It’s Christian’s world

Natoya McFarlane knew she was having a boy from early. Today, seven month old Christian Foreman is her pride and joy, a calm, easygoing baby who is always smiling.

“Everybody said girl, but deep down I knew it was a boy,” McFarlane said.

Christian was born January 18 at 37 weeks, the first child for his mom.

It was an easy pregnancy, McFarlane said, perhaps an indicator of what Christian’s personality would be.

The boy only cries when he’s hungry and sleepy, is already sleeping through the night, and has not a worry in the world. He’s also a huge fan of LMFAO’s Sexy and I Know It, which his mom says works like magic to keep him quiet if he’s crying or fussing.

“I prayed for a calm baby, and he gives no trouble at all,” McFarlane said.

Christian breast-fed up to when his mom went back to work, and McFarlane encourages mothers to always breastfeed.

“It’s best for baby. It also helps you lose the weight,” she said.

McFarlane said her life has changed dramatically since the birth of her son.

“I used to worry about myself, everything was about me. Now it’s about him. I buy for him first before myself. I want to see him be comfortable, I want him to smile so I try to make him happy.”

She said, though, that she plans to be a disciplinarian — but with love.

“Don’t be their friend, don’t encourage them to say just about anything, or to watch anything,” she cautioned moms. “Above all, encourage the boys to read. Read to them in the belly…”

Now as McFarlane looks to the future, one of her greatest wishes is for her son to grow up to be an intelligent, professional young man who treats women well, something she will educate him on.

“I’ll be doing all I can to ensure it,” she said. “I’ll tell him that girls need to be treated with respect. I hope I’ll be setting a good example so when he grows up he’ll want a wife like his mom.”

McFarlane’s essentials for new parents

1. Books. “I had a lot of books downloaded about what I needed and what to expect.”

2. A convertible car seat that can take the child into toddler-hood.

3. Lots of blankets/receivers

4. An electric pump.

5. An investment plan for your child’s education.

What’s not so essential

1. “I bought a lot of newborn and three month clothes that I’ll have to give away.”

2. Bottle warmer. “I used this like two times.”

3. Baby bath seat.

— Petulia Carke