In The Life of a Virtuous Woman

BLOG HAS MOVED

2012-10-24T15:08:00.001-05:00

Please visit www.hisproverbs1822.com

This is my website!! Hope you enjoy!!

24 Week Pregnancy Update

2012-10-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

So, I went to my 24 week prenatal checkup and all checked out perfect! I gained 8lbs since my last visit! That's a record! I usually gain at the most 5lbs between my second and third trimester! Right now I am a whopping 138lbs and I'm only 6 months!!! My pregnancies in the past I usually weigh in at 145 at 9 months!! THIS BABY WILL BE HUGE!! I blame our unique taste buds this time around: Shrimp and sushi almost every week!! Ummm..come to think of it, I could use a California Roll! LOL

Today was my glucose screening test.This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition.

Glucose Tolerance Test
Some says it tastes awful, but to me it's just like watered down soda

Here's R5 tracking at 24 weeks courtesy of babycenter.com:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Little mama is quite active in the womb! During the fetus check, she was all over the place. The nurse was freaking out because she never experienced so much movement during these exams. R5 measured a slight bigger than a normal 24 week fetus being the size of a 25 week fetus. I wonder if I will finally reach the 9lb mark!? I have pushed out big babies in the past all between 7lbs 6 oz an 8lbs 11oz!! We shall see!!

I will have pictures posted of the belly bump soon!

Featured Blogger- Christa Colomb's Experience as a Working Mom

2012-10-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

My experience with being a working mom comes with both regret and reward. I say regret because there has been many times when I had to make the tough decision of going to work and leaving a sick child with a caretaker, or missing out on a football game or school performance. Being the active parent that I am, missing out on anything important to them, was a painful situation for me. I am a firm believer that a parent’s presence serves a far greater purpose than any presents (gifts/things) that money can buy. Unfortunately my household could not survive without my income so going to work was not an option, it was a necessity. Now that my children are older, I am starting to see the fruit of my labor (reward). There is no way to reap and sow in the same season. During my sowing season, it was difficult to walk away from my crying/disappointed child because once again, work had to come first. Now, when I consider all things in retrospect, my strong work ethic back then was a seed sown into my children that I am able to reap the benefits from. Seeing me go to work and make sacrifices for my family then, has now spilled over into their young adult lives. I notice (and am Godly proud) that they all take great pride in a strong work ethic and knowing that my sacrifices in their early years, is now a reward for their character and has built in them a strong work ethic, makes me grateful to God for having the strength and wisdom to follow through with those tough decisions.

YouTube's Laura Vitale on ABC!!

2012-10-03T14:27:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite YouTube chefs have landed a spot on ABC's Recipe Rehab, a new show debuting October 6!! Check it out!!

TESTIMONY: Bronzegoddess01 from Youtube testifies!!

2012-09-28T12:23:00.000-05:00

Featured Blogger: Experiences in Motherhood by Courtney Kiner

2012-09-27T10:17:00.001-05:00

Courtney is a wife and mother of 6 and is a dear friend and model of mine!

Living in a house with 7 different personalities is sometimes like being a telephone operator from back in the day. You have to pick up the server, hear where they want to go, then connect the line until the call is completed, then disconnect. Then connect again, remember who’s connected to what line and at all times remember someone else is waiting to be connected to a line. So, in the honor that is to be responsible for the receiver getting the right information or connection. I know that the LORD knows better than I my purpose.

Mothers are the life givers so children trust you (don't doubt it) they listen they soak up every word you say so, be what they need when they need it, God will strengthen you. The day will stop, the night will come, and rest will set over your home and you will be renewed. In this the LORD will reveal our gifts, our dreams, and aspirations. I would read my children the bible or stories I loved as a child and began change my voice and create new endings that my oldest daughter still remembers to this day; so I began to write short plays and stories for the youth at my church and daughter followed. She's better than me now, but I love to write and I pray God blesses her in talent. So when she mentions an audition or she needs ink for her printer... I'm connected, I'm concerned and I follow through. It’s all in the connection.

Get Connected to everything your kids say and do and stay there. And remember I will be blessed because I am the blessed of the Lord.

Pregnancy: 20 weeks

2012-09-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

I figured I write about my experiences so far in my fifth pregnancy!

