Attachment Parenting International Auction

Attachment Parenting International (API) is currently holding an auction in order to raise funds to "Protect the Parent-Child Connection". All proceeds from the auction will go towards helping API achieve it's three goals:
1. To fund API's 2007 General Operations Budget.
2. To help fun the API's Web Site Renovation
3. To help develop the “Eight Principles of AP” Parent Education Curriculum.

So if you like to shop and like to support worthy causes, head on over and bid on an item today!

Attachment Parenting International Auction

5 Minutes for Mom Giveaway

5 Minutes for Mom is having a great giveaway. The prize? Your very own 37" Flat-Panel LCD HDTV from Best Buy! So if you haven't already, head on over and enter for your chance to win!

5 Minutes for Mom Giveaway

Synchronize Breastfeeding Worldwide

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action along with the Children for Breastfeeding and The Nurturers of the Earth have come together in order to organize a Synchronized Breastfeeding Event. In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, the sponsors are asking people to register and act by breastfeeding at a certain time in order to bring awareness. According to the site, the goals of the event are: To gather the largest number of mothers to breastfeed at exactly the same local time in their time zone;

to urge nations to record the breastfeeding rates within their own borders; to establish cooperation between nations in order to record the number of breastfeeding women who participate; to nurture a friendly, breastfeeding environment; and to celebrate motherhood and breastfeeding. If you want to participate, sign up online and register your area. Let's bring awareness for the rights of the nursing mother!

Synchronize Breastfeeding Worldwide

Woman Ejected From Courthouse For Breastfeeding

A woman who was breastfeeding her newborn baby in a courthouse was told to leave by two female employees. According to the article:

Elydia Arthur said she was humiliated when two female employees called security and began shouting at her to leave.
It was Thursday, and the mother of three was at the Collin
County Courts and Probation building in McKinney with her 10-day-old son, Noah. Arthur said she received permission to go into an office to nurse the baby. Minutes later, the two women employees confronted her.

This incident makes me especially angry because the mother had received permission to nurse her baby privately in an office before the two women employees decided to harass her. Once again, it's a good thing that the mother received an apology. Let's hope that the two women who harassed the mother receive some disciplinary action.

Woman Ejected From Courthouse For Breastfeeding

Bonding With Daddy

One common misconception that I hear when talking about breastfeeding is that if a mother chooses to breastfeed, then the father is not able to feed the baby and therefore not able to bond with the baby.

Rubbish.

Why do people think that feeding the baby is the only way to bond? What about playing, giving baths, or even changing diapers?

The Knight has never felt like he had a hard time bonding with our girls. In fact, they are both definitly Daddy's Girls, and are extremely bonded to him.

So, how did he manage to bond with them if he couldn't feed them? Simple. The Knight gives the girls their baths, all of them. Bath time is considered special Daddy Time and in fact the Mermaid will get disgruntled in the rare times that I give her a bath. The Knight also spends a lot of time reading and playing with the girls. He will read book after book after book; he tickles their feet, tosses them in the air, and gives them piggy back rides. He has never felt "left out" simply because he couldn't feed them.

The Knight also was very hands on in night time parenting. When the girls would wake up as newborns, he would be the one to get up and change their diapers before handing them off to me to be nursed. When we wake up in the morning, it is the Knight that the Mermaid is usually snuggled tight against. He changes most of their diapers and makes a game of it. To the girls, a diaper change is one big laugh festival.

I get very annoyed when people imply that a father will not be able to bond with his baby if he is unable to feed the baby a bottle. I personally consider it an insult to imply that a man is unable to come up with any other ways of interacting with his baby except through food. Do women really believe that their husband/partner will be that dense when thinking of things to do with their children? Why is it the bottle or nothing?

I only write about this subject because of an entry I read written by Mama Joy over at her blog, Breast and Belly. Her writing is wonderful, and it is a fantastic post. Head on over and check her out.

And the next time you see your hubby changing a diaper, or giving the baby a bath, or any other act that fascilitates bonding, give the man a big hug and a kiss. He deserves it.

Bonding With Daddy

Gerber Organic Cereal Recall

Gerber Announces Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Gerber Organic Rice and Gerber Organic Oatmeal 8 Ounce Cereals due to Potential Choking Hazard.

According to the press release, the products may contain lumps of cereal that do not dissolve, presenting a choking hazard. Gerber has received complaints of children choking, but no injuries have been reported.

