Coincidence? Maybe...

As many of you know, I have a 3 month old daughter who is as cute as can be.

When she was born, it came out of nowhere. She came 3 weeks early. I almost had her in the car. I nearly pushed her out in the toilet/bathroom when I went to pee & change into the hospital gown. Just nothing went as planned except for the fact that she came out cute, red & little.

Then one day, I was writing in her baby book & filling out her insurance paper, birth certificate, blah blah blah.

I wrote January 21, 2009. Then on something else asked for my birthdate too. So I wrote 

Oct. 21, 1990. That's when I looked at it closer....

Mia & I have the same birth date except the numbers are switched around

Her birthday is 01/21/09

My birhtday is 10/21/90

Was this supposed to happen?? Her suddenly being born on this day, completely healthy and normal. (Minus her bad case of jaundice)

Is this some kind of working of God?

Or just a strange coincidence. 

Most people know I am not the most religious apple under the tree. =/

And I consider myself as being Agnostic (believing in a higher being, but not all the fluff in between). But this kinda makes you stop & think a little.

Maybe I was supposed to have a baby at 18 years old.

Maybe she came into my life for a reason.

Or hey! Just so happens this little mystery occured. 

Who knows?! I surely don't. 

I just thought I'd let that out. Kinda weird, eh?

Vacation... 5 years from now...

SO! Tyler and myself were planning of taking our little Mia-mia of=n a very memorable vacation some day when she get older. That's when I suggested to Papa Tyler, "What about Laos? You've never been there and it would be nice for you and Mia to go see your home country (and half of Mia's home country). We can also take your parents with us so they can see family & visit their old home." 

So there you go. In about 5 year (so Mia can remember the place atleast a lil) we're going to the Lao People's Democratic Repblic, also known as Laos.

How much does this LONG vacation cost?? Well, my friends, it ain't cheap.

For ONE person, a ticket is from $1,500-$2000. For Tyler, Mia & myself, I have calculated that the total cost of plane tickets will be about $6000. Then, I suggested that we bring atleast $1000-$2000 just for spending fun. 

The wonderful part is that we will have to stay there for atleast a month. Going for a week or 2 is FAR too expensive. A week is like $11,000 for a ticket. 

So I'm trying to save up atleast $7000-$8000 for this trip. (And Mia BETTER enjoy it too.)

So, if I can stash away about $125 per month (or 31.25 a week) for the next 5 years or so, then BAM! we'll have about $7500 for the trip! Woot-woot! Plus I'll probably stash away some extra cash money besides the $31.25. Plus Tyler is helping out too & his parents might throw in couple dollars.   =]

Yay! Now all I have to do is get a decent job, keep sellin my Avon & I'll be good to go! 

Plus if I keep selling Avon, then I won't have to get an actual out-of house job.  I can work from home, keep recruiting people & the money will make itself... *ahhh...* The dreams of making money.....

**Buy online at www.youravon.com/rbowie**

Now all I have to do is learn the language...

yeah... not sure if I'll be able to actually READ the language, but speak, yeah... I'll try.

This baby has Mia's shaped face,  & kinda resembles her... =]

Nice! (Minus the random caucasian guy...)

Lots of statues & temples.

I'll be there one day...

The baby has Mia's shaped face. The gi

Oh, the wonders of....

I never thought that I would actually enjoy breastfeeding Mia. Its just amazing how I can provide food for my baby & how my body knows how much exactly she needs to be full. Also, how she can trigger more milk to be made. Humans are an amazing species. Along with other mammals too, but I just never thought we could be capable of such things.



But sadly, I have to stop breastfeeing soon because I'll be heading back to school & its difficult to breastfeed & go to school at the same time. =[


And engorged, full boobies are painful, unconfortable and just plain not fun at all. But if there were anyway I could continue, I would. I wanted to breastfeed her for about 6-7months, but now that is not looking very possible. My booby bear will still me regardless of where her food supply is coming from. I just think formula feeding isn't as bonding & loving as what nature wants us to do...





Anyway! I love my friends. I never thought that leaving high school would actually show you who your real friends are until I actually graduated.


They're always there when I need them and we know how to make each other feel better when times get on the rough side. Although our personalities are slightly different, that's what makes our times together even better.