I am experiencing a world of things in this pregnancy. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the new climate or what! Baby 5 will be my first baby who has gone through their full 9 months here in Texas. I was 4 months when we arrive here.

So....up until this point, I've experienced achy joints, stiffness, sickness, the works!! Never has this happened to me! All of my pregnancies have been smooth sailing, but I've accepted the fact that I can handle anything! My cravings have been a bit extreme!

When I first discovered I was pregnant, I craved Flamin' Hots with pickle juice. As time progressed, I wanted anything seafood (so did my husband!!) now it's anything peanut!! Peanut butter spreaded on a piece of whole grain bread with a slice of apple pie is my favorite right now, Honey Graham peanut butter sandwiches, and an assortment of nuts! I have literally gone nuts!! As of today, I need some peach cobbler! LOL... I know! Sad right?!

Now enough about me!! Here's some info about baby's progress so far!
Thanks to Babycenter.com for the info:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against her torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of her head to her bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, she's measured from head to toe.)

She's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in her bowels, and will see it in her first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

My Stats:

My pre-pregnancy weight: 135lbs

Now: 131 lbs

I always lost before I pick up weight due to the desire not to eat as much the first few weeks. But, I am packing on now thanks to this peanut butter diet this baby has me on!

I will try to fit a video in this series soon! Look out for the next post in October!!

Sharing the Wealth of RECIPE

2012-09-11T15:32:00.000-05:00

I love watching YouTube in my share time, looking for recipes, hair care and tutorials, and comedy of course! I stumbled across a KFC channel which gave you access through their Facebook fan page to download The Colonels Recipe Book! Hot biscuits, cobblers, and more all available to you for free!!!

I downloaded mine!! Get yours!!

Semi-Homemade Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

2012-09-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, I was craving some gooey cinnamon rolls. Cinnabon was closed and I needed to satisfy this sweet tooth PRONTO! So, I went to a local grocery store grabbed some canned cinnamon rolls and pecans. When I made it home, it was close to midnight, but the time didn't stop me! Here's the ingredients to the awesomely amazing semi-homemade pecan cinnamon rolls:

1 can of cinnamon rolls

1 package of pecans pieces

1/2 stick of butter (melted)

1/2 cup of light brown sugar

...that's it! Literally!!

I preheated the oven to 350 while I prepared the sauce. I stir the brown sugar with the melted butter to create a sauce ad spread it on the bottom of a oven safe pan. Then I sprinkled the pecan pieces on the sauce mixture. Then I pop open the can of cinnamon rolls and laid them on top of the concoction of sauce and pecans. I let it bake for 15 minutes and cooled it for about 5 minutes. Than I used a plate to flip the rolls onto it and served warm. It was truly a mouth-watering treat! You can serve this dessert as is or with a scoop of french vanilla ice cream!

Mommy News: Mr. Rogers Neighborhood may return

2012-09-04T10:15:00.000-05:00

If you are like me, you remember Mister Rogers Neighborhood! I loved to watch the show every morning. Fred Rogers, Presbyterian minister turned television host brought education in a new setting with colorful characters and stories for over 30 years. Well, the television show will continue after nearly a decade of its last episode, but in a new and tech-savvy way.
Meet Daniel Tiger...your new Mister Rogers

He may look a little different....animated animal with no pants! LOL But his focus is the same.

Will you tune in with your child to watch the re-vamped Mister Rogers Neighborhood??

MOM FAILS....because we all had them!

2012-08-22T12:51:00.000-05:00

Randomly, I will post my favorite failures... I know you're thinking, "What on Earth is the matter with this lady!??" Well, we all post our accomplishments, wanting accolades and pats on our backs, but what about those random failures that mold us to become better women, wives, and mothers?

MOM FAIL #2134
We all that moment during the month where attempt to eat everything in the refrigerator to clean and bring in new food. Well, this week was my week! This morning, I cooked the last of the sausage and eggs. I had tortillas, shredded cheese, and taco sauce...oh, and Malt-O-Meal...so I "attempted" to make breakfast tacos. Assuming it would be a huge hit with my kids, I served it. The looks I received was unbelievable, the comments were worse!! LOL
My oldest exclaims, "Mom, this looks bad, but I'll eat the eggs." Then she goes on to say, "Everything is nasty, except the juice. I'll drink the juice!" I laughed! Then my second oldest says, "We need to go to Walmart to get more food. I don't like this."
Now you would think all that was said was offensive, but it did not top what my son did! Now, he would eat anything, unless he really hates it. He'll eat my food all day, but not today, he picked over EVERYTHING! SMH.. This refrigerator day was a complete failure, but I got a great laugh out of it!! LOL

More to come!!