Check your cupboard and make sure you do not feed these products to your children.

Gerber Organic Cereal Recall

10 Month Old Letter

My Dearest Guppy,

Last night while I was at work I asked what the date was and when someone told me it was the 26th, my heart froze. You are now 10 months old. It happened so quickly, without me even realizing it.

You are now getting two more teeth in. One more on the bottom and your first front tooth. You've been in terrible pain, I know, but you are calm and happy as long as you are in my arms or on my back in the Mai Tei.

I think you've decided to skip crawling all together. Your preferred method of movement is the butt scootch. Not as quick as crawling, but it gets you to where you want to go.

You are loving your solids right now. The only thing that I have fed you that you haven't liked is cranberry sauce. You adore everything else I've given you, including fruit, peas, bread, pasta, vegetables, and you LOVE tofu.

You also love: playing Patty cake (the way you clap your hands together is adorable!); singing The Itsy Bitsy Spider; tickling your sister; hanging upside down; This Little Piggy; pulling up to a standing position; dancing with your daddy; playing with phone.

Your personality is really starting to come out. I feel that you are very strong willed and maybe a little stubborn. When you are not happy about something you are sure to let us know, but are happy to settle for any compromise we give you as long as it comes with a kiss. You get especially angry when I won't let you chew on the telephone or the remote.

Yesterday your father mentioned to me that we needed to pick a date to have your first birthday party. I quickly changed the subject. I didn't realize how hard it is for me to face the reality that soon you will no longer be my little baby. That soon you will be a toddler, demanding more and more independence from me. I think when the time comes I will look on proudly while you develop into your own little person. But for now, I'm happy just cuddling with you, nursing you, and laughing with you. I love you, dear Guppy, and I will always be here for you. Don't ever forget that.

10 Month Old Letter

Woman Scolded for Breastfeeding

A woman who works part time at a coffee shop was recently scolded by her supervisor for nursing her son during her two 15 minute breaks. What strikes me about this story is this: this woman has an ideal situation for any breastfeeding mom who works outside the home: her husband is available to bring her son to her when she goes on break so that she can nurse him. It's a shame that her supervisor's don't realize the benefits of this situation and felt the need to scold her. I also think the point she made about smoker's being able to smoke on their breaks was valid: it doesn't make much sense that smokers are allowed to participate in a bad, unhealthy habit during their breaks but she is not allowed to nurse her son, which is a healthy and beneficial thing. I'm furious that the incident occurred in the first place, but it's great that the mom received the apology. Hopefully she will continue to take advantage of the great setup she has that allows her to work and breastfeed her son in person, instead of having to pump.

Woman Scolded for Breastfeeding

Supportive Friendships

When new moms ask me for advice with establishing a successful breastfeeding relationship, I always stress the importance of support. Support from family, from friends, from the husband/partner. If no one in your family has experience with breastfeeding, look for other areas for support (LLL, mom groups, etc.). Support can make an amazing difference in whether or not a mom succeeds. The importance of this support can apply to parenting in general, especially if you tend to parent outside the mainstream parenting world. Yesterday I got the chance to visit with a friend who shares much of the same views on parenting that I do. We spent the day talking and exchanging advice, venting about various topics, and generally enjoying each other's company. Getting a chance to relax in such a supportive environment definitely refreshed my mind. When I got home I felt like I was getting home from a vacation, I was refreshed, happy, and confident. If any moms out there are feeling like they are "trapped" in their house with the kids; if they are feeling like they are an "odd ball" in the parenting groups that they do belong to; if they are feeling pressured to go against their instincts as parents just because it is what other people do: then join a parenting group that has your interests in mind. If you breastfeed, join La Leche League. If you practice natural or attachment parenting, join an AP group. There are hundreds of such groups to search through on Yahoo groups, and you can also look for postings in your local community paper, on bulletins at the local library, and on Craigs List. What if you are unable to find such a group? Then create one. Chances are, there is another parent in your area who is in the same situation. Creating your own group is a great way to establish friendships with other supportive parents who share your views on parenting. Trust me, it's worth the effort.

Supportive Friendships

Things Are Getting Better

Remember this post?

Well, it's time for an update.

I've been working on my attitude and perspective on our situation since that post. Things are definitely looking more positive.

