June was great, July has been amazing!

So.  Today I'm writing less about Olivia's current activities, which include (but are not limited to): climbing on top of and into anything she can (surprising us with this every day!); pointing out many of her body parts and ours; sleeping in her own bed for naps and half the night (yay!); picking flowers; and giving hugs and kisses all the time!

Today I'm writing more about how we've managed to set Olivia up for a pretty good future these past few months, and it's perhaps one of the best feelings I've had!  It's funny, we scrimped and pinched pennies for the past year while Josh was in school and we were waiting on the VA to make some decisions on both of our claims.  It turns out, all those decisions were made favorably, and nearly all at once!  The short version is we put a substantial savings away for a down payment on a house, put a big chunk into Olivia's college fund, paid of nearly all of both of our student loans, and purchased another (new to us!) car.  While I think over the past couple of years, I feel like any hardships we dealt with have been sort of balanced out.  I am thankful that it took the VA so damn long to figure our stuff out!  If we'd been getting monthly payments the whole time, rather than a lump sum at the end, we would likely not have saved as much. 

Additionally, Josh has been hired on at his work as a charge nurse, a big step for just graduating!  We are all happy and proud.  We are giving our daughter a good life.  She is happy, and her future is bright.  The best thing a parent can do.

Another week!

How has it been a week since my last post?!  The days just fly by lately.  I know it's supposed to be wordless wednesday, but I gotta get these things out when I'm motivated and have the time, at the same time!

Olivia is busy as ever, cutting a molar.  Sleep has been much improved (last night aside) with just one or two quick wake-ups to nurse!  So proud of my little bug, she is becoming so independent.  She uses a fork now, with a little help stabbing at various things she wants to eat.  Last week she had Thai Green Curry, Middle Eastern Stuffed Zucchini, sushi (not the raw fish kind, a California Roll) and a couple hot peppers from the garden (which aren't so hot, but still... look intimidating and purple).  She surprises me with her little palate, I don't think I ate curry until college!  And sushi, probably after that! 

She literally runs everywhere... hard to believe that she's only 13.5 months.  She understands so much, short tasks (bring me the ball, where is your book, etc) and many different objects.   She just seems so smart to me.

I feel proud to be raising her, putting so much thought into how my actions now will affect her whole life.  I often feel sad when I see people who parent as an afterthought, or a chore.  You are helping this little person become something in the world, so what if it takes a little of your time at night?  So what if she wants to read the same book over and over, or needs snuggles because her teeth hurt... it's certainly my belief that if we respect our children from day one, they will respect us as they grow.  Not just say they know what respect is, but really and truly understand it.  I suppose there is a lot behind this post, but that's for another day perhaps. 

Wordless Wednesday!

Carnival of Nursing in Public

Welcome to the July 2010 Carnival of Nursing in Public


This post was written for inclusion in the Carnival of Nursing in Public hosted by Dionna and Paige at NursingFreedom.org. All week, July 5-9, we will be featuring articles and posts about nursing in public ("NIP"). See the bottom of this post for more information.


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Making Nursing in Public Normal – Thanks to My Mom

                Olivia was five days old the first time I ventured from the house with her.  My husband was back to work, so my Mom was visiting with me during this time.   We drove to Target.  Read: Olivia screaming in the back and me completely freaking out.  We pulled in and I grabbed her out, trying to calm her, fumbling with her baby carrier and feeling just awful for (gasp) leaving the house!

                As we walk toward the doors, Olivia is still crying.  I am tense, upset, and at a loss.  “Why don’t we just sit on this bench and you can nurse her” my Mom says.  Really?  In public?  Really?  “Lots of women do it, you can’t even tell most of the time”.

                So I do.  It’s a bit awkward, breastfeeding for the first time in public, because breastfeeding is still so new to me.  But we do it, Olivia calms down and I wonder why this didn’t just occur to me.  I mean, I guess I’ve seen women breastfeed in public before, hadn’t I?  I could remember once when I was pregnant seeing a woman breastfeed at the mall.  Other than that, nothing stood out. 

                The benefits of breastfeeding seem countless to me.  They’ve been recounted many times, and frankly it’s not the point.  Even if there were NO difference between breast milk and formula (I know, hear me out!) a woman should still not feel uncomfortable to breastfeed in public!  It is not considered odd to see a baby take a bottle, so why does it seem foreign to see a mother breastfeed in public. 

                In the months since, I have nursed Olivia when she was hungry.  The winters in Maine didn’t give us much opportunity to breastfeed outside, but I’ve nursed wherever whenever.  I always give a smile and a nod when I see another woman NIP, which is surprisingly seldom.  No wonder, I suppose, since people (I have a hard time with “celebrity”) Kim Kardashian and Adrienne Curry have recently posted their thoughts on how “gross” it is to see a mother breastfeeding in public.  I am quite sure that less people have seen my boobs when I’ve nursed in public than theirs!  Again, however, this is not my point.  We need to SEE other mamas nursing their babes in public, we don’t need anything special, we just need NORMAL.  I’ve heard women say, “Sure, breastfeed in public, but show some modesty and use a blanket”.  Isn’t that nearly as bad, suggesting using a boob what it’s designed for is shameful and a baby should be covered while nursing?  I am quite sure no one has actually “seen” my boobs when I’ve nursed in public, just noticed the idea of my boobs because there was a baby at my chest!

                My daughter is 13 months old now, and doesn’t need to breastfeed as much.  But I still do, proudly.  I am thankful for the encouragement my mother gave me a little over a year ago.  A little gentle encouragement makes a world of difference, especially in those fragile first days.  I think of this often and the message it sent to me.   One I would like to give to my daughter.  One that I hope reaches others as a result of things like the Carnival of Nursing in Public.  Keep nursing those babies, mamas, it’s a beautiful, NORMAL thing.