Tell me your #momfails!! Comment below, tweet me or leave a comment on my facebook fanpage!

Dating my husband: Bringing Blissful Moments Back

2012-08-20T17:46:00.002-05:00

I am learning to take time out for my husband. With the hustle and bustle of family life and education, he is always the last on my list. Whether men want to believe or not and thankfully, my husband has admitted that he needs attention. Not does he need the attention, but so do you! I can remember complaining about not having enough adult conversation and company. Everyday I am at home with a group of toddlers, it is normal to want to get away a few hours.

Children changes a marriage. Before children came into the picture, date night was EVERY night! As our family changed so did our chance of having alone time. Everyone can attest that the first year or so in a marriage is the most testing and exciting ride of our lives, but how do we continue with the stresses of life bogging us down?

We found ways to spend time with each other. Sometimes, I may work with my husband for the day. This gives us time to catch up with each other and may even learn something new! Other times, we may take a walk or just find a babysitter and go out. We don't spend a ton of money to enjoy each other company, but when we do, we go all out! Those few hours definitely make a difference.

With our wedding anniversary approaching, we will do things a little differently. We will attempt a weekend getaway...no kids...no work just my husband and I. We both deserve some relaxation and conversation.

What is your ideal date night?

Loooong time no blogging!

2012-08-10T22:26:00.002-05:00

I apologize for my absence...but I am stepping in to update you! As you have read nearly 2 months ago, I am expecting my 5th child!!! YAY!! Well, this week we found out the gender! WE'RE TEAM PINK....AGAIN! LOL I am on the search for our little girl's name and I would like your input. We are definitely contiuing with the "R" tradition and her middle name will begin with "L". Throw me some names and their meanings! Join my on my journey to RB5!!

Sorry I've been M.I.A but I have great news!!

2012-07-12T12:04:00.000-05:00

Well the title speaks for itself! So much has been going on! I have officially entered into my Early Childhood Education major and it has been quite hectic! I have goals to accomplish and it takes studying and patience. I have also been focus on my church and family. This week was the year anniversary of my faith journey. Last year on July 10th, my oldest was rushed to the hospital for an unexpected seizure. This same day, we had a deadline to evacuate the home we purchased (to read details of our testimony, read Journey to Texas in this blog) And July 11 is my youngest 1st birthday! I am preparing for her photo shoot with NewBurns Photography aka me!

I do have exciting news for you guys, though!! My husband is supporting me in my search for a product line that will promote growth and moisture. So every three months, I will be testing out different products until I find what works best for me and my girls! I will be blogging and vlogging my results and thoughts. I am exciting about this experience and I thank my husband for supporting my endeavor!

So stay tuned!! And if you have any natural products, remedies, or suggestions that I may be interested in, just email me or comment below!

Learning how to BE QUIET!

2012-06-27T16:21:00.004-05:00

Have you ever gotten yourself in a conversation that was a time-waster and you think to yourself, "Why did I even entertain that foolishness?" Well, lately I caught myself in conversations of this sort, unintentionally. I get off the phone or walk away upset and bothered while the other person have not a care in the world! Why do we continue to be others trash cans? Well enough is enough. I have learned which conversations to avoid with the help of two expert teachers, my husband and a great friend of mine. They don't care for foolishness and I am willing to be their grasshopper in training. LOL

In the past, I avoided any possible communication with those who are not like-minded. People wouldn't hear from me in months and this wold be one of the reasons why. I hate gossip and trash-talking, it leaves me with bitter thoughts about the people talking trash. The bible says let no corrupt communication come from your mouth (Ephesians 4:29) and I believe it goes had in hand with listening to it (being a garbage can). My pastor spoke of this very same thing and somehow now it seems people have gotten clever at tricking me to listen. Now I respond emotionally to rid myself from conversing before I would simply hang up. But my wise counsel has taught me to either change the subject to something totally random or not to respond at all. Easier said than done, but I cannot be apart of foolishness! How do you deal with it?

