Showing posts with label #baby #rainbow baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #baby #rainbow baby. Show all posts

ZURIEL AT 6 MONTHS 

Wow!!! I have a 6 months old, I just can’t believe this. Where did the time go honestly. Am I the only mom who wishes their baby were still newborn and so little 😉😆. I now find myself looking at her new born videos when she asleep and I can’t help it but miss her 😩😩😩.



She is feeling less like a baby and more like a mini person these days! She is already FULL of personality. Always smiling, laughing, trying to chat, and constantly on the move. Her newest move? Attempting to crawl, I am like wait didn’t you just sit down the other day, you need to slow down lady, you are going to fast with all these developments. But in all honesty I am extremely grateful to the most High for a healthy, strong, happy, very smart full of life baby girl. She is typically an amazing napper (I seriously can’t complain here, but it did took a lot of work to get here LOL. 

She has been teething for two months straight and the teeth wouldn’t pop just yet, I feel so bad for her. But thank goodness we haven’t had any teething episode, she manages it so well. The girl is more concerned about crawling then teething.  





 She’s growing like a weed, and I’m totally convinced that she will outgrow me by middle school. She is just so smart and respond to her name in an instant. Boy! She already loves books but get frustrated when it can’t open but put it in her mouth. 

She has been on breast milk straightly. At her 5 months visit ( we go in every month for visits because we are spacing out her vaccine plan and using the Dr. Sears method) her pediatrician recommended cereal mixed with breast milk so she’s been having fun with that. This is what she has been eating and loves it  INFANT Organic Quinoa Cereals quinoa + banana).

We are definitely starting her with solids fully this week, you don’t know how happy I am that my boobs get to rest a bit from latching and pumping. She will still continue with the breast milk but not as much. 



Breastfeeding moms, do you get asked so often how long you plan on breastfeeding? My answer to anyone that asked me: AS long As I CAN. I try not to stress myself and take it one day at the time. Sometimes, I feel like quitting when I am low on supplies then it would bounce back. I know how breastfeeding is so important with so many benefits for baby. I have a big eater but luckily I pumped 4-5 ounces on each boobs per session, sometimes 3 ounces. 

We started her new schedule at 6 months, so we have been on it for about few days so far and it’s been going GREAT. Personally, I love the new schedule because she’s awake longer and napping longer, so I get to spend time with her and then actually feel like I can get things done during her naps.




OUR 6 MONTH SCHEDULE

We now feed her every 4 hours, instead of every 3.



7:00-7:30: We start our day! Sometimes I go in to wake her up, sometimes she’s already awake. I feed her breast milk and then we head downstairs to play.



8:00: She eats solids. We usually switch this up, sometimes a fruit (all pureed), sometimes some kind of oatmeal etc. One of her current favorite breakfast combos is a mix of pear/cinnamon/oatmeal. Because she doesn’t have teeth yet, I can’t start weaning her right away. But my plan is to start weaning 3 weeks at 6months whether the teeth comes or not. 



8:30-10:30: She goes down for her nap. Most days she will sleep the full two hours, but sometimes she’ll wake up a little early and, if so, that’s ok. I play with her until it’s time eat again.

11:00: Breast milk.

Sometimes between 11am-12:00 ( we go out for a short walk)



12:00: Solids again! I usually go for some kind of veggies for “lunch,” but I also change it up daily.



12:30-2:30: Her second nap of the day. Again, most days she naps the full time but if she wakes up a little early, that’s ok too.



3:00: Breast milk and then we play!



4:00-5:00: This is classified as her “catnap.” It usually takes her a little longer to fall asleep for this one, (But sometimes she would want to sleep till 5:30 and I am like girl oh no your bed time is approaching.



5:00: She wakes up and eats solids for the last time of the day! After she eats, I usually take her outside on a walk. I love getting my cardio in here. It’s also a great time to get out and get some fresh air and the sun is not as hot. Especially on days when I’m working at my computer all day. Working from home with a baby is not easy but it has gotten so much better. 

6:30: Bath time, feed + books. This is still the same as it was at 4 months, and still one of our favorite times of the day. We start with a bath (fun fact: my husband as never bath Zuriel, he is to scare to hurt her. So sometimes when I am not home for her bed time he just put her clothes on her and put her to bed 😩😩😩). Zuriel LOVES her baths, so it’s always fun watching her smile and relax. After her bath, I feed her for the night. I breastfeed and then top her off with about 3-4ounces that I pumped during the day and I mixed it with  a little cereal  to help her sleep longer through the night. After I feed and burp her, we finish off our day with books! She has tons of favorites that I’ll include below.