Although we did not get approved for much, the Knight and I have decided to go ahead and get a place in our price range anyway. Neither of us want to go back to renting, which is basically just throwing money down a rat hole. We have also looked into some community grants and funds, and first time home buyers government programs that we may qualify for. These programs offer a lower interest rate which may allow us to buy a higher priced house. We are checking out all of our options and seeking the advice and support from family and friends. Wednesday we are going to look at a nice, 3 bedroom garden style condo that is available to first-time home buyers only, and we are also going to look at a 3 bedroom colonial that needs to be fixed up a little.

I think that my frustrations over not being pre-approved for much stems from my impatience and my tendency to let out my "me want now!" inner brat. I want a nice house with enough room for us to grow into with a large backyard for the kids to play. And I realized that when I couldn't have it, and have it now, I felt frustration and despair. My favorite phrase of the week was "We are NEVER going to get a nice house!" No wonder the Knight was so upset and frustrated at me.

The Knight and I talked it over and set up our plan. We will have a nice house someday, just not right now. And I needed to grow up and realize that I couldn't have everything I wanted right now. We will buy a house to live in, fix it up, then sell it for profit and for a down payment on a nicer house. We are still young and we can't expect to start out at the same level of our parents when it took them 20 years to get where they are today.

Besides changing my perspective on our situation, I have been doing other things to try to break myself out of this funk. I've been getting up earlier in the morning to exercise and going to bed earlier at night so I can get enough sleep. I've started to eat healthy again in order to lose weight. My goal is to be at a healthy weight by next September, so that my next pregnancy will be healthy. And we also took a trip to a local "natural" store and got some stuff for me to take for mild depression. Since St. John's Wort can be unsafe for nursing moms, I opted for supplement that contains lots of Omega 3 Fatty Acids and other natural ingredients that have been shown to help "balance moods". It's also supposed to help with energy.

So, how are these things working? Well, in the past three days:
The Knight and I have not had a single fight and in fact we are getting along better than we have for a while;
I have laughed more than I have laughed all month;
I have more energy and have been playing a lot more with my girls;
I have felt less stressed, and my level of frustration has gone down dramatically.

Is this improvement temporary? I hope not. All I know is that, so far, I have avoided the dark cloud of depression.

Kudos to me.

Things Are Getting Better

I Love Stone Soup

When I told friends and family that I was planning a homebirth with the Guppy, I got mixed reactions. Some people thought I was nuts. Others thought it was cool and interesting. And other people were outright hostile towards the idea.

That is why I am thrilled that the woman behind the Stone Soup comic strip, Jan Eliot, decided that one of her characters would have a homebirth.

I Love Stone Soup

Breastfeeding Moms in the Workplace

In my area, there is a great variance in how companies treat the Breastfeeding mother in the workplace. For example, at my job, I have to pump in the bathroom. I really don't get an official break for pumping, so most nights I am force to wait until we hit a slow period and then pump as quickly as I can and hope that I am not needed while I am pumping (I am a supervisor and cashiers often need me to authorize refunds, returns, etc.). However, the Knight works for a company that is much more breastfeeding friendly. They offer breastfeeding moms adequate time to pump and also provide a private pumping room with a table and comfortable chair.

After reading this recent report put out by CIGNA, I realize that the Knight's company is very smart.

According to CIGNA, employers who initiate a program to support lactating women when they return to work actually save money. The report states:

A study of Working Well Moms, CIGNA's (NYSE: CI) corporate lactation program for employees who breastfeed, revealed a savings of $240 thousand annually in health care expenses for breastfeeding mothers and their children. In addition, a
savings of $60 thousand annually is realized through reduced absenteeism among breastfeeding mothers at CIGNA. The study also found that pharmacy costs for breastfed children are lower, because they require 62 percent fewer prescriptions.

Just goes to show that breastfeeding not only benefits the mother and child, but the community as a whole.

Breastfeeding Moms in the Workplace

New LLL Helpline

When the Mermaid was born, she had a weak latch. However it was quickly fixed and we were able to establish our breastfeeding relationship with no major bumps in the road.

It was a different story with the Guppy.

While I was lucky not to have any major problems when first trying to breastfeed the Guppy, I will say that it was painful. And that my nipples looked like raw hamburger for the first three weeks of the Guppy's life.

The point that I hit rock bottom happened to occur at 2am. I was up on the couch, crying and trying to tolerate the pain of nursing the Guppy. I couldn't figure out what was wrong: her latch looked correct, it looked like she was nursing like she should. But it hurt very badly.

