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