Baby Yemaya is Here!!!!! First pictures

'Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you. Before you were here for an hour I would have died for you. This is the miracle of life'. - Author unknown

Hi all!!!

My gorgeous baby girl arrived safely via c-section on the 24 of April 2013 at exactly 10:20 (which is also the exact time, I was born 31 years ago). We have decided to name her Yemaya and use Maya as a nickname. Here are the first pictures.

An hour after her birth

 Papa cutting her cord

 Having my first look at my Love

 Skin to Skin

Weight (3,23kgs) and Length (48 cm)

Very tired!

Time and Date of birth

Its been an amazing 48 hours but for now, am back home and will update over the weekend. Off to bed.


Love, Joy and Baby Maya

Baby Corner

'For this child I have prayed and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart'. - 1 Samuel 1:27

Good Morning everyone!!!!

So today is Monday, tomorrow morning I am meeting my medical team and then afterwards going into hospital to spend the night. So this is my last night at home and second last night as a pregnant woman - soon to be mama. Loves it!!!!! As promised here are pictures of Baby Afropean's corner. We will be sharing a room. 

No one puts Baby in a corner, except her Mama.....

Changing pad/bath tub

Bath tub

Sleep tight little one.....

So warm and snuggly

My reading, breastfeeding and staring at baby chair  and footstool with Roo in her spot. 

Musical wall hangings

Musical elephant and night light (those curtains were done by ouma/ grandmother)

Bottle corner 

 

Manuel breast pump

 Wardrobe decor

Clothes

 Well prepared

First Birth Day gift from grandmother

Shoes from aunty B

changing table / bath 

new born nappies in case my cloth diapers dont fit those first few weeks, burp clothes, natural wipes, soaps, powder, lotion, baby oil, baby wash etc

I am going to breastfeed Baby Afropean however, I also want to express milk and pump milk for storage, therefore I have the breast pump, extra bottles and small bottles for freezing.

By the way, I took out All the gender specific clothing, toys and cloth diapers.

These last few night have been hard on me emotionally, physically and Spiritually  however, am keeping on and just waiting to hold my little one in my arms.  One of the things that keep me sane at the worst times is this amazing saying which I have engraved in my soul - No one will ever know the strength of my Love for you. After all, you are the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside. 

Am considering getting a gorgeous frame for this quote and add a sonogram picture as well as a new born picture.

As for now, back to bed to lie in and think about the next few days and try not to panic.

Peace, Love and Faith

Hospital Bag

'We know that birth takes a woman from one place in her life to another. The birth of a child certainly does change her view point of the world'. - Sameerah Shareef

Hi all

So my sister arrived early this morning and we are now just waiting for my baby to make the grand arrival. Below are pictures of my hospital bag.

My packed bag with my baby Journal

Boppy Pillow

Coming home clothes as well as a blanket (weather is still cold here in Stockholm)

Jersey for baby and night dress for mama

Also packed are:
- nursing bras
- slippers
- underwear (although I am told I will get mesh ones there) and socks
- toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, small body shower gel, deo and my lotion)
- car seat is ready
- Camera (sis and the boo will bring along cameras)
- Laptop if there is wifi
- iPod with earphones
- stool softeners (sexy I know right?!!!)
- x-rays of my leg and hip to show the medical staff my spinal and hip situation.

Everything else I am told I will get from the Hospital, although I have yet to meet my medical team so don't actually know what to take along. I was told by my midwife, how and with what to wash myself (medical soap), as well when to stop eating. I have also taken a look at the online hospital maternity ward video and c-section video ward, so I have an idea of whats going to happen. Will just keep watching the video until Wednesday.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, all I can think about is that depending on the day Baby Afropean may be an Aries or Taurus!!!!! I know random right?

Happy Thoughts, Happy Thoughts, HAPPY THOUGHTS!!!!!!!


Peace, Love and Patience

Maternity Photos

'You were given life; it is your duty (and your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight'. - Elizabeth Gilbert

Hi all

So here are my maternity photos that I took recently, am currently at 37 weeks and 4 days. These are still in the raw images and no work has yet been done which is why I Love them!!!!!! Fun fact, my boo is the photographer. So these pictures were totally done with Love and lots of patience on his part, poor guy..... Onto the pictures.

Love this one!!!!!

 Looks good in color - I adore this dress!!!! 