Out of desperation, I logged online and visited the wonderful Kelly Mom website. There I found a page on the correct way to latch the baby on your breast with pictures. This is what saved me: using the pictures as a guideline, I was eventually able to get the Guppy latched on correctly and my nipples were able to heal.

Although I was very thankful for the wonderful resources I found on Kelly Mom, and although I feel a sense of pride that I was able to overcome my breastfeeding issues on my own, I did feel awfully lonely in the wee hours of that morning. I can still remember my feelings of frustration and fear that I harbored as I cried while the Guppy's poor latch destroyed my nipples. At that point, I would have cut off my arm for one minute of reassurance from a calm, understanding and helpful voice.

Now, thanks to La Leche League, mothers who are put in the same position as me have the chance to hear such a voice.

The La Leche League Breastfeeding Helpline is now available in the United States. It is a 24-hour toll-free helpline service. The number is 1-877-4 LaLeche (1-877-452-5324).

I believe that this helpline is a wonderful, much needed resource for breastfeeding moms. Now moms have a kind, reassuring voice to turn to in the middle of the night (or day!) when things seem desperate, when they are close to calling it quits.

I urge everyone to pass this number on to any breastfeeding moms that they know. Isn't it wonderful to be able to receive support 24 hours a day?

New LLL Helpline

Crossing the Line

We always hear the stories of a breastfeeding mother being asked to leave a place because she is breastfeeding. We express our outrage at the fact that a woman is treated with such disrespect simply because she is trying to feed her baby.

You would think that mothers who breastfeed understand what it is like to hear these stories and get angry. You would think that they would understand how important it is to be able to feed your baby in whatever way you choose.

Therefore I was extremely disappointed when I read about a mom who was recently asked to leave a cafe for breastfeeding mothers because she formula fed her son. According to the article, she had gone there after being invited for coffee by some friends that do breastfeed their children. The staff expressed their opinions that bottle feeding was not appropriate and asked her not to come back.

Everyone who knows me is aware of how I feel about formula. They all know my biases against moms who formula feed without a single thought of consideration of at least attempting to breastfeed. But, I have never made a single comment to anyone I see formula feeding, ever, while out in public. For this cafe to harass this woman in much the same way as breastfeeding mothers are sometimes harasses shows their ignorance, hypocrisy, and foolishness.

I definitely see this as a step back in the world of lactivists.

Crossing the Line

Great Pro Breastfeeding Ad

One of the many arguments that people against breastfeeding in public make is that the mother could feed her child in the bathroom.

I have sometimes nursed my daughters in a dressing room. But only because it was convenient for me. I would never nurse them in a bathroom. It's unsanitary and disgusting, and a little humiliating.

This great ad is put out by the Australian Breastfeeding Association. I hope one day soon to see similar ads in the U.S.

Great Pro Breastfeeding Ad

Celebrity Baby Blog Celebrates WBW

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, Celebrity Baby Blog is once again launching the Celebrity Baby Blog World Breastfeeding Week Photo Gallery. If you would like to contribute your breastfeeding photo, click here for details on how to enter.

Last year the Photo Gallery received 400 contributions. Let's see if we can surpass that number this year!

Celebrity Baby Blog Celebrates WBW

Celebrities Who Use Cloth

Anyone who has been reading this blog for a while knows that I'm a big fan of cloth diapers. They are better for the environment, healthier for my children (no yucky chemicals against their skin!), they don't smell as badly as disposables do, and they are so incredibly cute.

I think it's wonderful when using cloth diapers gets positive feedback in the media. Therefore I was delighted when Celebrity Baby Blog put together a list of celebrities who use cloth diapers. The list includes Dave Matthews, who has recently made public statements urging other parents to use cloth.

I recommend to all parents to consider using cloth. It really isn't "hard" or "gross". In fact, I believe using cloth makes diaper changing duty less of a chore and more fun: I get to pick out which cute diaper to use next. So give cloth a try!

Celebrities Who Use Cloth

Dangers of Nail Polish

When a woman becomes pregnant, or even when she is nursing, she is careful to take care of herself and her baby. She avoids alcohol, smoking, drugs, junk food, etc.

Now women can add nail polish to the list of "Things to Avoid When Pregnant or Nursing".

