Brown Mommy Diary

Motherhood & Lifestyle



I knew my life would be a fight…

and I realized this: 

I had it in me.

(Viola Davis, Finding Me)

As we have transitioned from Black History Month to Women’s History and Colon Cancer Awareness Month, we want to express our gratitude to everyone who has joined us on this journey. Approximately two years ago, the “A Change For Brown Mommy Diary” campaign was launched to seek justice for the loss of our daughter, Shundra Seay Massey, to colon cancer at the age of 29. The campaign originated from a place of unanswered questions, deep pain, and intense anger.  However, finding purpose in pain was a powerful way to transform adversity into something meaningful. 

Martin Seay, Minority Leader Sen. Gloria Butler (GA), and Rosonja Seay

Martin Seay, Minority Leader Sen. Gloria Butler (GA), and Rosonja Seay

Today, we are filled with gratitude for all of you, as well as for Minority Leader Senator Gloria Butler (GA), whose unwavering support has been instrumental in advancing our mission to raise awareness about young-onset colon cancer and its disproportionate impact on African Americans. Leader Butler has been a true champion, spearheading two resolutions in the Georgia Legislature. These resolutions advocate for the adjustment of the minimum age for colorectal cancer screenings and the establishment of the Senate Colorectal Cancer Study Committee. Her dedication to this cause is commendable and sincerely appreciated. 

Over the past two years, we’ve been deeply invested in this campaign. The loss of our cherished daughter to colon cancer in 2021 sparked a commitment to educate and advocate for changes in colonoscopy guidelines. It’s disheartening that while colon cancer isn’t solely an ailment of older individuals, screening guidelines don’t encompass those under 45. As colon cancer rates decline among older adults, they’re on the rise among the young. Young people must be well-informed about this disease. 

During Women’s History and Colon Cancer Awareness Month, I actively seek your help and collaboration with others passionate about colon cancer, women’s health, and the health disparities faced by the Black community. Education and empowerment are essential tools for uplifting others and creating positive change. Together, we can make a difference.  

As change makers, we can make a difference in the world, no matter how big or small our actions may seem. Embracing these beliefs can guide us toward creating a brighter future for ourselves and those around us.

With profound gratitude and affection,

Martin and Rosonja Seay

Fun Toddler Outing: We Took A Trip To The Zoo!

Father with red nike shirt and black shorts, mom with blue jeans and a tie-dye t-shirt standing behind the stroller with toddler sitting in the stroller.

We took a trip to Zoo Atlanta! This was actually EJ’s first outing since the start of the pandemic. We are slowly easing our way back into activities, because there is so much that we want EJ to experience, because quite honestly he has missed out on a lot. 

Zoo Atlanta hosted our family for a fun, filled trip this past weekend! I wanted this to be a fun, safe outing for the entire family even though mask restrictions have been lifted for the state of Georgia. Zoo Atlanta has several safety measures in place. If you are considering taking your family, check out the current safety measures below. 

Toddler sitting in the stroller affixed next to a statue of a gorilla at Zoo Atlanta.
Toddler wearing a yellow rain jacket while sitting in an umbrella stroller at Zoo Atlanta.

Zoo Atlanta Safety Measures

  1. Employees wear masks
    1. Although I could not find this on their website, I observed all employees except for one wearing a mask
  2. Timed Ticketing
    1. General admission guests must select a time reservation 
    2. Daily capacity is limited
  3. Hand Sanitizing Stations
    1. Hand sanitizer stations were available throughout every part of the zoo
  4. Frequent cleaning/disinfecting touchpoints 
  5. Masks are recommended for general admission
  6. Masks are required for ages 2 and older for optional in-Zoo experiences

Our Zoo Trip Experience

We had a blast at Zoo Atlanta and here’s why! It was so easy to social distance and get a great view of the animals, because of the time reservation slots. Its a win, win situation! If you are considering bring a stroller, I would say go for it given the current circumstances. We did bring strollers, but it didn’t feel like a burden, because there was plenty of space to maneuver. 