What's in a name?

2012-06-27T11:29:00.000-05:00

I have always been fascinated with names and their meanings and have noticed that the name you're given have an impact on your personality and character. In the bible, God changed Jacob's name to Israel. This establishes a new identity, a new calling. Jacob means supplanter or he who follows whereas Israel means having power with God. He also changed both Abram and Sarai's names to Abraham and Sarah.

So, what is the point? Words have power. What we speak or are named have power. Upon realizing this and searching the scripture, have decided to take extra precaution on how we name our children. Luckily, God was with us when we were named. Antoinette means beyond praise or praise-worthy and my husband's name, Raymond means mighty wise protector.

So, what does your name stand for?

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Happy Happy Birthday Raymiah and Happy Courtship Anniversary to ME! LOL

2012-06-25T17:47:00.000-05:00

Today marks two special occasions in my life!
1. The courtship of me and my husband (6/25/2003)
2. The birth of my big girl, Raymiah (6/25/2006)

Raymiah celebrates her 6th birthday today and have been celebrating since this past Saturday! We took her to Humble, Texas to Old Macdonald's Farm where she and her siblings rode ponies, trains, fed farm animals, played in sand mounds and playgrounds. We have a fun filled day. I made all of the food: fruit kabobs and finger sandwiches. It was cute and fed us comfortably in the humidity. Today, we stopped at Chuck E Cheese. You can never go wrong with CEC! It was a great day for my big girl!

Ray and I also share this day as our anniversary of our courtship. Only I celebrate this day or actually look back at what made us, us.

P.S. The date was not planned! LOL

Pictures and video footage of Raymiah's birthday will be posted this week!

Englewood- Lord send a revival!

2012-06-18T12:16:00.000-05:00

Derrick Rose, Bernie Mac, Carol Mosley-Braun, The Pargo Brothers all raised in the city's South side. I am also apart of this group. By the look of this list, Englewood has bred some great people. Every person's story differs more extreme than others. I was born and raised in the Englewood community. An urban development that has a status of murders and hatred. My family lived in several parts of this community and are still in the heart of it. My dad, a community activity who worked along side of Barack Obama still work toward reviving this dream strickened community. Summer was the most horrific times of the year for this town. You would think the kids would enjoy water balloon fights and the great beaches in the city, but they are on lockdown in their homes because of the gun violence that seeps across the neighborhoods all day long. Not even your homes are safe. I had a friend I mentored back in 8th grade who was gun down in her second floor apartment. Not one day went by that I didn't fear for my life.

I attended Ralph Bunche Elementary which now a charter school for kindergarten, Francis Parker Elementary (only 3 months) for 1st which is closed, and Charles Earle Elementary for the remaining school year for 1st grade though 8th grade. Paul Robeson High all four years and had more than a dozen of my pupils commit suicide, murdered, drop out or kicked out. Each school I had to walk every morning and afternoon, walking pass drugies and thugs. I was terrified! I decided to ride the CTA (public transportation) to school on occasions and was in the midst of fights with students fighting each whether from the same school or rival schools or even with the driver of the bus. Some drivers refused to drive us without police escorts. I've seen obscene behavior on those walks home too vulgar to write. I had family who were gun down or the cause of violence and drug abuse. My eyes have seen much.

My prayer is that my family is safe. Englewood is a death trap and I ask that you who are reading would say a prayer for the residents of the City of Chicago. Summer time is the worst time for this city and many families are mourning as I write this. I pray for the pastors of this community to become a model for the young men and show them there's a better way to live and that is to live in Christ. Englewood lacks a father figure and support from the community pastors. Everyone is fearing for their lives and it shouldn't be this way.

Song of the Day: Father's Day Edition

2012-06-17T01:29:00.000-05:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

2012-06-17T01:26:00.002-05:00

Men play a valuable role in a child's life. Whether you are a father, father figure, uncle, pastor, or friend, your positive influence help mold a child's life. The saying is true that, "no one's perfect", but you can make a difference if you set yourself for it. There are times you may have not been your best or a better example, but luckily it's never too late to change a child's life.

I am very grateful for my dad. We may not agree all of the time, but my dad has given me an example of a provider and a father of many children. I love my dad!

