Tylen's Tailgate

It's been a couple of months since Tylen's Tailgate.. but that doesn't mean I can't tell ya'll about it. =)


So I started planning this birthday party a long time ago...Well I started thinking of themes forever ago. Not all themes were accepted by all parties.. meaning Terence. HAHAHAHA anyone surprised. I wasn't. So here's a run down of some of the themes:

1. Mustaches

Terence's commentary about this theme: Things use to be so simple.. blue for boys...pink for girls. When did mustaches come into play. LMAO.

2. Paw Patrol

Terence's commentary about this theme: Nah, find another theme. Does he have to have a party, he's not going to remember it. Side eye from me all while thinking...BOY BYE!!!!

3. Sesame Street (Tylen's Street)

Terence's commentary about this theme: No, you can do better.

So, originally I was suggesting that we have the party at our house. Heck, if the same people that came to the baby reveal comes to the party they already know where to go. But then I remembered all the damn flies I had to fight once everyone left. Well all the flies I  was pointing at Terence to kill. So we decided against the house and tried to find somewhere in Simpson to have party (another LOL moment). There really only like 5 places to have a party if that.

So the last theme that I came up with was: Tylen's Tailgate and Terence finally agreed. YAY!!!!! So I got tshirts made... for EVERYONE that wanted one. Probably a little over the top....says Terence. I thought the tshirts would bring the idea of the "football/ tailgate theme" all together.

Chaundrea Allen (Kute & Klassy Boutique) out of Gulfport, Ms did the shirts.  Love them.

I made the invitations myself, they were meant to look like football tickets. I think I did pretty good. =)



Decorations:
It was so easy to find decorations because the party was during football season. Most of the decorations/plates/napkins came from Walmart.





Shirts: Shout out to Mrs. C. Allen

Food:

We tried to do typical game day food: nachos & cheese, chips, pizza, hot dogs....


Desserts:

I got a bomb ahh cake made by Lil Larry.

I also talked my sister, Tellisha into making some treats (as pictured with the cake: dipped rice crispies: referee men) ,dipped Strawberries, pretzels that were decorated to look like footballs....they were so cute. 

Little football men made by my cousin Alicia.

                                                           

 








Thanks to everyone that came brought a gift, card or money...it was greatly appreciated.

ALL in ALL, Today was a good Day. Well THAT day was a good day.



Live, Laugh, Love,

Le'Shawn

SO YEAH.... I WROTE THIS WHEN???

So I go to my blogs because I wanted to write up a post aboout Tylen's birthday and the theme and how it turned out....and this was there... the date that I wrote this was 8/27/16. HILARIOUS!!!! Guess I will post this and write another post in day or so. By the way, Tylen is napping and Terence is gone!!! Hashtag Catching up on Grey's Anatomy =)



I haven't blogged since APRIL.....TYLEN is damn near ONE now. Somebody come slap me. Naw, just kidding you might not make it. So an update on our busy busy lives. I'm so busy most days with work and then after work MommyLIFE. I literally don't have time to do anything but. I think the only way I got to blog today was because Terence decided to take Tylen to Walmart BY HIMSELF (this is a first). So I'm sitting under the dryer blogging. I keep looking out the window like "Where yall at though?" I know he didn't ONLY go to Walmart nobody spends that much time in Walmart with a toddler/baby. What do you call an almost one year old??

Well, I have started back work... summer really went by too fast.The first day of school I literally had everybody and their mama trying to register. I was so tired the first couple of days of school, trying to get new students in and with a schedule. Whew, the first week of school will take you out the game if you let it. But, nevertheless, I have some pretty cool new students enrolled, one of those sweet babies gives me a hug everyday. SCHOOL COUNSELOR LIFE!!!!

TYLEN UPDATE

Tylen says DA-DA waaay more than he says MAMA he usually only says MAAAAA  when he wants me to pick him up or he gets upsets. He can say No (which comes out sounding like NANANANA) He says Stop (sounds like sto) HE can say bye-bye but won't hardly wave at one) He can walk if he's being assisted. He will push his toy and sometimes let it go and kind of look around to see who's watching and then sit down. Hahaha. Waiting for him to take a step lol.

