Tallahassee

On Friday, me, my daughter and boyfriends family left for our trip to Tallahassee. I was a bit skeptical about taking my daughter on her first road trip. When I found out that we would be leaving in the evening it eased my worries. My daughter is seven-months-old now and she sleeps through the night, her average bedtime is 8 p.m. Therefore, I knew I would not have to worry about her getting antsy on her first road trip. We got on the road around 9 p.m. and surprisingly Aniyah was still awake. I started to get worried and began thinking that the drive may be to much for her to handle. A short time after my daughter was fast asleep. We made a stop just before Gainesville and all the movement and lights from the doors opening woke her up. As soon as we got back on the road she went back to sleep and so did I. Before you know it we were on Interstate-10, ten miles out of Tallahassee.

Roadtrip

My boyfriend is very busy with school and football so he does not have the time to visit me and Aniyah as much as he would like to. He came up with this idea for me to take her to Tallahassee to see him on Friday. Any other time I would have jumped in my car and took turnpike north until I arrived in Tallahassee, but with a baby things are not as easy. I would have to worry about the time I would leave so that she would not wake up and be to fussy and make sure I pack everything she needs. He later told me that his mother would be driving up on Friday as well and told me to ride with her. Although the drive is still going to be long with a baby I preferred that idea. I guess I will have to start packing early because I am getting ready to take my daughter on her first road trip.

Girls Day

On April 8, I turned twenty-three years old and my daughter turned 7 months old. Seeing as though she is still a baby, we could not do anything to adventurous. Instead, we enjoyed a mother-daughter day by shopping at Aventura Mall followed by Pembroke Lakes Mall. When we returned to my house my best friend came over with balloons and a birthday cake. She sang happy birthday to me and Aniyah and we enjoyed a slice of cake. My baby was exhausted from our long shopping date that she fell asleep soon after. Since she sleeps through the night now I don't mind asking my mom to babysit while I enjoy a night out with my friends. My best friend and I began to get dressed for our dinner date with some of my other close friends at P.F. Chang's. This was not just an ordinary night for me, this was my first night going to the club since last year march before I had my baby. I was extremely excited to be enjoying the club scene once again. But I was not surprised to find out that not much had changed.

Baby Weight

After my daughter was born I had put on 20 extra pounds to compared to my weight before the pregnancy. I found it to be challenging to loose the weight because I was a new mom with new responsibilities. Although you could call me a stay at home mom because I do not work and was not in school for the first four months of my daughters life, I had little time for working out. I tried the outdoor workouts such as walking and jogging with the baby, but I was eating more calories then I was burning off. If it was cold or raining I would not take the baby in the stroller that day. It would throw my entire workout off for the week. When Aniyah turned six-months-old I joined 24 hour fitness, and I think it was the best decision that I could have made. I take Aniyah to the Kids Club while I work out. I like to take the spinning classes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and workout on my own during the other two or three days. My goal is to get rid of this extra baby fat really soon and with hard work and dedication I think I can get back to my prior weight, if not smaller.

They grow so fast

My daughter is six-months-old now and I can not believe how time fly's. It seems like every month she is learning something new. This month was a pretty rough month for both her and I because she caught a bad cold and I caught it soon after. We have been back and forth to the doctor and pharmacy in an effort to help rid her cold. Although she has been sick, she still keeps a smile on her face and continues to be one of the happiest babies I've ever seen.

Aniyah has always been extremely active and playful, during this month I have noticed changes in her activity. I woke up around 3 a.m. one morning to her making noise and rolling around in her crib. She had learned to roll a few months back but not consistently. This night she would not stop rolling, I would place her on her stomach and she would end up on her back. Keep in mind she is a baby that has been sleeping through the night since she was two-months-old. For an entire week she would wake up in the middle of the night rolling back and forth.

Being Finacially Prepared

Every parent wants the best for there child and many people prepare for the arrival of there child years in advance by finding stable jobs and stable relationships. In my case I had been working for most of my pregnancy and managed to save up money. Although I had a job it was not a high paying job, it was just enough for a college student to get by with the support of there parents. I had planned on breastfeeding since I would be a stay at home mom, and because it is healthier, I am under my dads insurance so I figured that would pay for any medical expenses. When I was 7-months pregnant I was told by my doctor that I would have to pay $375 for doctors fees. I was unsure as to why i had to pay but come to find out we have a 10 percent deductible. After my baby was born I was unable to breastfeed because I was not producing enough milk, milk has become somewhat like a monthly bill. These are just a few bumps in the road when it comes to raising a baby. Although I have been able to financially support my daughter since birth by myself if need be, I feel it is important for expectant parents to be financially prepared for there newborn.

