numb but still knew to call my Granny and Mom to make sure they knew. With all the deaths I've experienced over the past couple of years my heart is so fragile. I'm just recently getting to the place where I'm not scared to answer the phone.  I thank God for keeping me through all that I've been through. I thank God for a husband he is my back bone and apart of my awesome support system. I further thank God that on this morning I received a message to let me know that it was not my cousin and I thank God that it was not but I also feel for the family of the son, brother, husband or cousin who was found in that home.  Life is unexpected and with a new year coming in tonight we should reevaluate our priorities. This is a reevaluation that we should do consistently throughout the year but if we haven't it's not too late to do s...

This, unfortunately, is the season of colds, viruses, asthma flare ups, and just plain ole sick for mostly everyone and worst for our little ones. Even when you think you've done all that you can to protect your babies and yourself from the horrible bug of sickness someone in your household brings home the one sneeze or cough that releases the germ into your fortress of what you thought was solitude from the dreaded cold; inevitable for those of us with little ones. They leave home to go to school, day care, play dates, grandmas or wherever feeling great and free from infection ( Coming to America reference I literally just laughed out loud, told you all I was corny) and they return with germs that invade your territory. It almost makes you want to snatch their clothes off at the door throw them in the tub and then disinfect everything that could have possibly been contaminated.  For two years one of our boys was in the hospital for at least a week in December around his birthday b...

Ok, so we do not believe in the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus and we teach our children that these tales do not exist. Since this is the Christmas season I will just talk about Dear ole' St. Nick. All of our boys know that Santa Claus is not real. We chose at the time they asked to just tell them truth and not hold up a charade, that was our choice. We explained to them the story about a man named Nicholas who was called a saint because he would leave candy and trinkets in the stockings left outside of the doors of the poor families with children. It gave the family's joy and hope when the children awoke to receive their gifts from dear ole St. Nick. As the years went on and time passed they, whoever they are, added to the story and turned him into some mystical being with a sleigh and reindeers who travels the world giving gifts by sliding down folk's chimneys. And some parents have adopted the story and allowed their children to believe it. Me, personall...

Hubby was home with the boys while I was out at a beautiful event the other day. After the ceremony, I sat down to eat at the reception with a couple others when I was asked, "Is your husband babysitting the boys?" Uummmm, no ma'am he's home with his children.  A father being home with his children while mom is away is not babysitting. Those are his children that he has a duty to take care of. When mom is home with the children is she then babysitting? No she's home with her children so why then are fathers reduced to babysitters when they are spending quality time alone with their children. Has our society gotten so far away from men in general being able to be there for their children. Let's not go into black men being present in their children's lives, pulling the race card takes it to a whole other dimension. Give our men credit when and where it's due. When they are home with their children they are simply being the other parent. They are being a ...

Continue on if you will but I must tell you this post contains talk of BMs and prayer.  Monday I took JV to his 4 month well child visit and I forgot all about him having to get his booster immunization shots. Doctor checks him out, everything is great. Although he's a little chunkier than most he's growing beautifully and exceeding all of his current milestones. He had to get 3 needles and one liquid. I'm getting better at keeping my composure when it comes to sticking my babies with needles I don't shed tears anymore which is a win for this Mommy. Anyway, the only one I can remember off hand is the Rotavirus vaccine which was the liquid form, it's white in color in a small syringe that the nurse squirts down into the lower cheek and hopes that babies don't spit it all back into their faces. It is a live attenuated (weakend) viral vaccine given to prevent Rotavirus which is nasty bug that causes fever and vomiting, followed by very bad diarrhea which can all ca...

Whenever I'm out with JV I get the usual, "Congratulations!" which I was confused after he was 3 months and folk were still saying it, I'm like he's not new anymore I mean do you see how chunky he is! I get the "Aaaawwwww, I remember when" which was a new response that I actually just got today and I always get "He so cute and adorable, he's a big boy!" And usually following one of these statements I get asked "Is he your first?" First let me say thank you, thank you for looking at my face and looking at this body and not being able to realize that I have pushed four bundles of heaping joy from this uterus, thank you so very much. Now, it's not this question that gets me, it's the repsponse to my reply of "No, he's actually  my fourth,  t hat is starting to get my panties in a bunch and ruffle my feathers.  "OMG, how do you do it?!" Wow, FOUR BOYS! (Note the emphasis) and then of course following those i...

Natural hair has made a huge impact on many of women these days. Seems like every where you turn you'll find at least 3-4 women rocking a coily bush of sorts. You go on YouTube and there are tons and tons of "Big Chop" videos. Some did the big chop because it was something to do, some because they wanted to keep up with the Jones' and others because they were tired of the damaging effects of the many years of chemicals. Trying to figure out a style for my bush the other day had me frustrated and in distress, it had me wondering why I decided to take this natural hair journey and why I should or shouldn't keep the journey going. I mean my hair seems like it's the roughest toughest texture there is, it doesn't behave at all and it doesn't take well to most products or most styles so why should I even bother? After laying back and resting my oh so tired arms I started really thinking about it, what was stopping me from indulging in the creamy crack once a...