Tylen was moved up to the Movers & Shakers room (weird name) with the older babies as they call them they are all within 1-3 weeks of age apart. When he moves up again that is going to be the kicker...not really sure I like that lady that's over the class.  We have had so many ear infections it's not even funny. They say they are not contagious, but I swear everytime this one kid at daycare gets and ear infection here comes Tylen pulling on his ear. Everytime she coughs, everybody in the whole darn room is going to get sick.

So, Tylen's birthday is coming up (def. goign to blog about that) . Like soon. I have to get out invitations and start picking up things for this party. Ordering shirts. Ordering cakes. Ordering cookies. Pictures? I was thinking about doing them myself, I need a Cannon though.  I've changed the theme liked literally five or six times. Terence was like, "Umm, No Shawn, that ain't gone work. or Naw, that's pushing it." So, If you do come to the party know that the theme struggle was real in this house.

So, I recently( by recenlty, I mean a couple of  weeks ago) talked Terence into getting a dishwasher. If you know Terence it takes him FOREVER to decide on buying big ticketed items. For two years he stalked this TV. Like in every store he would price check it. I'm just like BUY IT ALREADY PLEASE!!! So one day SEARS had an ad out about dishwashers. THANK GOD!!!! I HATE WASHING BOTTLES... like seriously HATE IT!!! I also HATE washing dishes.. just ask my mama! So, we get said dishwasher and suddenly our plumbing starts jacking up. So of course I am blamed for said back up, UGGGHHH!!! I just can't win. So not only do I have to cut back on using the dishwasher...everything that deals with plumbing is also jacked up.  So we finally got the plumbing fixed today... I had washed dishes/bottles, washed my hair, washed clothes... everything is getting washed lol.

Still sitting here wondering where the "H" is Terence???

I just texted Terence "Where you go?"


Live, Laugh, Love,

Le'Shawn


I saw this quote from Kid President (go look him up if you don't know who he is) but anyway...the quote went something like this...

"If you don't have nothing nice to say well maybe you aren't thinking hard enough." I had to print this off to put in my office. Kids can be so mean nowadays and often times stuff just comes out of their mouth before they even realize what they said. I probably could do better with that also. WORK in PROGRESS don't count me out just yet. =l I probably wrote this before I snapped on a coworker HAHAHAHA (WORK IN PROGRESS...STILL)

- I usually have pictures in my blog,  =(

Lemonade Weekend...

When you plan a girls trip weekend and your plans fall through...well I wasn't going to let that keep me from my girls trip. So some LEMONADE was def made out of this situation.

My mama was suppose to keep Baby Tylen but if you know my mama you know she's a social butterfly & gotta go to these banquets & ish. Granted I was in my feelings about it but MiMi gotta have fun too I guess. Nevertheless I decided to bring Tylen along for girls weekend. Why not? He hasn't hung out with the girls in awhile. I have to admit I was a little nervous about bringing him though. I think I was nervous because I'm the babymama of the group...lol and I did not want to interfer with the turnup. HAHAHA. I was also nervous because we usually take trips with Da-Da (as Tylen likes to say) and not as Mommy & baby. And def not as Mommy, baby, & BFFs. lol

So I pack up our things...more of his stuff than mine. So we're on our way to get girls weekend poppin  & one friend dropped out of the trip. Sad face. But anyways this weekend was real chill and I loved it. Its def what I needed to refresh myself and my friendships. As one of my friends said... Friendship is absolutely beautiful,the shade was thrown ( more like shade trees) , the love was shared, and memories were made. My baby got to spend time with his God parents & God Sis and my friends. Can't wait for Girls Trip 2017. 

SPA DAY

Neeeexxxxtttttt.....
LEMONADE...LEMONADE...LEMONADE

HONEY...Beyoncé wasn't playing no games with that visual album. Lemonade definitely solidified some of our conversations from the weekend. Its so hard to build relationships so far away from one another especially with caring for a baby but I do try my best to stay connected with them. GROUPME be LIT!!!! 

 In life things pop off in all kinds of directions but your approach to the situation can change the outcome of the situation.I recently read on insta a post that read: Don't let what happens to you or around you stop you from living your life and striving for your goals. Don't let these things (thoughts, struggles,etc. ) get inside you and weigh you down. Remember that there's someone somewhere that has it way worse than you. Everything that you go through isn't meant to break you all the way down. Hell learn from it and move on. If nothing else be able to never be put in that situation again, whether you created the situation or not. Whether you are a die hard a diehard BEEHIVE member or not LEMONADE def has a life lesson in it and don't forget about that BlackGirlMagic that she threw in the visual album.