7:30: Bed time for the night.



1-3am: She still usually wakes up 1 time during the night, between 1:30am and 3:00am. I feed her but don’t change her (her diaper Is pampers pure so it very organic and last for 12 hours) and put her back down for the rest of the night. I try to make sure I don’t really talk to her much and don’t even have an eye connection with her, and keep her in a sleepy/relaxed state (I feed her in her room for this one). She has gone a few nights where she doesn’t wake up, so I’m thinking soon she will sleep through the night. As of now, I can tell that she’s actually hungry when she wakes up, so I don’t mind getting up to feed her!  I also use this opportunity to pumped and save the milk in the fridge after I put her down, I have to keep the supply going. Plus, I’m not gonna lie…I always miss her when she’s sleeping! Guess what! Her 6 months treat to me, she slept from 7:30pm to 4:00am and breastfed for a bit and smooth herself right back to bed. This mama can conquer the world today!



7:00-7:30: Wake up and do it all over again!











Zuriel Loves

  1. These books!  (Fairy ) We have 4 of them and they are some of our favorites. The stories are adorable (always a good message) and the illustrations are so cute. They have a ton of different ones, we have 4 so far, and will definitely keep adding to our collection. Our two all-time favorites are “Lola the Lollipop Fairy” and “Izzy the Ice-cream Fairy”. Also got her these books because it fit perfectly in her hands Baby Love and she can open it all by herself. Another favorites are Thank you God for loving me and The Moon sees you and me
  2. Favorite Teething Toys ( – I ordered this off BuyBuy baby, and she is totally obsessed. It’s easy for her to hold and must feel great on her teeth. I ordered it in a bundle with this octopus teether that she also really loves and this one Zoli works very well for her also. 
  3. Her baby walker Bright Stars – This thing is so stinking cute! She loves all the toys on the front and it’s a great option to have when she doesn’t want to be on her mat.
  4. We are a Pampers’ family now! We have been using Honest diapers when she was new born up to 4months old but I have realized that it doesn’t go well with over night, it soak a lot and I sure don’t want my baby getting any rashes, but we recently got hook with the new Pampers Pure Diapers. We have been using Water Wipes since she was newborn and it’s the best thing ever and I have been loving them. They will definitely be what we order going forward. (We purchase her diapers and wipes from Target.) Its our mother-daughter Target Run that turn to getting more stuff we didn’t plan on getting. Who doesn’t love Target!
  5. Play mat Skip Hop– Now that she’s scooting in circles, back and forth, and kind of all over the place, I love having a big play mat down. So I plan on getting a bigger mat soon. Plan on getting this mat that I saw on Shark Tank Little Nomad and want to get it in the color “dusk”
  6. Beaba Spoon This is kind of a random thing to be obsessed with, but we LOVE these spoons! They are really thick, easy for her to eat out of and I feel like when I use them to get the extra food off from around her mouth, they are soft on her skin.




Pregnancy after miscarriage

My prayer point was I would hear the cry of a baby before the end of 2017 in our home. The Holy Spirit instructed me to fast for 3 days and see what would happened. On the second day, it was the hardest thing to do and that’s when I was tempted with food the most. I am a foodie, I love great food! I stood strong and continued the fast. A day after the fast, early Friday morning at 6:00 am, I jumped out of bed while my husband was still asleep, I took a pregnancy test and it came back positive. I took another test to make sure of what I was seeing was positive, I then shouted my husband's name calling to come and see the goodness of God...  "We are Pregnant, We are going to have a child"! 



When the pregnancy test was confirmed, these are few of the things I did to maintained a healthy pregnancy while holding on to the WORD of GOD. 
Knowing about your Fertility ( "Taking charge of your Fertility" are few of the books that you can purchase to start your pregnancy journey.
Knowing if your body and mind is ready for pregnancy


By the way, I’m not a healthcare professional or anyone you should take any sort of medical advice from. I’m just a lowly woman who is a research fanatic and trying to steward her health for the glory of God.

 I don't have fertility problem but I thought and did the right things to prepare my mind and body for a healthy pregnancy and baby!