I am also grateful for my husband. He has been a beautiful example of a Godly husband and father. Our children are so blessed and they know that!!! I honor my husband this Father's Day! Thank you for being a leader in our family! I love you dearly!!

My honey bun!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

Every pregnancy is different... I believe it now!

2012-06-06T09:51:00.001-05:00

Upon my knowledge of my 5th pregnancy, I am aware that I cannot eat a variety of foods nor can I take the smell of them. My choices are slimmed down to fruits, yogurts and juices. During my other pregnancies, I had choices and favorites. What is this baby doing to me??
One thing that is similar to the other pregnancies are my weight and food intake. I lose a lot during my first trimester and I only eat small portions. It is like my stomach is smaller.
One major difference is sickness. I never experienced morning sickness. I was out with the ladies and just had the urge to vomit... I was embarrassed because I never had to do that!

I guess I can relate to the other mothers now... that every pregnancy is different!

What was your most memorable pregnancy story?

The End by Tracie McClinton

2012-05-28T19:09:00.000-05:00

The last day of school, the last day of vacation, the last slice of pie, the last child...all great things must come to an end. The day I finally had to face the truth that I have given birth for the last time was a day full of strange emotions for me. No more diapers, bottles, sleepless nights and potty training. I should have been celebrating and doing some sort of obnoxious dance of joy and screaming “Freedom!” But two years ago when my son reached the age of 5, I found myself longing for diapers, bottles, sleepless nights and potty training! I was sad that my bouncing baby boy was now a bouncing big boy who was getting bigger by the day. With each milestone I verbalized “this is my last time experiencing this as a mother”.

My boy, Brian, who I simply call The Boy, came into our lives as a plan and a surprise all in one. After many years of back and forth indecision, we finally decided to have “just one more”. So we prepared ourselves and agreed that this was it. I had no idea that this decision would be so difficult. The logical side of me knew it was the right decision for our family. After all, I was 37 and my husband was 42. We had a 10 year old and my husband’s oldest child was 17. But the mother in me was not ready for this to be IT. The Boy brought a special kind of joy into our household and brought something into our lives that we didn’t know we needed. This baby fixed something that we didn’t know was broken. I wanted to experience this joy over and over again. But then, I remembered that this is IT.

Tracie McClinton

Now my boy is preparing to enter second grade. He is becoming more independent, losing teeth, liking girls and changing right before my eyes. He recently informed me that he was too old for Yo Gabba Gabba, Calliou and Sesame Street. This announcement hit me so hard and sent me into a week of gazing at baby pictures, touching baby clothes at the mall and sniffing packages of Pampers at Target.

It’s time to move on. Motherhood has exciting things still in store for me. The teenager will be in college next year. My husband and I are preparing for new and exciting things and my boy is still my boy.

This is it….the end. All great things must come to an end. (Insert HUGE SIGH right here). I am done having children. That’s all there is and there isn’t any more.

It's that time again!

2012-05-23T16:46:00.000-05:00

I have some awesome people who are volunteering their time to be a featured blogger. Stay tuned for some awesome stories and experiences from mothers, entrepreneurs, wives, and even husbands!

Want to share your God story, let me know in a comment below or on my Facebook Fan page entitled "In The Life of a Virtuous Woman: The Blog"

Fridays will feature blogs from my readers, friends, and family! You wouldn't want to miss Friday's entry! Stay tuned!!

SPECIAL REPORT!!

2012-05-19T19:43:00.002-05:00

Our family is growing and growing fast! We are expecting again!

I called myself doing something a little different to have myself some time before the next baby, but God had a different plan. I will be doing pregnancy updates so..stay tuned!!

Outfit of the Day...what!!?? LOL

2012-05-11T23:44:00.000-05:00

Tonight was my church's Mother's Day Banquet. The women were all dressed up in their fine apparel and we were escorted down a red carpet to our wonderful dinner.

Now I decided to do something a little different being that this is the first time I actually was confident to wear bold colors and blended styles. This is what I wore:

Jewelry from Glitter all $1 each minus my wedding ring of course! LOL
Scarf from Macys original price $79 sale price $4.99 WHAT! LOL
Makeup ELF cosemetics

Jacket thrifted $2
Shirt gift from The Mane Source giveaway
Color pants thrifted $3

My shoes was not photographed (FORGOT) but they're from Charlotte Russe and were close to a burnt orange color!