All of the memories we have together. Running through a fountain in the Mall of GA & realizing we had no change of clothes. Walking through the mall trying to find clothes. Getting lost in the ghetto. House parties. Park fun. Whatever we could get our little grimy hands on became a new memory for me.
But what I love the most is that even through my pregnancy, they stuck through it all the way. I would have expected for me to loose every friend I had because I am young & no one expected little ole nerdy, smart, mute Raven to have a baby straight out of high school. When I told my 2 besties I was having a baby, they were more excited than I had ever expected.
(I told them at this restaurant)
And I really appreciate their support. And I know Mia will forever love her Auntie & Godmother. =]

Why didn't anyone tell me?

Yes, everyone knows motherhood is full of surprises and such. Some enjoyable, others...eh? Not so enjoyable. But sometimes, I wished someone would have told me to "look out!", "watch your step!" or just a big ole "caution" somewhere.

I wish someone would have told me...




1) How much labor really hurt. Yes, we all hear that is painful, but how painful? I'm good with pain, not afraid of needles, etc... I wouldnt care getting piercings & what not b/c pain is temporary. But labor pain is... Jesus. I did not think it was going to end. Seriously. No wonder no one tells how bad it hurts b/c we don't wanna remember that pain! It's indescribable! Nothing can compare to that feeling.





2) "Hey! We're gonna give you this numbing medicine, but we're not sure if it's gonna work on you." When I got my booty sewed back together from my 4th degree laceration, the midwife gave me local anestetic. It still hurt. The nurse gave me half my dose of anestetic in my IV. Felt the stitching. So my doctor said "Give her the rest of the dose." More drugs in the IV. Still felt the sewing. All I felt was drowsy, high & pain coming from my rectal area. Gosh..... Crack probably could have cured me better than that freakin' medicine!

3) Babies have explosive bowels. These sweet little things have some CRAZY bowel movements. Once, I was changing my daughter's diaper in the hospital & poo shot out at me. I dodged that sucker like I was dodging bullets in Compton. Oh man! Nasty junk. Too bad daddy doesn't have as good reflexes as mama! She boweled all on his shoulder when we got home from the hospital. (lol) I wish I had taken a picture of that b/c it was beyong priceless...

4) I wouldn't get a full night of sleep for a LONG time. I have slept a full night since December. I had HORRID insomnia while pregnant. I mean BAD. Late night Faceboo-ings when only 3 people are online. Yahoo games here there. Then my fat-fat comes along & I know I'm not gonna sleep often.... Almost 3 months in, I thought the late night feedings would have ended... I guess not...


5) People will come up to you & try to talk to touch your baby. People I don't know. Especially elderly, Caucasian women. They like to touch the most. (No offense. Im not racist!) Other races don't try to touch as often, but just look & the lil bla-otian baby. They always say "Aw! Baby! Boy or girl (if she's not in pink that day). How old is she? How much did she weigh when she was born? Is she a good baby? Does she sleep well?" My goodness! The questions never end. I wonder if they're gonna get in my personal life too. "Did you poop today? Was it nice? What's your blood type?"


6) People would be fascinated my a Black & Asian baby. Like you guys haven't seen Tiger Woods or Kimora Lee before. Come on! They're out there. It's not as common as black & caucasian, but they're out there too & they're people too.



7) Avon is not hard to sell. Once you actually leave the house. People actually want this stuff even though I've never used it before & rarely heard about the products. Its really good stuff though. The Footworks products does wonders for dry cracked heels & feet. I LOVE it. Plus they have some bangin' mascara & eyeliner. It glides on so smoothly...
By the way, you can order Avon online in the comforts of you own home! At:
www.youravon.com/rbowie

8) I would still be in pregnant mode & afraid to leave my house still.That's my problem. I still feel like I look like a moving basketball who only leaves the house to go to the doctor, store (only when its desperately needed) or fast food place because I was too huge & lazy to walk or try to fit in a booth. Plus waddling is never cute.

9) Baby thow up also shoots out of their noses. Its pretty sad b/c I don't want breast milk or formula shooting from my nostrils & I know it has to burn. My poor poopy baby...

10) My boobs would tingle & release milk when cries alot. It's kind of weird how your body knows that milk makes baby happy & stop crying.... its actually kinda creepy. How does it know?? I guess its the change in hormones when she cries that triggers the milk let down...