According to this article in The Daily Green:

...nail polish isn’t the sort of thing you want to be slathering on your digits when you’re pregnant. It likely contains phthalates to make it flexible and chip resistant. Certain phthalates are banned in Europe, and some big American companies are starting to pull them out of their nail polishes as well, because
research has shown they can cause cancer and/or reproductive abnormalities in lab animals. A small study suggested baby boys exposed to high levels of the chemical in utero were more likely to exhibit penile anomalies.

It's scary when you think about all the toxins we are exposed to through the products we use. If you are concerned about more than your nail polish, you can always check out Skin Deep and find out how safe all your beauty products are.

Dangers of Nail Polish

Need Some New Perspective (warning: long and rambling post ahead!)

After the Mermaid was born I suffered from horrible post partum depression. I sat on the couch all day in front of the TV, eating. I gained a ton of weight. I let the house get out of control. I only did the basics when it came to taking care of the Mermaid. Although I got a LOT better after the Mermaid hit five or six months, I still wasn't fully "healed" until she hit a year old.

The biggest regret of my life is that I didn't get help sooner. Because of my ignorance (I honestly didn't realize I was depressed) and stubbornness (when I finally did suspect it I did nothing about it) I missed out on some vital bonding time with the Mermaid. While I adore and love the Mermaid, we never had that special newborn baby and mother bond.

Fast forward to the Guppy's birth. I had explained to my midwife that I had suffered from PPD and she worked with me to help avoid it again. I think the homebirth in itself worked wonders towards that end. Another thing that helped was not allowing visitors to see the baby until a week had passed. That way, I had an entire week to sit and bond with the Guppy without worrying about having to entertain guests or without watching her being passed around. These two things, along with the amazing support that my midwife and husband gave me, kept the dark cloud of depression away.

But now I sense it's presence on the horizon.

Lately I've been in this horrible funk. I stopped caring about losing weight, about the house, etc. I'm eating more. I laugh less.

Yesterday we got the results back for our preapproval to buy a house. It's pretty much jack squat. Nothing is available around this area for such a low price range.

Yesterday the Knight and I had a fight, the first fight in a very very long time. He gets upset when he sees me upset. I think it's because it brings back memories of when I was depressed. He gets angry at himself for not being able to fix everything right away. I get angry because I don't think he should feel like he has to be superman all the time.

I hate fighting with the Knight.

I need a new perspective. So we can't get a house right now. So what? We will eventually. Instead of thinking of what I don't have, I need to think of what I do. I have...
...two beautiful, healthy children, both happy.
...an amazing husband who does everything he can to encourage me to follow my dreams and passions
...a roof over my head with supportive family near by.
...a goal for the future, where we pay off our remainging debt and get a house.
...my health.
Somewhere tonight, someone is standing by their child's hospital bed, watching them die. Somewhere tonight, someone is filing a divorce against their spouse, ending their dream of a happy marriage. Somewhere tonight, someone is waiting in line to get a spot at a shelter. Somewhere tonight, someone is trying to figure out how to get through the week, never mind thinking about the future. Somewhere tonight, someone is sick and wondering what is going to happen to their loved ones after they die.

I will not let this cloud hang over me. I'm going to start exercising more, taking care of myself more, and I'm also going to try some herbal treatments for mild depression. I will not let my children wonder why Mommy doesn't want to get out of bed, or why Mommy won't play with them, or why Mommy won't read to them.

I will do everything in my power to overcome this. I will show my girls that you don't need to have a big house, or other material possessions, to be happy. You just need the love and support of friends and family.

Need Some New Perspective (warning: long and rambling post ahead!)

BecauseThey Are So Darn Cute...

BecauseThey Are So Darn Cute...

Book Review

The Mermaid throws tantrums. Not too often, but when she does they are HUGE. This sends me into a tizzy of frustration and I always slip and start yelling at her.

Yelling does not work with the Mermaid. In fact, the only thing she has learned is how to yell back.

I was browsing through our local LLL library and I found the book "How to Talk So Your Kids Will Listen and Listen So Your Kids Will Talk." by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.

This book presents many methods that can be used to create cooperation from even the most stubborn children. It also looks at alternative means of discipline and even examines the role of praise. Each section deals with a particular method a parent could try and presents different scenarios to be filled out by the reader as a means of practice.

