Confessions of a Single Mother

Welcome to Dear Serenity. An online journal I am keeping for my baby girl. I hope that as she grows older she will see how much she is loved by everyone and some major events that happened in her life. Something she will never remember, but I will never forget.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Friday, October 15, 2010

Dear Serenity,

I guess now is better than any other to tell you about the day you were born.

Daddy picked me and grandma up from grandma's house and we made it to the hospital for 5:30 AM on June 3rd, 2008.
We went up to the room and I got settled in.
The connected the meds and stuff that was needed to start the labor.
I was able to feel the contractions...I barely dilated...after 7 hours I was only dilated a few centimeters. So @ 12:30 PM they broke the water bag and after that whenever the contractions came I was starting to feel the pain come more and more intense...by 2:30 PM I was in so much pain. They gave me some pain medicine and I took a nap and eventually the contractions were way too intense I had to get the epidural.
Honestly, that was the best decision I have made in my life!
@ 6:00 they administered the epidural.  I was at 4 centimeters...an hour after the epidural, I was fully dilated and ready to go.
I had to stall for a bit cause your auntie Cathy was on her from the poboy shop. When she arrived, we were ready to bring you into the world.
Dr. Aycock started to have me push and stop. Push and stop. Push and stop...push push push push push...and out you came. Head full of hair and all.
It was kinda funny cause when the epidural was finally working its magic...I was laying in the bed texting everyone
that was amazing.
in labor and still giving updates...
And when you came....Daddy had to cut your umbilical cord.  Took him 3 tries to do it...I wish the nurse had a picture of your face. It was priceless. Unfortunately all she got was the scissor and the umbilical cord.

You only took 14 hours and 20 minutes to grace us with your presence.
And as you grew older I couldnt wait for your next milestone.
I remembered you would just lay in bed.
and stare at me.
I would wonder what you were thinking.
Then you started to roll over...
When that happened i waited for you crawl.
Once you were able to crawl I waited for you to walk.
You walked for Daddy before you walked for me.
And now your running...
I'm going to keep up with you if its the last thing I do.

Okay...its time we watch finding Nemo.
Mommy loves you :)

Monday, September 20, 2010

Monday, September 20, 2010

Dear Serenity,

First off, YOU are my life.
And I figured now would be just as good as any other to tell you of Mommy and Daddy.

Mommy and Daddy met in 2007. April. I had skipped class and I met your father at Rave...we had lunch @ Raising Cane's in the mall. Of course I did most of the talking. We took a trip to the LSU lakes and just hung out. And pretty much ever since then we were spending everyday together.
Mommy and Daddy had ups and downs before I found out I was pregnant with you.  Daddy didnt speak to Mommy for two days. And when he came around I thought that we would be one big happy family. But that wasnt the case.
Maybe Daddy got nervous...Mommy's hormones...but there were many times through the pregnancy that I needed him by myside...and he wasnt. For someone who was pregnant I felt so alone. And in a way I think that is one of the reasons why your father and I are not together.  We all make mistakes. We all grow up. We all forgive....but unfortunately I cant forget. Even with this mommy brain sympton I have.  I remember I called your daddy to tell him about the doctor appointments...and he said he would show up. Your aunt Julie came with  me the first time I heard your heartbeat. It was a shame your daddy wasnt there to share the excitement with me that day.  Even my exboyfriend drove from Houston to wait in the waiting room with me for an hour just so I can get my check up that lasted 15 minutes.  Your aunt Julie & uncle Hum was there that day too...The baby classes...your daddy never came. He came once to find out that you were a girl...and then when you finally came.

June 3, 2008...@ 5:30 we were already admitted into the delivery room...and from there through June 8th...Daddy stayed with us.  After that when you came home...He came over everyday for the first 2 weeks....then he would cut back and come every other day...then a 3 days...and eventually i think it dwindled down to once a week.  The 2nd and 3rd month you spent time with daddy while mommy work and you were spending time with Taylor's grandmother too....
One night when you were a few months old, you were so upset. You didnt sleep. You  just cried. And @ 5 AM we left your daddy's place to go back to my house.