He would not act right for this picture at all =l

Of course I had to do a Baby Tylen update...
My baby is 7 months old ( two days ago on Sunday). He wears 9-12 month clothes & size 3 pampers in case anyone wants to buy any of those items. HAHA =) BIG BOY STATUS...ASK ABOUT US!!!  His personality is beginning to show a little. Thanks God he's a pretty chill baby unless he is hot or hungry.  He's my favorite little human. His favorite thing to do is clap his hands...cutest thing ever. He will literally wake up clapping. His Dad comes in the house after work and he's clapping. =) Don't wear jewelry around him, he will eat it. We are rolling over and over and over... you can't put him down with out him rolling over he's also getting better at sitting up



Now don't nobody hate on my Lemonade title....I love me some Beyonce'.


Live, Laugh, Love,

Le'Shawn

1/2 Birthday....Daddy Birthday...Yo Birthday...My Birthday

 Easter Sunday

I know...I kind of ran out with that title HAHAHA but what eves. lol  It was really only Tylen's Birthday and his daddy's birthday. I don't know about yo birthday but my birthday is in November. lol

Yes, I am one of those Mommys who had to do the half birthday thing. I also got a onesie. Shout Out to Lynn Kennedy for the onesie. Tylen  was so stinking cute in it. =). Terence's birthday was a week after Tylen's 1/2 Birthday &  of course I thought it was a memory that needed to be captured. Since he couldn't tell his Daddy happy Birthday I thought I would do it for him. This was obviously back in March.

FOOD:

chicken & veggies

It's crazy how the past six months have literally flown by...it's almost kind of sad have fast time is passing by. My baby is becoming a bigger baby and if you have seen him in person you know I'm not lying. We have a 6 month old. I never knew time could pass so dang fast. Like seriously, time slow down. We are eating baby food now, and some of it tastes disgusting, but Tylen loves it.  Like he literally is having a small version of lunch and dinner with this baby food with apple juice. TURN UP TYLEN. Tylen loves food and will stare you down if you bring a plate in his sight even if he just ate 2 minutes ago.

TEETH:
My baby has two freaking teeth and will rub them on you if you let him. HAHAHA  He doesn't like for you to see them though so don't attempt he won't drop that bottom lip for nothing. Oh I forgot to say the teeth are on the bottom. =)

WORDS:
His first word...you guessed it... DA-DA. BOOO!!!! lol He also says something that sounds like Huh and HI!!!! You will mostly hear him saying DA-DA over and over and over.

He loves to play in his bouncer or on the floor as long as there are toys near... he's good for at least an hour or until he gets hungry...which ever comes first. He has heavy hands and when they start flying around those things can hurt.



So I haven't blogged in about 3 months, my stupid computer decided it did not want to recognize google/blogger as a credible internet address. =(  So Terence actually fixed my computer. Yay for Terence seeing something so  little and fixing it for me. =) I will be back to my regularly scheduled blogs (whatever that means for a FULL TIME WIFE, MOMMY, & SCHOOL COUNSELOR.)



So everyone if you have a moment I would like to introduce you all to Natoya Sanders. Natoya is a new mommy (Newer than me lol). =) Her baby (Jordan Sanders) is currently in the NICU at Batson's. Please go visit her blog http://natoyasanders.blogspot.com  and whisper a prayer for her sweet baby Jordan.  You don't know how strong you are, until strong is the only choice you have. You are one strong Mommy. Praying for you girlie and your family.



Live...Laugh...Love,

Le'Shawn

February Thoughts

This blog post should be entitled January & February thoughts...I have let January slip away without posting anything and February dang near gone!!!