Spending time in the Word of God (Positive thoughts)
Praying through Pregnancy I knew the only way I'd survive pregnancy was through prayers and organizing my billions..... prayer requests was no small task. Way before I got pregnant, I made a decision on Dec 31, 2016 to soak myself in the Lord and spend more time than ever in His presence. On January 1, 2017, I started the one year Bible plan, and other bible plans. I sometimes missed a day to read the plan but I didn't missed a day in prayers or thanksgiving. The 9 months became an incredible journey and a time I experienced the most growth I'e ever experienced in my faith. I had prayer sessions with my best friends every Wednesday's, my husband and I spent time together in prayers when we could. I ordered a few books from Amazon that could help me on the journey.
 Here are list of the things I actually prayed for during the last month before she was born. Prayers For Mom: healthy pregnancy, healthy body, labor & delivery, be light to nurses and doctors, breastfeeding and milk supply, sleep and energy, postpartum recovery, postpartum depression, finding quality time with God, peace and patience for due date, joy during the first two weeks, bonding time with my husband, taking away fear and anxiety, for off the Lord, best before the babies, smooth maternity leave, confidence in parenting. 
For Baby: safe delivery, sleep, able to breastfeed, sweet spirit, pleasant baby, healthy and strong baby, overall health, a light for Jesus, future friends, destiny (future career/passions) future mates.

Eating healthy ( Eat nutrient dense foods)

Nutrition is a key part of boosting fertility and giving your baby the best possible start. A good diet can increase your odds for conceiving and help your body overall.
Nutrients that I like to focus on when preparing body for pregnancy are vitamins A, C, D, E, and K2, iodine, and omega-3 fats. Though there are several other important nutrients, these are a good place to focus my efforts.
Some Fertility Superfoods:
  • Pastured eggs
  • Wild-caught fish (Salmon is my favorite!)
  • Butter
  • Cod Liver Oil
  • Dark green leafy vegetables
  • Citrus fruit
  • Avocados
  • Bananas
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Garlic

2. Limit sugar and caffeine

In addition to eating nutrient dense foods, I also limit the amount of sugar and caffeine I consume when preparing my body for pregnancy.
By cutting down on sugar and caffeine, or eliminating it altogether, my body can work to balance my hormones and increase my chances of conceiving.

3. Exercise regularly

Here are some common known reasons to exercise:
  • Help maintain a healthy weight
  • Better sleep
  • More energy
  • Improves mood
  • Improves mind clarity
Exercise is a great stress reliever, and it’s very helpful in restoring hormonal imbalances. Therefore, when I’m preparing my body for pregnancy, I exercise at least 30 minutes a day, three to four times a week.
4. Getting your husband/partner on board and standing together.

5. Create a habit of rest

Rest is not a sin. Let me say it again. Rest is not a sin.
As a culture built on productivity, it’s easy to think we are being lazy when we choose to rest. However, it’s simply not true. Lack of sleep, pushing my body to the maximum, and choosing self-sufficiency causes health problems. Rest plays an important role in the production and balancing of hormones.
I create a habit of rest.

6.. Drink herbal teas

Herbal teas are a great way to nourish your body. Herbal teas can give you a natural boost of vitamins and minerals all while hydrating your body!
I buy most all of my herbs from Whole foods or a local health store. 
Herbs I like for fertility:
  • Stinging Nettles
  • Red Raspberry Leaf
  • Peppermint
  • Lemon balm