So many people told me that it was better if I didnt not try to make things work with your daddy....and I still tried. Lord knows I don't cook...Your aunt Minie and I spent over 6 hours getting dinner ready one night...after dinner your daddy went to see your uncle and told us he would be home shortly...he never came home.

There are great people in the world that does stupid things and make stupid decisions. And guess what....we cant change them. They have to want to change for themselves.

There were plenty of times that passed by and I thought that your daddy and I would be a happy couple and with you a great and happy family. Unfortunately...I got fed up with all the stuff I was going through...and your daddy at one point thought that all I wanted was money from him. Which is kinda ironic since I was the one with the stable job @ the time.

We tried to be friends and when I met Darren your father wanted nothing to do with us. For 9 months we never heard from him. Text, call, email...nothing.  When he found out that grandmother was moving, he made an attempt to see you and we tried it again. And that was an epic fail.

Maybe it was my fault that things are the way they are....but somewhere I KNOW that I did everything I can to make it work between your daddy and I and unfortunately, too little too late. You are now 2 years old and you are such an energetic baby.

You love your cousin Bianca and you love going through my scrapbook stuff.  Your face lights up when you see the printer printing...you can unlock and iphone/ipod touch/ipad like a pro...when you smile you light up my world. when you cry it tears me apart...

Being a mommy didnt come with a handbook so I'm pretty sure more than once I made mistakes and I hope that one day you can understand.

I want you to know that you are everything to me and I love you baby girl. It will be probably a few years before you will read this...I cant tell the future but I do want you to know that nothing will ever happen to where I will never love you. I will never hate you. I will only and forever love you. You are my life.  First and foremost.
In a way I cant wait for you to get older...I can see it now...we will be the best of friends and when you dont get your way you're gonna hate me. How do I know that? Simple...cause I did that to  my parents.

But regardless of all that...just know that both mommy and daddy and everyone you have met love you very much.  No matter what may become between your daddy and is one thing you will never have to worry about and that is how much we LOVE you.   If we have nothing else in common...that will be the one and only thing that will never ever change.

Mommy loves you baby girl.



First family photo.....
1st birthday
Mommy & Daughter
Daddy and Daughter
Mommy & Daddy
I love u!
Deuces!!!
We love you baby girl :)

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Sunday, June 21, 2009



She's growing up so quickly...
It's already been a year *sigh*
Mommy loves you baby girl!

Sunday, May 31, 2009


Waiting for you to walk


Dear Serenity,

You're able to stand and bounce. Mommy's just waiting for you to walk now. You've been doing pretty well taking a few steps. I think that you're wanting to run more than walk. But it's okay. I'm gonna be there every freaking step of the way.
And when you walk your first few steps I'll be there to cheer you on.

When you fall your first falls I'll help you up.
When you try to run before you walk and fall, I'm gonna let you fall.

Can't be your cushion 24/7 :D
Regardless of that I will hold your hand and if you ever need me I'm always here.

I love it when you look at me and give me your daddy's smile. You look so much like him.
Your silly grin can make my frown turn upside down in a heartbeat.

You mean so much to me.

12 months ago I was waiting for you to focus your eyes.

Then I had to wait for you to hold up your head.

Next came you rolling over.

Crawling.

Standing.

Now walking.

Then there's the running which I'm sure you come when the walking does :)

Then I'll just be waiting for you to talk. Will you be quiet like your Daddy? And shy? Or will you be outgoing and talkative like me? I don't which one I'd rather you be. Is there such thing as an in between? If there is, I hope that's you. The best of both worlds.

Mommy loves you.
Hugs and kisses!

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Saturday May 30, 2009

Almost 1 Year Down...Forever to Go


Dear Serenity,

It's almost your first birthday and what can I say.
I still can't believe you are almost walking now.
Just yesterday it seemed as if you were just laying in the bed looking at the light and at me and giving me all your goofy faces.
So many memories flood my mind when I think of you baby girl.

