Your Baby's 7th Month

Go Baby, go! As your child becomes more mobile, up go the baby gates and window blind cord covers. Learn more about keeping your home safe, plus how to keep separation anxiety under control.

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Leaving Las Vegas

On our trip back from Vegas after my birthday, I had to make a visit to one of my dearest friend in the world, Rochelle. We go way back. We have known eachother since we were 8yrs old. We spent some really great times together. We went to the same dance school, supported eachothers highschool plays, visited eachother on college breaks, were leads together in Plays-n the Park, she saw one of my first Stomp shows in NYC, was there when the moving truck drove away with my things in Jersey bound for Los Angeles. Now we are married women and Mommies. I cannot beleive the time that has past. It seems like yesterday we were talking in our rooms in our parents house and now we are both in the wild wild west! lol I am so proud of you. I am so happy you had the courage to go for your dream and make your mark. You are beautiful woman and Thank you for being a true friend. You make me laugh!!!!!

Rochelle,Mr.Patterson & Marley

Mrs.Patterson & Marley

............sing with meeeeeeee

Me , Marley & Roche

Byron & Marley

Marley & Nainoa's Meeting

Happy Birthday to Meeeeee with frenzzz and Babeeeeez!

This year I really could not decide how I wanted to celebrate my birthday. I mean, it did fall on a Saturday and what a waste it would be if I did absolutely nothing for my Birthday?! So, Friday I decided that I wanted to get out of L.A and take a road trip to Vegas. Me and Ahmed ventured off with Marley, for his first road trip longer than an hour. The first two hours he slept! Thank Goodness and the other half of the trip I just pulled out all of my best non-sensicle mish moshed nursery rhymes and songs.....poor Ahmed. ;)

We arrived in Las Vegas late morning and had a yummy breakfast at the Egg & I. (I saw it on the Food Channel with Rachel Ray). Then we met up with Stephanie,Keith and Makai at the Fashion Mall to kill a couple of hours. They are relocating back to NYC and we are going to miss them. Even though we do not live in the same state, it was just nice to know we had Family on this coast. Anyways, we had fun and a lot of laughs. We didn't stay too long, because they had last minute packing and we had to check into the Marriott at three. Only 25 minutes away we arrived at the hotel and it was really nice. The bathroom was awesome! It had a jacuzzi and ........that was a Birthday present in itself! Ahhhhhhh I soaked for a good 30minutes and it was heaven. I could have stayed all nite, but I had plans to have dinner with Coralissa, Nainoa, and the Middleton's at one of my favorite sushi restaurants. They serve this special salmon roll with curry sauce and mango! YUMmmmmm I'm still dreaming about it. After dinner we went back to Lissa's ...had cake, watch all 3 babies play for the first time. My first Birthday as a MOM! I received my first "You're #1 Mom" card! It was so exciting. I will never get tired of getting those even if Ahmed buys it for him. LOL

I have to say the sweetest part was watching our boys play and interact with each other. For the longest time Me, Steph and Lissa have been trying to get into the same room with our son's and it finally happened! Although Steph is going to NYC, Lissa in Vegas and I'm in L.A. They have been my sisters. I really feel a kindred spirit and I am so happy we have been able to share many of the best times of our lives from work, weddings and babies together. We are going to have amazing "remember when" stories later on and many more chapters to share. Love you guys.

Thanks to my Hubby for whisking me away ......I love you.

Marley loves outdoor wind charms

Wind Charms are the craze at our house. Marley is so intrigued with the movement and the sounds. He saw his first one when we went to St.Kitts for the summer. It was hanging on a Palm Tree and my Dad took it off for him to play with as a toy. It is one of his favorite things. The fact that it seemingly moves by itself! Watching his little brain try to figure out the mechanics of this object is so cute! But then that quickly disappears as he figures out how to reach for it, grab it and make it ring. He is Fearless! and very inspiring. I hope he holds that spirit.

