Some words from Jae and Quay

Cousin Z! Is it ok that I call you Z?  My dad calls you ZION & he says it loud too. My name is Jaelan but everyone calls me Jae! My mommy is your auntie Lisa  & daddy is Uncle Quay. They told me that you're almost out of your mommy tummy. I remember those days. Cramped & slimy but it was cool to hear mommy and daddy talk about me everyday. They even let me listen to music & football/basketball games. Daddy says that we will grow up to be best friends just like my dad and your dad & that you'll be able to play basketball, football & soccer with me. You should see my new basketball shoes dad got me. I hope you're ready to come out of there. Z, everyone already loves you & I've been waiting on someone to take over the playgrounds with. You get to sleep & eat & everyone just holds you. The bad part is everyone kisses you too, but all the smiley faces & toys are great. You'll love your mommy & daddy. They teach you how to talk, eat, potty, & to be strong. My daddy teaches me to believe in myself and mommy teaches me all about respecting others. My uncle milt is so cool. He bought me my first spinner. Daddy says your dad is full of great ideas and knowledge, so you should really listen to him. Oh yeah Z, wait til you meet uncle Tay. He likes to play with the little kids. Anyways Z, can't wait to meet you soon. I have to go, today is my first basketball practice with me new team. I'm going to score all the points & dunk. 

Love Jaelan 

Ps. The gators is dad & uncle Milton & uncle Tay & me & you favorite team. 

Pss. Remember if you cry, you get everything, especially from mommy 😏

Auntie Coco's letter to Zion

To My Future Nephew:

Congratulations! You have overcome one of the greatest obstacles in your life created by your mom and dad. We don’t know each other yet, but I just found out on February 14th, 2017 that you are being brought into existence. I promise you we will get to know each other and I will always be there for you unconditionally. This is your Auntie Coco. (Your Mom’s Sister). I decided to name myself Coco because it will be probably the 3rd easiest name you’ll be able to pronounce whenever you are born. 

First I would like to let you know that you are coming into this world with the greatest blessing that God could provide: YOUR AMAZING PARENTS.

Your dad….yeeaaeah him. He will be tough on you, encourage you, provide for you, go above and beyond, but trust me don’t ever take that for granted little nigga. He’s your #1 fan remember that. 

Your mom…Listen to her. She’s an amazing human being who has endured and excelled in many aspects of life. She’s my hero. 

Well enough about your parents; you’ll have a lifetime to get to know them. I want to take this time to let you in on a couple of secrets I have learned about life which I am sure you and I will get to share when the time comes for you to be born. :)

The world is yours for the making. 

1. The world is a beautiful place. You will encounter many new experiences, people and places that will shape who you will become. The beauty of it all is that this world and this life are both yours to create. Everything in this world is possible. Ask your parents. Believe in your dreams because I believe in mine as well. 

2. Love. At this very moment, you aren’t even born yet, and all those who surround you LOVE YOU. Your dad, mom, lala, pops, money, your coco, great aunties, your parents friends, YOU HAVE A WHOLE LIST! My advice to you is to love and to be loved. Love God, Love your family, and love yourself. Anything you do no matter how small or big do it all with love. You know people may not understand you, but the results will show. You’ll always be loved. Learn to love new experiences: Play your favorite sport and make sure you study as well. 

3. Dreams. I always go by the motto “Dreams don’t work unless you do” DREAM BIG AND DREAM OFTEN. If you can dream with your eyes open, thats when the secret of life and its beauty are bestowed upon you. Z, always believe in your dreams; That should always be your #1 goal. between you and me.

4. Faith. Always have faith in your life. Especially in God. Whichever faith is bestowed upon you, BELIEVE IN GOD!!!!!Trust him and yield him in your life, for he has great plans for you. Experience this journey for yourself, and if you ever have any questions, I will be here for you to guide you in the right direction. Always 100% and know that I am only one phone call away.

I know we don’t know each other yet, but I am excited to meet you, spoil you, and get to know you. We are going to have so many great times together I am already putting together a list of all the amazing activities you and me are going to do together. I promise I will be the best auntie you’ll ever have and you can always count on me for ANYTHING. I love you with all my heart. And remember the world is yours little man. 

Awaiting [im] patiently for your arrival,

Auntie Coco

I started my nightly ritual of talking to Zi last night

Since the lil nigga only seems to be up when I'm around, late at night right before bedtime. I felt him in there kicking and I want him to know my voice off rip, so I took advantage of the opportunity to speak to him. This practice will go on for every night until he arrives. 

I'll start incorporating music too, as mentioned on a prior blog. But for now, it's just me. He hears Ang every day, all day, bc she always running her mouth. 😂

Last night, I read him a review of Jay-Z's first album, Reasonable Doubt. Shawn Carter is the GOAT, Zi will be the GOAT. Made perfect sense in my mind. 

Aight, hombres. Holla at y'all later. Have another treat for y'all tonight. Got Auntie Coco in this bihh. Lol

Stace's letter to Zi

Zi, to be honest I'm really bad at this kind of stuff but I told your daddy I wanted to give it a shot. He then proceeded to tell me that your mom's letter was perfect and I shouldn't even attempt, he is petty like that, just ignore him. 