I remember when I saw the pregnancy test confirm you were coming.
I remember when I first saw you as a peanut inside me. We could make out your head and body :)
I remember when I first heard your heartbeat.
I remember the first time I felt you kicking me while you were inside.
I remember the many cases of hiccups you'd have while in my tummy.
I remember the first time the nurse told me you'd have a head full of hair.
I remember the first time they told me they saw that you were a girl...that visit was the only visit that Daddy was with me.
I remember the ducky I bought from Cracker Barrel when I went to eat with Andrew before you came.
I remember many of the times that I cried because I was so upset with your father.
I remember the morning of when I went to have you.
I remember the white dress I was wearing, which I can't seem to find right now :(
I remember the first signs of the contractions when they induced the labor.
I remember the feeling that I felt when they broke the water bag.
I remember the nurses adjusting the monitor on my belly so that we can get a good reading on your heartbeat
I remember having to have my blood pressure taken every so often while in the labor room.
I remember being in labor room 4
I remember your Auntie Minie & Uncle Melvin coming to visit me.
I remember my friend Jason coming to see me.
I remember Daddy was going to go home and get the laptop for me to play on and I had to call him and tell him they were breaking my water bag, this happened at 12:30.
I remember feeling the pains of the contractions starting around 2:30. 
I remember the nurses administering me some pain medicine and continuously asking me if I wanted them to turn the light off.
I remember telling them no.
I remember Grandma Mimi sleeping in the makeshift sofa in the room.
I remember how cold the room was.
I remember watching Deliver Me on TLC.
I remember falling asleep for 3 hours before the true pain of the contractions started.
I remember the doctor coming in and seeing me crying in pain from contractions.
I remember the nurses telling me "DON'T PUSH"
I remember telling them that "I'm not pushing, I'm just hurting!"
I remember the doctor telling me they're gonna administer the epidural cause I shouldn't be in so much pain.
I remember the doctor coming in and I had to sit reaching for my toes while he gave me the epidural.
I remember the numerous text messages after the epidural.
I remember the nurses bring in the blue sheets to cover me before you came.
I remember the nurses telling me to push and then telling me to stop.
I remember asking the nurses to wait because your Auntie Kathy was not there.
I remember pushing.
I remember Auntie Kathy & Grandma Mimi asking me if I was hurting...I told them no.
I remember the pressure of you trying to come out into the world.
I remember the doctor lifting you up and I got to see you for the very first time.
I remember seeing you take your first breathe after your father cut the umbilical cord.
I remember them cleaning you up.
I remember being very cold and having numerous sheets thrown on me to keep me warm. 
I remember them handing you to me so that they can wheel me into room 306.
I remember your Auntie Nhi, Uncle Martin, and David coming to see us when we got in the room.
I remember Daddy staying in the room with us.
I remember not being able to sleep.
I remember everyone coming to visit us the next day.
I remember dressing you for your hospital pictures.
I remember buying your hospital outfit, I even got your initials monogrammed on it. 
I remember them coming in and pricking you on the foot for the tests.
I remember the milk bottles and nipples.
I remember the yellow line that turns green when you've wet the diaper.
I remember them bringing in the uv light cause you have jaundice.
I remember them finally telling me that we could take you home...5 days later.
I remember dressing you in your duck outfit to bring you home.
I remember finally being at home with you.
I remember the first time you started to hold your bottle.
I remember the first time you started to hold you head up.
I remember the first time you rolled over.
I remember the first time you started to crawl.  That was Thanksgiving 2008 while your Auntie Crystal and Uncle Dan were in town to visit.
I remember the first time you started to walk.  You walked to Gogo before you walked to me.  You even walked to Daddy sooner than that...
I remember you waking up at 4 AM and when I look at you, you smile.
I remember feeding you your baby food.
I remember making your bottles.
I remember changing your diapers.
I remember your bath times.
I remember buying you clothes throughout the year.
And  now, with less than 4 days away...I'll remember your first birthday.