Hello World! August was such a rough month for me. My sister's would be 25th birthday, the one year anniversary of her death plus the one year anniversaries of my two aunts and a young friend of my family. Not to mention adjusting to a supposed routine for my newborn and also preparing my big boys for a new school. Just so very much that not only did I not have time but my mind was just not settled enough to put pen to paper. Have you ever been there? It's like your thoughts are running their own marathon, full speed with no chill in sight! My goodness! Now that things have calmed just a little I have some time to catch up with you all and see how life is treating you and let you all know how life is now treating me.  School is in session for my big boys so it's just been JV and I living it up! I had to make a hard decision to not return to work. I say hard because for a family of six now having one income is a bit of a stretch but when trying to find child care you come to...

Not that I'm naive or stupid or anything but I find it so amazing how different every pregnancy and every child can be. Everyday since the day JV was born has proven to me that I m done procreating. This is not a bad thing at all it's just my simple yet at the same time magnanimous revelation that I just can not go through the process of pregnancy, labor and delivery again. Now unless the Lord has a crazy way of doing things which is not at all too far fetched for my life and it's in His plan and His will for us to do this again and He does it in a way that only He could have done it, I can not let this happen again.  Now this is not to say that my pregnancy was not a beautiful experience or that my baby is not one of the most special creations that my husband and I have had the luxury to create. It's just the way this pregnancy has set my body up, I'm just not bouncing back quite like I did with the other boys. I mean here I am almost 3 weeks postpartum and still e...

Here it is, a little over two weeks since I pushed my baby boy into this world. It was an intense 15 hours of labor but after increased and then decreased doses of oxytocin, external and internal monitors, the use of a peanut ball between my legs (that I had never seen nor heard of in my life, was used to open up my pelvis and allow baby to descend easily, so the nurse said), multiple heart rate drops, oxygen masks, much frustration, and anxiety a pulled muscle and a few burst blood vessels, finally at 10:32pm my Baby JV was coerced from my womb into the world. His labor and delivery was by far, for me, the most intense of my four babies. But of course after all that, when they laid my baby in my arms and I looked into his bright and alert little eyes and he looked directly into mine, all of that stress from that long process didn't matter as much because he was finally here and he was all mine. Gone were the frustrating thoughts of how we thought he would be here at least two week...

As of a couple days ago I am officially on maternity leave! The boys are out for the summer and Hubby is working harder than ever before seems like. It has definitely been a lot harder to get back into the swing of things as far as being a Stay at Home Mom again. One reason of course is I'm carrying an almost 8 lb basketball belly in front of me everywhere I go these days. In my mind I'm moving around in full speed. I mean I have my fast walk going on and everything but I've realized I've only been deceiving myself because I'm actually moving at a snail's pace! Couple that with the many breaks to catch my breath and the other many breaks to break up fights and arguments the boys get themselves into and I really only complete about two tasks a day! Lmbo not a lot of progress to some but that is an accomplishment to just finish something!  Along side getting into the swing of being at home I'm also getting a little anxious about when Baby JV will actually arri...

10 weeks to go!! My count down is about to be on!! Ok scratch that it is now 6 weeks to go. It has literally taken me an entire month to finish this one post what is my problem seriously smh. Such a slacker! Any who, I can't believe my pregnancy is almost over. Although it has seemed long it doesn't seem like its time for it to be almost over. My lil munchkin has really been making his presence know these days, flipping and tumbling all day. Sticking lil hands and lil feet into my ribs, poking my bladder I mean the whole nine yards. I'm almost still in awe that we made this happen again and that in a few weeks we'll have another lil Jones added to it posse... Amazing! Although I am getting super stoked that my time to meet my next love child is right around the corner I still feel like I was cheated. That's right cheated! I couldn't still wear my cute heels as I see so many 2nd and 3rd trimester women donning. I was so clumsy in my 1st trimester that when I trie...

Hello Ladies! Here I am in my 5th month of pregnancy most of the time feeling like Free Willy when I lay in the bed but wanting to feel sexy for my hubby. How in the world am I going to feel sexy, feel sexual, sensual and ready to be frisky right now? I'll tell you how, I just have to do it! I mean hubby tells me all the time how good I look to him, how sexy I am to him even with a front full of belly so I have to own it and walk in it! I can't allow my sugar to grow stale or get cold I have to get my sugar together!  Its so easy with the cares of this life, work, children, housework, etc. to loose yourself. We hear it so many times mothers loosing their groove and then later finding Stella to get her to help them get their groove back. You can start with lighting some candles and slipping into one of his t-shirts and nothing else, I mean who doesn't look good in candle light and what man doesn't get turned on at the sight of his lady in one of his shirts?? ...