Holidays

Ever since Ive had my daughter I find myself becoming excited for the holidays. When she was a little over a month Halloween was quickly approaching. I must have went to every nearby Party City in search of a cute costume. I really wanted to dress her up as a pumpkin, I think every baby or toddler should dress up as a pumpkin for at least one Halloween. After searching ins and outs my aunt called and said "I have a gift for princess Niyah". At this point I had given up on the pumpkin idea since Party City only had sizes for 12 months and up. Soon after my aunt showed up to my house with a cute little bag and a card, It was two Halloween outfits, they were extremely cute. One was a one piece with a little orange tutu around the waist and a pumpkin n the middle of the chest. The other was more like a pajama. When October 31st arrived I dressed my daughter in her first Halloween costume.

Uncle JoJo

Niyah was two-months-old when my brother came home from school in Connecticut. Not only was he excited to get out of there but he was ready to see his niece for the first time. At this time Niyah was starting to smile and observe new faces. When she met her uncle Jojo for the first time she observed him, it took awhile for her to get used to him but even when she did he was ready to give her back. I was glad that she got to meet her dad and uncle. I just wish they could have been there for her birth, but everything happens for a reason.

Meeting Daddy

It was not until Aniyah was exactly one-month-old did she meet her daddy for the first time. My boyfriend and I are in a long distance relationship, he attends school in Tallahassee, Florida at Florida State University. Niyah was born in September which is also the start of football season,because of practice, workouts and school my boyfriend could not come down until the Florida State versus University of Miami game. I was ecstatic, from the moment that I pulled up to the Don Shula Hotel and Restaurant where the FSU football was staying a big smile came across my face because I knew how bad my boyfriend wanted to meet his daughter. I remember the day like it was yesterday. The look on his face when he took her out of the car-seat held her and looked at her for the first time was priceless.

New Faces

On Sunday, September 12, 2010 I woke up so excited because my parents were flying in from New York. Normally my parents fly in the mornings but for some reason they were not flying into Florida until that evening which made me even more anxious.

My best friend Ashley and I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and patiently awaited the arrival of my parents. Around 6p.m. my grandmother who lives in New York called me and warned me that my parents where at my gate. Soon after the door open and my parents walked in to greet my four-day-old baby awake and laying in her play pin. My mom ran in the shower and when she returned she held Aniyah for the first time. The look on her face was priceless, I guess holding your grandchild for the first time gives you the same joy as holding your own child for the first time. I dad was a little nervous about holding her because according to him she was to small. He held her for about a minute and quickly gave her to me.

That night we slept in my room and once again I put Aniyah in the bed with me, she was so small and I did not feel comfortable putting her in her crib yet. After days of waiting, I was so happy that Aniyah met her grandparents, next uncle joey and daddy. 

Bringing Home Baby

On Saturday, September 11, 2010 I took my daughter home for the first time. I was anxious yet scared because I was leaving the hospital where I had constant support from nurses. Although I was excited to get home to my own house and bed, I was not looking forward to being there alone. My best friend drove down from Orlando to help me during my first days at home with the baby but I was still missing my family. My parents were still in Connecticut with my brother and my boyfriend was in the middle of football season.

Once I got home I was greeted by my aunt, uncle and cousins who came over to keep me company and set up everything that I would need for the baby such as the swing, play pin, bouncer and rocking chair. As my uncle and cousin began putting everything together I was preparing to watch my boyfriends game on TV.

My best friend came over during the 1st quarter of the game and I was happy that I would not have to be alone once my family left. As the end of the day approached I realized that I was blessed with a very good baby. She slept, woke up to eat and went to sleep again, I had no complaints.

That night my newborn and I slept in my parents room so I would not have to go up and down the stairs. My baby's first day home was nothing but memorable.