These are just some of the major memories that flood my mind whenever you cross it baby girl.
You have no idea how happy I am that you are a part of my life.
As I told  you before, no matter what happens with your father and I, you will always be loved. 
I will always love you.
For now and always.

Mommy loves you baby girl.

Hugs & Kisses
Mommy

Monday, May 25, 2009

Monday May 25, 2009

Cloud 9 or Bust...

He once told me that if I needed help when it came to Serenity to let him know.
I need help with paying the babysitter. 
Asked him to help me pay half.
He told me to let him watch her so that way I wouldn't have to pay the babysitter.
So I agreed and I decided to do alternating weeks with him.  That way he wouldn't be overwhelmed being with Serenity twenty four seven....

He agreed.
Picked her up Sunday night.
I was supposed to come and see her while she was with him Monday & Wednesday nights and then pick her up Fridays.
However, I rethought it and figured it would be best if he and I saw as little of each other as possible.  So I decided that I would not come see her during the week, but just wait till Friday to pick her up. That would give him time to spend with her without me intruding in on his time. 
Monday evening I get a text saying that he's out of diapers.
Since I was not going to be there till Friday I replied to him telling him that Walmart was just 5 minutes away from his house and he could go buy her some more diapers.
He got upset...and he tells me to come pick her up.

It was for one day.  He watched her for one day.

Serenity does not have his last name because during the entire pregnancy he act as if she was not coming.  Even after she came he still throws it in my face that she's not his. Even to this day it's the same thing...

Whenever we get in an argument he'll say she's not his.
And I tell him the same thing everytime.

"If she's not yours than don't bother me. Don't text me, don't call me.  Just leave us alone and let us be."

I can't decide on what's better. 

Having him apart of her life and coming and going whenever he has a happy day...
or
Having him act as if we don't exist like he is currently doing now.

I would love for him to have a relationship with Serenity, but if it's going to be only when it's convenient for him...why bother with it?

He'll take her and spend time with her or come see  her and then resent me for it.

Throw in my face that because she doesn't have his last name that she's not his daughter. 

No one knows our relationship but Ricky & I.
Ricky knows the reason behind everything I've done when it's involved Serenity. 
He knows where, when, what, & why everything between us is the way it is.
It's just a shame that he can't tell his family the reason why, so they automatically feel that it's my fault.  Which is fine by me.  Cause what goes around comes around.

I know that I did nothing wrong.
Not only that but I've allowed Ricky the opportunity to be apart of Serenity's life time and time again.
And each time it's the same thing.
Just like when we were dating.

He'll do okay for a little while.
Then when it starts to get good...
He says the hell with it.

And yet maybe in the idiot for allowing him the opportunity to do so.
I don't know.
Blame me for having a heart...

I don't know what to do.

How do I know when enough is enough?

*************************************************************

On the upside of my life...I could not ask for someone better than Darren to be a part of my life right now. 
Of course I feel kinda bad for everything he has to deal with cause of me.
It seems as if half of our conversations revolve around Ricky.
And yet Darren still puts up with my ranting & raving about Ricky.
Most guys will see that baby daddy drama and say "screw that" and leave.
If I remember correctly, I gave Darren that opportunity to back out of this relationship and he didn't.
And I could not be any more thankful.

He is the most caring and kind person that I have met.
He constantly tells me how beautiful I am (still trying to figure that one out)
And he has this smirk that is so irresistable (plus his butt ain't too shabby)

We mostly sit around the house and watch tv and just spend time with one another.

Serenity adores him and he adores her as well.

Darren has so many qualities that makes him so great...that will have to go on a blog all on it's own.  :)

Friday, May 22, 2009

Friday May 22, 2009
Forgive & Forget?

Will I be able to forgive and forget everything?

He only wants her when its convenient for him.

He gets pissed off at me and says she isn't his.

I'm still so lost at what to do :(