I would highly recommend visiting the Zoo in the morning. We arrived at the zoo around 10 AM, which meant that the animals were visible and active. Due to the tropical storm last week, we experienced some rain during the second half of our visit. However, the experience was still enjoyable! The zoo itself is shaded very well with trees, which blocked most of the rain in certain areas, and there are covered viewing areas available too. If you know that there is a possibility of rain coming in the area that day, just bring rain jackets and/or umbrellas.  

Let’s talk about how I was a little nervous about taking EJ to the zoo. EJ is quite afraid of our family dog. So, I wasn’t really sure how he would feel about seeing other animals since this would technically be his first encounter with live animals outside of seeing our dog every day. Thank goodness the zoo was a hit!

If you’ve been thinking of engaging activities for your toddler, take them to the zoo! Zoo Atlanta is on my list for fun toddler activities. If you are ever in the Atlanta area, be sure to check out what all Zoo Atlanta has to offer.

For more information and tips, subscribe to the blog and follow me over on Instagram at @brownmommydiary

The ULTIMATE Hospital Bag Checklist

There’s just something about being prepared that eases my mind, which is why I created a hospital bag checklist that includes mommy, daddy, and baby. Packing your hospital bag is one of the many ways to prepare for the arrival of your new baby. As a first time mommy, I really had no idea what items to include in my bag, because this was literally my first rodeo. However, through this experience, I quickly discovered that most of the items that I packed in my bag were unnecessary, which is why I created a Hospital Bag Checklist from a minimalistic approach.

This hospital bag checklist is thorough, but without the fluff. What we fail to realize is that the hospital stay is at most 1-2 days given there are no complications. Therefore, there’s no need to pack as if we are there for an extended stay. 

Black pregnant woman image used for a blog post highlighting a hospital bag checklist
*Disclosure:This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclaimer here.

What does the hospital provide?

Before and after the fact, this is probably the most sought out question. Based upon my experience, here’s a list of items that were provided by the Labor & Delivery department at the hospital where I gave birth. 

  • Postpartum Care (mesh underwear, postpartum pads, ice pads, peri wash bottle)
  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • Blanket
  • Kimono Onesies
  • Hat
  • Pacifiers
  • Suction Bulb
  • Baby Brush/Comb
  • Gauze & Vaseline * (for baby boy circumcision procedure)
  • Services (Lactation Consultant)

My tip on the items provided by the hospital- stock up! The nurses were very generous with items, which is why I still have I have a surplus of unused items now. Along with the list of items that are provided by the hospital, here is a list of a few items that are commonly found on hospital bag checklists, but I found not necessary and listed them as optional. 

  • Nursing pads- In my opinion, they aren’t necessary because milk supply is not established. However, these are the nursing pads that I recommend. (bamboobies)
  • Nursing pillow- Lactation Consultant showed me how to use the pillows provided by the hospital to place the baby in a comfortable position for nursing. Once I returned home, I used my Brestfriend Nursing Pillow. 
  • Postpartum Care- I packed a package of Depends in my hospital bag. However, I did not use them until I returned home. If you prefer to purchase your own postpartum care items, I’ve seen some great reviews about the Frida Mom Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit and The Honey Pot “Post-Partum Herbal Pads”.

Hospital Bag Checklist

Below you will find the hospital bag checklist that I have created. To print, click the image and it will open a new tab. I hope you find this checklist helpful either for yourself or someone that you know that will be welcoming a new bundle of joy. 

This ultimate hospital bag checklist is a complete, yet minimalistic. It is the perfect checklist that gives you everything you need to have in your bag when it is time to meet your little one.

As an added bonus, here are some of my favorite products that were really helpful in the newborn stage.

For more information and tips, subscribe to the blog and follow me over on Instagram at @brownmommydiary