Well for New Years I decided to make some goals for myself rather than resolutions. I didn't really discuss these goals with anyone just in case I failed, I wouldn't be held accountable to anyone or rather anyone wouldn't know my business. So when I make a goal I literally think about step by step how that goal is going to come to fruition, well some of my goals can't be set out step by step. I bet now you're wondering what goals am I referring to. Well, here's my list of goals for 2016:

1. Miss PERFECT...Develop a better relationship with God.

So, one day in GroupMe one of my friends started talking about this book that we should read and the name of it was Miss Perfect. I was thinking that it was be a leisure read but it turned out to more like a bible study book. It's a 10 week bible study for females to discuss the pressures of being Miss Perfect and instead for women to work on themselves and to not let the pressures of the world get you to a space where you are trying to fit into this MISS PERFECT character. The crazy thing is that up until this point I never discussed this goal with any of my friends.  But my friend has the same goal as me. One day we were all on GroupME and the topic of a relationship with God came up. (we don't just clown on GRoupME ha) I thought that was divine intervention, almost like God was telling me I was on the right path. My friends and I have decided to read the book almost like a book club and discuss it once we are all together. Love those girls, it's crazy how someone can come into your life and be on the same wavelength as you!!!  Another step in this process is actually finding a HOME CHURCH that my little family can join and participate in. This is challenging considering Terence plays for a church every Sunday at 9:00 am and all the churches in our neck of the woods are the down home 1960 style Baptist churches' and I'm really not feeling that.

2. Enroll back into William Carey University and complete my specialist.

When I found out I was pregnant I like quit school. It was testing season at the school that I worked at and I was the school test coordinator. Dealing with morning sickness, testing, and homework, I wasn't about that life. I'm a nerd and quitting school has never been in my vocabulary,so I plan to go back and finish what I started. Hopefully, I will be able to finish by next year this time =) 

3. Develop my blogging skills/presentation of my blog

I've been doing research on blogging and have plans for improving my blog for my readers. I enjoy blogging but I need to be more consistent in my approach. Know anyone who designs blogs? I have neglected my blog baby while taking care of my actual baby.

4. Health/Fitness... BLACK GIRLS WORKOUT TOO!!!

I really don't want to lose a ton of weight, I'm more on the track of trying to tone things up. I really just  want to be in shape and be able to keep up with my Tylen, considering the weight of my child and his car seat is adding up!!! I also have a great group of workout buddies that help motivate me to actually go to the gym or I would be at home when the bell rung to be out of school.

Think about some of the things you have been putting off for months or maybe even years and come up with a plan to get it done. There's no time like the present.


So on to this Beyonce'....

I had to say something about it. I love her song Formation. For one it's powerful for the ladies'. Stop putting one another done and get in "Formation" and get your self together...and help a sister out while your at it. Some people are saying that her song is racist, I mean..you can't be black AND be PRO-BLACK??? US loving ourselves is not ut NOT loving you or your race. WE just need to start LOVING US A LITTLE BIT MORE. Furthermore, it's Black History Month, I mean if we can't appreciate ourselves during Black History Month...Others are saying she's anti-police, I believe the song is more anti-police-brutality. If you've seen the video, you would have seen the writing on the wall stated...stop killing...Others are saying she shouldn't have did a tribute to the Black Panthers. I've seen numerous confederate flags slung all over the TV and rock concerts. But Ain't NOBODY decide to boycott those artists and publicly shame them. But, whateves, what do I know?
There's been many things that we would hope famous blacks would have had a voice in and now that the most famous black female performer has opened her mouth, yall want to get mad??? Beyonce' stood up for all the blackness that most of us can't display on a regular... Chile' and I love her for it.
Now whose going to get me tickets to that concert??

Live, Laugh, Love,

Le'Shawn 

My Little Family

Three months in this thang...or rather 14 weeks exactly tomorrow , or rather 98 days, however you'd like to look at it. I think I was perfectly fine and could handle being a mommy and wife on maternity leave but LAWD HA'MERCY adding in work. On maternity leave, I think I was more so being mommy than a wife but hey I'm working on that. If your're a mom and a wife, you know the struggle. I wonder if guys struggle with this as much as the ladies. Also, please stop asking us when we're having our next baby. One, it's none of your business, two, it's none of business. Three it's rather annoying.

So let me back track just a little bit:

FIRST day of WORK & FIRST day of DAYCARE

I went back to work the week after Thanksgiving. It was really hard. Terence even thought it was a good idea for him to take off. Not really sure why he needed to take off but he did. I didn't cry when I dropped him off but I def felt some type of way dropping him off. I didn't really get emotional until I parked my car at the school. I called the daycare everyday and they already knew that I was going to call. Some days I even stopped by. Now I hardly call but I still stop by on some days.