 My Favorite 

 Baby was kicking at this point,

My watermelon bump

Just an update, have officially started my contractions, found this out when I went to my last midwife appointment and she sent me up to the hospital ultrasound ward to get checked out. Baby has dropped into position and am having light contractions that aren't worrisome to the nurses there but can definitely be felt by mama here!!!!! So hopefully Baby Afropean can stay put till next week Wednesday or at least any day after this Friday when my sister is flying in. Will keep you guys posted.


Love, Peace and Patience

Labor Music

'One Good thing about Music, once it hits you you feel no pain'. - Bob Marley

Hi all

So we finally sorted out the music playlist on the iPod for the Birth of Baby Afropean and lets just say my type of music is very eclectic. I have some soft sounds, a bit of Reggae, R'n B, Soul, Gospel and Namibian artists. Below is just a few songs I have on the iPod enjoy!!!!!!

Blossom - Nomuthima Gwomeya (Namibian Artist)

Leah Smith - Untitled Song

 

Sizzla - Thank You Mama

Lauryn Hill - His Eye is on the Sparrow

Celine Dion ft R. Kelly- I'm your Angel

As well as a  few more jams like
* Dave Mathews Band - Crush
* Prince- Most beautiful girl in the world (Could you be)
* Mel B - Lullaby
* Damian Jr. Gong Marley - Affairs of the heart

I chose music that calms me and has meaning for me as well as music that I have been playing to my baba. Even though I may not listen to the whole playlist which consists of 30 songs, I do play it at night when I go to bed and when I am busy reading as background.

So there you have it. My labor music selection.

Peace Love and Music

Baby Products part 2

'Love can change a person the way a parent can change a baby awkwardly, and often with a great deal of mess'.  - Lemony Snicket

Happy Friday people!!!!

Today I am going to do a part two post about baby products I have for Afropean Baby. 

Here is what we have

The holder emptied out....

Brush and comb

 Cute little toothbrush (for much later lol)

Dolphin thermometer 

Nail file and nail clipper

Mouth thermometer

nasal applicator

Milk of Magnesia - (antacid -laxative), soothing relief for heartburn, indigestion or constipation. 

Small bottle of Olive Oil (still need to get a small bottle of coconut oil)

This attaches a pacifier to clothing

My mom swears by this stuff. As do my aunts, grandmother, Boo's mother and his grandmothers. I think Lennon products are a staple in Namibian and South African households. This is 'Behoedmiddel vir kinders' and its for treatment of winds, stomach ache, colic and diarrhea.

Gripe water which is a home remedy for babies with colic, teething pain, reflux, gastrointestinal discomfort  and other stomach ailments. 

So these are what we have for Baby Afropean.

Please Note: All these products were bought we my own money and I know them and grew up with them as did my Boo and parents. Please do not use these products for yourself without consulting your doctor or pediatrician. Please do not take my products as Law. This is what I will use for My Child.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!!!!

Joy, Laughter and Counting down

Hair today part 2

'Life is all about taking chances, appreciating the memories, learning from the past and finding happiness'. - Sushan Sharma

Yello!!!!!!!!

Finished with my hair and am totally happy with the results!!!! I didn't do my own hair, my lovely Nigerian friend C did it for me and she did an amazing job!!!!! Will hopefully keep this in for up to 8 maybe even 10 weeks depending on how I feel. I plan on making an oil mixture for my scalp but for now am seriously happy. Here are pictures of my new hair-style.  

Me and my braids

Nice, neat and tight

Side view

I have also uploaded my watermelon sized tummy at 36 weeks and 4 days!!!!! We are almost full term!!!!

My wonderful bump. 

I cant really see my feet anymore.

Am so glad this is now done, its such a weight off my shoulders, having not to deal with my hair and a new born. Seriously. I just couldn't manage it. So having it braided made a lot of sense for me.

Ok, so just want to have a little list of what I still need to blog about before the Big Day.

- Maternity pictures (coming soon)
- Pregnancy symptoms I have had
- Baby products part 2
- Baby corner
- Hospital bag
- Last minute shopping / stocking up
- Labor music playlist

Yep, as long as I have a list I know what I need to do lol. So now we all on the same page, there are 7 special baby related posts coming up. Hope you guys are not too sick of pregnancy related posts yet. At this point I really cant even think of anything else to post about, its all Baby Baby Baby around here.

So thank you for reading and lurking on my Blog.

Peace, Joy and Hair