Three Days in the Hospital

That night after my baby was born I continued to have visitors. I was physically drained from, but nervous because I had no idea how to take care of this newborn baby on my own. I was so thrilled that my grand-mother stayed with me that night so that i could get some rest even if the baby woke up. It was incredibly hard for me to sleep that night. I don't know if it was the nerves but as tired as i was it was hard for me to sleep. As Wednesday turned into Thursday and Thursday turned into Friday, I was learning how to be a mother. By Friday all of my close friends and family had came to check on me and see the new baby. And finally on Saturday I took my baby home for the first time.

Welcome Princess Aniyah

Aniyah Malia Reliford
7lbs, 80z
20in

Once I found out that I was four centimeters dilated and indeed in labor my aunt starting making calls while the nurse prepared me for delivery. My aunt called my parents first who tried everything to get on the first flight back home. Even if they made the flight they wouldn't have made it in time for the delivery because everything was happening so fast. I called my boyfriend, luckily he wasn't in football practice at the time and he called his family, before I knew it I was seven centimeters dilated, without an epidural and a room full of family. Finally after complaining about the pain the anesthesiologist showed up with the epidural, I desperately wanted to do a natural birth but the pain was unbearable. When I was nine centimeters dilated the nurse asked me who I wanted to keep in the room with me. I was a extremely disappointed that during the birth of my first child my parents brother and boyfriend weren't able to be there with me. Because they couldn't make it my two aunts, my cousin and boyfriends mom and aunt helped me get through the hour and thirty minutes of pushing. Although my immediate family and boyfriend couldn't be there my aunt had my parents on the phone so they could know whats going on and my boyfriends mom had him on the phone throughout the entire process. At 9:55 pm my daughter Aniyah Malia Reliford was born, she was 7lbs,8ozs, 20 inches long.

Labor begins

It was early Wednesday morning on September 8,2010 when nurses woke me up to check my blood pressure and examine me. My blood pressure had gotten better although it still was not normal. The nurses contacted my doctor and he said it was okay for me to be released under the circumstances that I returned in the morning for another checkup.  I was told that I was one centimeter dilated before I was released around 12pm. I was at home laying in my parents bedroom all alone when I started having bad cramps, I called two of my friends that had babies a few months prior and they both had different experiences then me so they weren't much help. Although my stomach was cramping I didn't think that I was in labor since I just left the hospital an hour prior at one centimeter dilated. Around 2pm my aunt called to see if i wanted any food, she normally gets off at 3 but for some reason that day she got off early. By the time she got to my house around 2:30pm the pain was unbearable at least I thought so until it got worse. My aunt asked me how far apart was the pain, it was approximately 2 minutes apart, that's when my aunt told me that I might be in labor. She drove me to the hospital and by the time I made it to labor and delivery I was four centimeters dilated.

Weekly Checkup

Soon to be parents

On Sunday, September 5, 2010 my parents left early that morning to begin there road trip to Connecticut. They were taking my brother to school and because my due date was a near 3 weeks away I couldn’t go along for the ride. That Labor Day Monday I spent the day at home with my little cousins, aunts and uncles, we barbequed and went in the pool. It seemed like I had swam all day, and I figured swimming was enough exercise for the day. The next day I went to my grandparent’s house until it was time for my weekly doctor’s visit. I usually go by myself but this time I asked my grandma to come with me. When we arrived at Memorial Hospital I parked and went into my doctors office signed in and waited to be called. Within 5 minutes I was being weighed and having my blood pressure checked. When the nurse finished checking my pressure she made a weird face, but I let it go over my head when she said follow me to your room. It wasn’t until the doctor came in and told me that today they would have to examine me because my pressure was extremely high.  So now I was starting to worry about the health of my baby, my doctor sent me to the emergency room where they escorted me to labor and delivery. I was in shock like no way this can not happen to me, as soon as my parents leave I go into labor. Luckily after being on a monitor and getting an ultrasound the baby was fine and I was not going to have the baby right then.  I did have to stay overnight because my blood pressure was still sky high after many hours, my doctor urged that the nurses keep an eye on it, and if it progressed I would be released in the morning.  My grandmother got picked up from the hospital and soon after my aunt, little cousin, and my boyfriends mom and aunt came to visit me.  Once every one left I found it hard to sleep on that uncomfortable hospital bed with monitors attached to my stomach. Eventually I fell asleep not knowing that on September 8, 2010 my baby girl Aniyah would be born.