Although this book is geared to children older than the Mermaid, I found the areas on how to get your children to cooperate very helpful. By using some of the phrases the book suggests, I have been pretty successful on deterring a tantrum when I see it coming on, or even ending a tantrum quickly. The method that has worked best for us is describing the Mermaid's feelings for her out loud. Example:
"Mermaid, you can't have another cookie, you've already had too many"
This is followed by the Mermaid tearing up and getting upset, ready to go into a full blown tantrum because she, of course, wants another cookie.
"Wow! I can see how upset you are! You are not happy at all, are you?"
The Mermaid usually stops screaming and calms down enough to agree that, no, "I is not happy".
"I'm sorry that you are so upset. I wish I could give you all the cookies in the world, but it's just not good for your health. Would you like an apple and some hugs?"
The Mermaid then bounds into my lap for a hug and agrees to have a yummy apple.

Sounds amazingly simple, no? I thought so too. But I was surprised to find that yelling is a really hard habit to break. I still slip up a lot. But the more I remember to use the methods in the book the easier it gets to communicate with the Mermaid exactly what I want from her without having to deal with a huge blow out. I can already see improvement with the Mermaid's behavior as well. She herself is yelling less, and the other day when she was told that she could not play with my cell phone, instead of throwing a tantrum she immediately crawled into my lap and told me "I is not happy, hug please!"

Now that is progress.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants ideas for alternative discipline, anyone who finds that the more traditional means of discipline are not working for their family, or anyone who simply wants to improve on communicating with their children.

Book Review

Nestle Free Week

This week, from July 2nd to July 8th, is Nestle Free Week. Our family boycotts Nestle because of their unethical business practices concerning their formula products. According to the Baby Milk Action website:

According to the World Health Organisation, 1.5 million infants die around the world every year because they are not breastfed. The World Health Assembly has adopted marketing requirements for baby foods to protect breastfeeding and to ensure breastmilk substitutes are used safely if necessary.
Nestlé is singled out for boycott action as monitoring shows it
to be responsible for more violations of the requirements than any other company. The boycott helps to stop some of the specific cases of malpractice we expose and has forced some changes in policy. But Nestlé continues systematic violations in those countries which have not yet brought in independently
monitored and enforced legislation implementing the marketing requirements, which is another part of our strategy for protecting infant health and mothers' rights.

So spread the word. Boycott Nestle, and help save babies.

Nestle Free Week

Great Giveaway for Baby Wearers!

Stephanie over at Adventures in Babywearing is holding a fantastic giveaway that all babywearers should enter. The prize? A Podonbutai, created by Jenn at All Natural Mommies.

The Podonbutai is a unique carrier: a cross between a podeagi, a Mei Tai, and a obuhimo carrier. Three carriers in one, how cool is that?

Head on over to enter for your chance to win today!

Great Giveaway for Baby Wearers!

The Need for Laws

Across the nation, more and more breastfeeding moms are demanding that states enact laws to protect their right to breastfeed in public. I, for one, feel that these laws are needed. No person should have the right to tell a mother that she can not feed her baby whenever and wherever she has the right to be. Most breastfeeding moms are very modest and discreet when nursing in public, and those that are still offended ought to look away.

Laws are needed also to protect the rights of a pumping mom. So many times employers refuse to offer moms the amount of time they need to pump, or a mom is not allowed to bring her pumped milk with her.

Some people argue that these laws aren't necessary. That breastfeeding moms are just "looking for a fight" and are being inconsiderate to other people's feelings.

So, are these laws necessary? Let's see...

This past June alone...

... Heather McClelland was harassed and given a hard time because she wanted to transport some pumped breastmilk on an airplane.

... Kristen Skrydlak-Simlai was breastfeeding her baby at Elitch Garden Water Park in Denver when she was told by the staff that she needed to "cover up."

... Cheryl Cirillo-Tarica was denied entry onto a flight because she wished to transport pumped breastmilk onto the flight with her.

... Sophie Currier was denied extra time to pump for her infant daughter during a medical exam.

Keep in mind, all of these incidents occurred in June alone. So, yes, for now, these laws are necessary. And they will be necessary until the people of the United States realize how important breastfeeding is and how supporting breastfeeding is beneficial to the entire society as a whole.

The Need for Laws

Introducing "Mama Speaks"

Wouldn't it be great if you could visit a site that gave reviews on all the products you are interested in and held great contests on top of that? Then you'll really like Mama Speaks.







The contests that are hosted by Mama Speaks don't require a lot of effort to win. And the best part is that you can read about great products and decide if you want them before you buy them. So head on over to Mama Speaks and check out what great contests they are running!