Your mom talked about being excited to share the alone time with you while you grow in her belly, she mentioned sometimes being overwhelmed by the love and support you three have been receiving. I'm def one of the ppl overwhelming her! Every time I'm around I insist on placing my hand on her belly and talking to you. She humors me and let's me be obnoxiously excited. Zi, you are so lucky to have her as your mom. She brings such light to everyone's life. And you having part of her in you, I just know you are going to be perfect. 

Ya know, You took long enough to come!! But it was perfect timing, A time where the good news was much needed. You may not even understand the happiness you have brought to so many of us, even those that aren't connected to you by blood. I grew up away from all of my extended family, Something you never have to worry about. there is a silver lining to that... the friendships I have developed are more like family. And even though you are my friend's son you will be an addition to that part of my life. I'm not sure if I'll ever have a child of my own so prepare yourself for how much love I plan on giving you. 

I plan on spoiling you rotten and sneaking you sweets when your mommy isn't looking. I'll attend all of your future sporting events while cheering obnoxiously loud, praying you make the best decision to attend college at FSU and not your aunties alma mater. Ill tell you stories about our Fam get togethers while we play uno. You have increased your mothers shadiness already, so I know you will fit right in with them, because they are the Shady Bunch. I hope you grow up to be just like your daddy, he is a good man. The type of friend you can tell anything to and won't judge you. 

Really the point of this letter, Zi, is to tell you I'm so excited to meet you! 

Love, Stac (make sure you spell it right) 

P.s. I don't speak Spanish but you can call me Titi. If that doesn't work for you Bee works too. 😘

June 19, 2017

I finally felt my son kicking from inside the womb. At first it was really faint. But I waited a few seconds and then came three swift, strong kicks in rapid succession.  Ang excitedly asked if I'd felt it but I was too speechless to even answer. I just laid there in bed for a few moments to truly soak it all in. Blessed. 

I may or may not have shed a few thugs tears. 

I came to a realization today.

Strolling Babies-R-Us, looking for a stroller and sniffing baby bathing oils just isn't for me. Lol. I love my wife, I love my son but I'm just gonna pass on this particular ritual from this point on out and leave all that to the queens in Zi's life. 

P.S.- I love that Suaad and Stace call him Zi ❤️💚🖤

22wks mañana.. time to start figuring out...

...what I'm gonna have Zi listening to in the womb. 

By the 26th week, he'll fully be able to hear our words and grow to recognize our voices. So it really goes without saying that we'll be both talking to him plenty. 

But besides that, I'm ordering some headphones off of Amazon specifically for playing music to babies still in their mommy's belly. I've been brainstorming on what Zion will be listening to. 

As of now, guarantees are:

Lauryn Hill

Curtis Mayfield

Michael Jackson 

The Isley Brothers

George Clinton and the P-Funks

Beethoven 

Mozart

Donnie McClurkin

Jay-Z

George Strait

Man, my son gonna have such a diversified catalog fresh out the womb. Lol. I cannot wait. 

Can I vent real quick?

I must admit that I found myself a tad bit salty that Zion won't be classmates with some of my classmates' kids. 

Two of my friends that I met in the 6th grade and am still very close with, umpteen years later, both had children already this year. My 3rd cousin is having her child in July or August. Two more of my friends have either had their kid or are expecting within the next 2 months. 

None of these children will be in Zi's grade bc the cut-off date is August 31st. It would've been awesome to see my friends at elementary and middle school open houses for our kids, who we all know would have been friends as well. =)

But alas, maybe other members of my graduating class are pregnant now and just haven't announced or will soon be pregnant early enough to make Zion's grade's cut-off date. 

/end rant 

Feels so good to be surrounded by so much love

I mean... the love is absolutely engulfing. It's like a blanket of security. Ang, Zi and I don't have to want for anything. And that feeling is so, so, so, so reassuring as our dreams are becoming a reality. Every day it becomes more and more real. And everyday we're reminded just how loved and cherished we are by the ones we, in turn, love and cherish. 

My son, I'm gonna try my hardest to be hard with you when it's appropriate. Lord knows I'm gonna try. But I'm afraid I'm gonna be wrapped around your little fingers. You are going to be spoiled beyond even my wildest imagination. 

Shout out to the women in my life. You all mean the world to me and I can't wait for you all to accept my son into the nurturing care that only a woman possesses. 

Stace

Chelle

Both my mothers

Nisha

Suaad

My sister

Desto

My goddaughter 

Kiva and Kenya and Karni

Alyse

Jania and Jaala 

Symone

I love you all. 

Had a lil chat with my goddaughter

S/o to Auntie CoCo

For featuring us on her amazing blog. 

I enjoyed reading this post beyond words. Hearing the story told from the point of view on the other side of the FaceTime was amazing. Was literally on the edge of my seat, soaking it in and re-living one of the greatest days of my life to date. 

I already know, without a doubt in my mind, that Chelle is going to be a kick ass auntie. 

We love you to life, sis.. ❤️💚🖤

Michelle's going to be an auntie!

I'm using this as a receipt! 😂

Zi's mini 20wk u/s

Halfway home

Ang hit 20wks yesterday. We've officially reached the halfway mark. Pretty exciting times.