Its almost time

Preparing for the arrival of your baby can be stressful in the last few months, although you shouldn't stress your body, for me it’s when all my troubles started. After my first trimester and the end of spring semester my pregnancy was smooth sailing. I went to frequent checkups, I had an appetite again, I felt like myself again only with a belly forming in front of me. It wasn't until I hit my seven month mark when I experienced horrible back pains. There was no medicine, heating pads or massages that could make the pain go away. My baby had found a comfortable spot and she stayed there for about a month. At that point my due date couldn't come fast enough for me. Once the back pains stopped I caught a bad cold and developed acid reflux. Anytime I drank anything that contained acid, I threw it up. One morning I felt so bad and could not deal with the pain in my throat and chest from the acid reflux that I went to the emergency room. I basically told the doctors my diagnosis and after some time it was confirmed that I indeed developed acid reflux. I was told to drink Gatorade and take medicine but the Gatorade contained acid that burned my chest as did everything else I drank and the medicine was not working. As the weeks were coming to an end I could not be more ready for the arrival of my baby.    

Preparing for Baby

Gifts at my second baby shower.

As the pregnancy months wind down there are things that mothers should have prepared for the arrival of there baby. I would say that I was prepared up until the very end. Unlike most people I was blessed to have three first baby showers. My first baby shower was given to me by my boyfriends family, the second by my family, and the third by my friends. Unfortunately I could not find a place that was big enough for everyone to attend all at once. All three baby showers were either a week or two weeks apart from one another and 2 months before my due date. The reason why I chose to have my baby showers way in advance was to help me prepare everything and get whatever items i didn't get at the baby showers. It is important to make sure that the nursery is set up before the baby arrives and you get all of your maternity paperwork filled out before leaving for the hospital. 

Don't Forget to Register

The majority of expectant mothers take advantage of baby registry's. I chose to do my baby registry at Target and Babies R US although there are many other baby stores such as Baby Love, Buy Buy Baby and Ideal Baby for mothers to create registry's. I found that creating a baby registry made it easier for baby shower guest to choose a gift for the baby. There are people that will buy you what they want or what they can afford despite what you put on the registry but its good to give them the choice. I personally don't like it when I have to search through pages and pages of a baby registry, its aggravating and it makes me want to buy them whatever I happen to like. I made sure that i only registered for the things that were most important. Everyone is different and some mothers may not register at all but I do think making a baby registry was very convenient

Congratulations!

The thought of being a 22-year-old mother was a task that was bigger then I expected and at the worst time possible. When I found out that I was pregnant I was 21-years-old, a full time college student, working part time and interning. For most college students working and going to school was nothing new, but for me it was. Out of my now five years of college I had never worked while in school until August of 2009, I enjoyed my job until I found out that I was pregnant. Not only was I not used to working and going to school but in January of 2010 I started my 1st internship. My plate was becoming very full and then I found out the news, “congratulations you’re pregnant” is what I was told by my gynecologist. It should have been an exciting moment especially because I love kids and expected to have kids someday, but was I ready for one at that point in my life, I wasn't sure. Being a college student is hard enough but raising a baby while trying to finish school would bring even more challenges. Being a young mother causes you to give up a lot, but was it worth it; I think it was.....

The Good and the Bad

Good prenatal care is one of the most important elements in making a healthy baby. Expectant mothers should take this time to sleep as much as you can, baby yourselves, relax, eat often, go for a walk or a slow jog, stay hydrated, and keep stress to a minimum stressing yourself will only cause stress on your baby. I wouldn’t say that I had very much stress during my pregnancy, but with work four days a week, and internship and school two days a week I had no time to sleep. The first trimester was the worst trimester although the third trimester ran a very tight race. Although I had no baby bump for a few months the symptoms were there. I was always hungry but could never eat, I remember getting dinner from La Granja, and Chicken Kitchen, taking two bites and not being able to eat the rest. I stopped going out as much as I did before, I would still go to lunch and dinner with my friends as usual but I had to stay away from the night life. Although you may have to give up things that you once enjoyed, your baby makes it all worth it in the end.