Introducing "Mama Speaks"

Happy Belated 4th of July

I hope everyone had a grand Fourth of July. As for us, we went over the see my Sister-in-Law's new house that they had moved into last week. A gorgeous house in a gorgeous area, just the thing that my lovely SIL deserves.

We also took the girls to see fireworks over the holiday weekend. Unfortunately the poor Mermaid was really frightened by the loud noises the fireworks made so we ended up going inside and watching them through a window.

I can't help thinking of our soldiers during this holiday. I pray for their safety. I pray that they come home soon.

Happy Belated 4th of July

Nine Months Old

My Dearest Guppy,

As I walked into the living room you gave a cry of joy and signed "nurse". Your face told me what I already knew; your swollen gums confirmed it. Still teething, but now at nine months old, still only two teeth poking through.

I nursed you until you started to fall asleep. You then unlatched and did the most wonderful thing, in fact my favorite thing in the world: you threw your little arm over my neck in a hug and then drifted off to dream world. Your little hand grasped my hair and your arm felt warm and comforting against my neck. I watched the innocence on your face while you slept; watched your little eyelids flutter while you dreamed; watched your little tummy rise and fall with your breathing. I breathed in the sweet smell of your skin and the sweet, milky smell of your breathe.

As I lay there I wished more than anything in the world that I could bottle that moment and keep it to experience again whenever I wanted. But it only exists in my memory now. Tomorrow you will wake up and continue growing and developing. At nine months old you have grown in length and so your body and face has grown leaner. You are still my little chubbalubba, but your baby face is starting to develope into the leaner face of a toddler. You have three signs now: nurse, up, and more. You say Mama and know what it means. You say Dada but don't know what it means. You still aren't crawling, but you are closer than ever. And you love it when I pull you up to a standing position. You experienced your first 4th of July celebration. Your first time in a kiddie pool. You are afraid of dogs but love them at the same time: much like a person loves a roller coaster because it scares them. You love taking baths with your sister. And you are growing even more attached to your father and the Mermaid.

Only nine months old, and yet it seems so much older. It is hard for me to admit that you are growing so fast. How will I deal with the 10 month mark, then the 11th, and then the big One Year?

I had so much to do tonight. But I didn't care. I lay there and watched you sleep until the Knight needed my help with something. I lay there and studied every inch of your face, every cute little chubby roll, every tiny little finger and toe. I tried to commit as much of it to memory as I could, every feeling, every smell, every touch. Because it is the things that the camera doesn't catch that I am so desperate to remember.

Dear Guppy, one day the time will come when you insist that you are a big girl. You will tell me that you can put yourself to bed, that you don't need to be cuddled anymore. And I will smile because I will be so proud of you. I will tuck you in and give you a kiss and leave the room. I will be able to do all that because I will still have the memory of tonight and other nights like it. Memories where the whole world felt still and peaceful, where it was just you and I and your innocence radiated from your face like sunshine. And so, as I will close the door and you fall asleep like a big girl I will reflect on those memories...and I will be okay.

Nine Months Old

World Breastfeeding Week

National World Breastfeeding Week this year is from August 1st - Aug 8th, 2007. NWBW is a time for people to show their support for breastfeeding moms and babies. This year's theme is: "Breastfeeding: The First Hour - Save ONE Million Babies!"; or, The Power of One.

I, personally, love this theme. So many times people think, "What can I do to help?" It doesn't take much. The Power of One can go so far with breastfeeding.

The official LLL World Breastfeeding Week page lists great examples of the Power of One. For example, one...
...drop of colostrum
...mother supported
...father being supported
...phone call
...LLL leader helping a mother.

I have a few of my own. One supportive glance or smile at a mom nursing in public. One encouraging word to a new mom who is having trouble nursing. One hour of relaxing with your newborn baby as you are nursing him or her. One decision that will benefit your baby for a lifetime.

If you would like to get involved with NWBW, the best place to start would be your local LLL group. Many groups are planning events to celebrate and support breastfeeding. The LLL page on NWBW also has a listing of registered events scheduled to take place in the United States.

You can also bring out awareness through a fun photo contest! Amy over at Musings of a Crunchy, Domestic Goddess is having a photo contest in celebration of NWBW. What a great way to promote the image of breastfeeding and get a chance to win great prizes while you're at it. So head on over and enter for your chance to win!

World Breastfeeding Week