 7. Get a Maya Abdominal Massage

Among its many benefits, a Maya Abdominal Massage can help boost your fertility. I found this to be gold. I found a Douala (Lisa) a women and healthy wellness store in West Palm Beach Florida http://www.amazingbirths.com/Preconception%20&%20Fertility.php#mam
http://redtentwellness.com/mayaabdominalmassage.php
 Lisa explained to me that many women uteruses get out of line and that it  could be resolved with a simple 45 minute massage. I was skeptical, but I was also desperate to try it. I just wanted to feel better. And rested. Plus who in their right mind would turn down a massage?
Maya massage is a massage technique that is noninvasive way of re-positioning internal organs that have shifted. A misaligned uterus can cause a lot of health problems, especially related to your fertility. 
Symptoms of a Displaced Uterus (here are a few):
  • Painful periods (Your period is not supposed to hurt! Extreme cramping is not supposed to happen. Not ideally!)
  • Late, early, or  irregular periods
  • Dark, thick blood at onset and at the end of menstruation
  • Headache or migraine with period
  • Failure to ovulate regularly
  • Painful ovulation
  • PMS/Depression
  • Blood clots during menstruation and excessive bleeding
  • Chronic miscarriage
  • Premature deliveries
  • Difficult pregnancies/incompetent uterus/spotting
  • Infertility
  • Painful intercourse
  • Difficult menopause
“When reproductive organs shift, they can constrict normal flow of blood and lymph, and disrupt nerve connections. Just a few extra ounces sitting on blood and lymph vessels can cause havoc throughout the different systems in the body. By shifting the uterus back into place, homeostasis, or the natural balance of the body, is restored in the pelvic area and the surrounding organs. Toxins are flushed and nutrients that help to tone tissue and balance hormones are restored to normal order. This is essential for healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery.” ~Arvigo Therapy, Definition and History
Since having a miscarriage, the Maya massage has been crucial to my recovery. Plus, they feel amazing!
 9. Get a vaginal steam
Yep. You read that right. I did vaginal steam baths to prepare my body for pregnancy.
In addition to the Mayan massage, my Douala created a concoction of herbs for a vaginal steam that I did before ovulation. I go to her office and let her pamper me, but you can easily do a vaginal steam bath at home.
Note: Vaginal steam baths are also helpful post miscarriage to help clean out the system and aid the uterus in recovery.
Basically, a vaginal steam bath cleanses, tones, and nourishes your uterus, cervix, and tissues.Vaginal steam baths aren’t just helpful for fertility, but if you experience PMS, painful menstrual cycles, hemorrhoids, and other monthly cycle symptoms, then a vaginal steam bath could really help.
Herbs Used in My Vaginal Steam Bath:
  • Calendula
  • Partridge berry
  • Lemon balm
  • Thyme
  • Plantain
  • Oregano
  • Basil
You can buy the vaginal steam herbs here, if you’d rather not make it yourself.

Thoughts on being a Christian and Using Natural Means to Boost Fertility:

You might be wondering why a Christian would use Maya massage and vaginal steams and diet to boost fertility. Aren’t these methods associated with spirituality and such? Isn’t it wrong to use healers? Is this voodoo or something?
I always sigh heavily when I get these questions. It’s much like the question, “Won’t your baby drown if you do a water birth?” to me. It annoys me a little bit to be completely honest, but I also realize that it’s ignorance that poses the question. We simply don’t understand that which we’ve never encountered.
Do people talk to spirits and such when conducting Mayan massages and vaginal steams? Yes. They do. To be honest, I think my Douala (who is not a professing Christian) has rituals that she likes to use when preparing her remedies and healing treatments. 
But me – a Christian? I see it as an AMAZING way God has provided for our family through natural means to heal my body and boost fertility. For me, I see the herbs growing from the ground, the water running in the streams, and the gift of knowledge He has given my Douala as just that – a gift. A gift that reminds me of how great He is and how He has provided for us through His natural creation. Also, my Douala has never done anything against my beliefs in front of me. She respects my beliefs 100%.
Personally, I wish more Christians talked about natural healing and methods we can use to boost fertility. I wish it all wasn’t so taboo. I think it’s an area where God is left out, and it makes me sad.
Therefore, if you’re looking for ways to boost fertility, try one of the tips above. Like I said at the outset, this is what I did and it worked well for us. Every case is different, and even though we did “everything right” our fertility is ultimately in the Lord’s hands. He gives and He takes away. And all of it is grace!







Our testimony, Our Rainbow baby!!!!!
The song writer says “Hallelujah!
You have won the victory.
Hallelujah!
You have won it all for me”

After every storm and rain there's Sunshine....This our testimony, this is our song!
Today, our hearts are full, we are pleased to announce the arrival of our Rainbow and Miracle baby!

                              Oluwakemi Zuriel Akanni
Oluwakemi: God is taking care of me. God has kept me. God has taken care of me.
Zuriel: The name Zuriel is a Hebrew name which means: Stone.
Biblical Meaning:
In Biblical the meaning of the name Zuriel is: God is my Rock! God is my strength. Rock or strength of God.
                        Born November 7, 2017
‪                                        at 4:21am‬
weighting 5 pounds 15 ounces 18 inches
Memorial Regional Hospital, Hollywood Florida
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