On another note: I really should know better than to wear the color Red in the city of Los Angeles....now that I am looking at these photos...... I was representing my alma mater Rutgers U. T-shirt. Geez....good thing I live in a nice neighborhood.

Mommy & Me Photo Shoot

This Shoot was way beyond my expectations. I thought we were going to shoot a couple of pictures after my headshots,but the genius Mike Quain.....did it again. Thank you so much. We had a blast! You can check out more pictures from my gallery.

Celebrity Bowling for Sickle Cell

Our friend Tracie Thoms texted us last week "You guys want to go bowling? I have a lane for this Sickle Cell Fundraiser and Kids can come! .......We're there!

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder that mostly affects people of African ancestry, but also occurs in other ethnic groups, including people who are of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent.

1. More than 70,000 Americans have sickle cell anemia. And about 2 million Americans — 1 in 12 African Americans — have sickle cell trait, which means they carry a single gene for the disease and can pass this gene along to their children, but do not have the disease itself.

This is evening was supported by Black Hollywood Actors & Actresses who came out to support the cause and fun was had by all! Even Master Marley had a great time. He was a little intimmadated by the sounds of the pins getting knocked down, but he quickly became

amused by all the action, music and people that came by our lane to say hello. I think hands down Jennifer Lewis was the most memorable visitor. If you know this funny actress you can just hear her voice. "Oh Myyy GODD! He is just GORGEEOUSS! LOOK at BABEEE! AND He is HEAVY! LORD.......SOMEBODDDY Take this Baby from ME. (mind you she is not letting go of Marley, nor is she handing him off! LOL)

Thank you Tracie,Sargon,Thalia for making our nite, helping our family bowl and for the memorable FRAME where everybody made a strike!!! YAY!!!I think Marley thinks its normal to hop from person to person now! :)

I'm 7 Months today!

Best & Laybourne (we were born in 2009)

Skender Laybourne and Marley Best meeting for the first time. Today, we drove to Venice, CA to visit our dear friends Sam, Herran and Skender. The Laybourne family introduced their son 5 weeks ago and we were just so happy for their new family. When we had Marley, we had such a wonderful support system and our friends really took care of us. We were sleep deprived, overwhelmed and just exhausted. Our great friends " The Lane Family" came over one day with a cooler of food and just took over our kitchen. Besides our Mothers coming over to help, it was one of the most memorable gestures we have had during this period. ( And a lot of it was blur,especially my time spent in the hospital). We enjoyed the company, food and most importantly not having to worry about a meal. A mental vacation, even for an afternoon goes a long way! So, we really wanted to keep this tradition. Sam and Herran thought we were just coming over for a visit, but we actually invaded their kitchen and cheffed up lunch. We had an amazing time catching up and loving up on Skender! What a beautiful baby.

Below:Marley had a great time sharing and playing with Skender.

Old Friends

Last week we were suprised by an old friend ....and if you are reading this and know Anthony Johnson......you know as soon as he walked into the house he had us rolling with laughter!@lol

The first thing he said "YOu guys have a child!" Wow "You look great!" then Anthony says " I look old...look at me, I have a belly , My hair is receeding, I'm out of shape....." Then I say Anthony " You look great, you are slim and trim". Then he says " Yeahhhh, I am slim , yeah I'm alright, etc.." We just laughed. (If you don't find this entry funny, you either have to know him or had to be there.

The Best Company

I think its every new parent anxiety to look for someone to watch your little one when you cannot take the "baby". Ahmed and I have been operating on a tag team system or we all try to accomplish our errands together. We have been so blessed to have the most wonderful support and friends when we are strapped for someone to watch Marley such as The Lane Family, Lynn, Arlene, and most recently Quincy & Deondray. It is so comforting to know that your child are in the hands of those who have so much love for him. I think my fear is that they would be overwhelmed if he started to cry.........and I don't want to deter folks from having children! (just joking). I am comforted that my friends would protect , comfort and love him ......even when he gives them the "business". Thank you for your time and freindship. We love you ....