Baby's First Christmas

So usually I don't make New Years resolutions, I more so set goals for myself, and I didn't think my husband did either until New Year's Eve rolled around. The clock struck 9:00pm and Terence decided that his New Year's Resolution was going to be to get our baby (3 mos old remember) to sleep in his crib. A little bit of history about this crib he's never slept in it over night. So New Year's Eve was pretty darn rough.We put him down in his crib at 9:00 he woke up with in an hour. Big Daddy Terence thought it would be a good idea to let MY BABY, cry it out. Noticed I put MY BABY capitalized lol. I think New Year's Day I was a little salty towards Terence, I was side eyeing him all day Ask Terence about that. Right now the cry out method is not for me right now. I know some of you will say that I am spoiling him but uuuhhhh raaahhh ummm. Needless to say he cried for an hour off and on with Terence going in to check on him every few minutes. He slept in his crib that night and the next night but on that 3rd day ( I feel like I'm about to preach here... you know how those Baptist preachers get when they start talking about how Jesus rose out of the grave on the third day lol) anyway he was not having it and neither was I. But since then I have tried to let him sleep in his crib last night he slept from about 7:00 pm until 12:00 am which is huge and never woke up or cried. Poor Terence just wants his wife back in the bed alone, HAHAHAHAHA.

The past three months has been the most tiring,( my eye balls hurt is a statement I use FREQUENTLY), exciting, frightening, loving, scary, and any other emotion that you can think of but... this picture makes it all worth it.   

This statement has been something that I have seen over the past couple of years but it never really caught my attention until now. Letting go of the life you planned is really tough because you have to come to grips with the reality the life that is currently happening. It also means that you are ready to accept the life that is ahead of you.  In my head, the life I planned consisted of me POSSIBLY being married and MAYBE having a child. Well, I AM married and I HAVE a child.The learning curve that I went through to get to the place that I am today made me a better person. Let's just say I'm ready for the life that is waiting for me, which is going to be FUN considering I have my best friend/hubby Terence and our little one Tylen to go on this journey with.

Live...Laugh...Love,

Le'Shawn

...Ish Just Got Real

Sept 24,2015 will always be the day that changed my life & Terence's. I kind of knew that it would but it didn't really occur to me until it happened. Now not only am I someone's sister, daughter, granddaughter, niece, friend and wife...but I'm a FREAKING mother!!! I know that scares some of you heck it scares me too some days.  👶🏽 

Child birth pretty much sucks...like EVE I hate you.theres a story going around that my Dr had to fuss at me to push harder or I was going to have to have a CSection....so I pushed harder. 😂😂😂😂 I don't know how that lady on that 19+ Kids & counting show uterus hasn't just fallen out and she just killed over. Like seriously.  A child is the greatest blessing that I didn't know existed. I've already had sleepless nights and shitty diapers that make me gag & I have to use gloves... but I wouldn't change it for the world. 

Out of all the baby showers and congratulations...no one really tells you the truth. They are all smiles & giggles at baby showers. No one tells you that after the baby is born you're still going to be in pain from God knows what. Terence(my hubby) was literally my nurse for weeks & didn't complain one bit. Love him so much more now than prebaby, didn't know that was possible either. No one tells you that you will grow an 2 extra arms...No one tells you that PPD is real...I had the baby blues( where you think about your prebaby life) & wish to have that life again. No one tells you that there's what I call Mom wars going on..."Are you breast feeding, I did, Do you let your baby sleep with you, you're spoiling him." Heck I don't even remember half of the crazy stuff I've heard. Sometimes the advice giving is overwhelming people...but whateves.  😫🙊 

I've learned in the last couple of weeks of being Tylen's mommy, each new chapter in my life(or your life) requires a different me (you). Since Tylen the me that has developed & is still developing had to learn to put my own wants aside to care for my little one who can't do one thing for himself. I've learned to keep my cool in situations that I would have normally cursed someone out...still working on this part if I'm being honest with myself. I'm still learning that sometimes it is okay to ask for help. So while my journey to motherhood takes me to a new me I'm going to sit back & enjoy the ride, late night feeding/diaper changes w/gloves & all. What new chapter are you heading into that requires a different you? It doesn't have to be as life changing as having a baby but you know when..."Ish gets real"... It's time to change up somethings. 

Live, Laugh, Love,

Le'Shawn 

Let me go to sleep while everyone else in the house is knocked out!!!!