April 26th was my mom’s 49th birthday. I made a delicious dinner of seasoned pork tenderloin, garlic and Texas style mashed potatoes, and fresh corn on the cob (first batch of the season, whee!). I baked a cake and decorated it, and a good time was had by all. As a birthday gift, I’m taking my mom to get her nose pierced. She had it done a few years ago, but where she kept insisting on using nose bones rather than small, straight pins, and so the piercing never really healed and closed up like it should have. So this past fall she took out the piercing and let the hole heal and close up.
Now we’re into April 27th. Today is Dan’s 25th birthday! Happy Birthday darling. I’ll be sure to give you gift-wrapped Depends and a custom engraved cane. Just kidding… you’ll love what I got you, I’m sure. ;) But I think you’ll love what your brother got for you even more, even though my gift has more sentimental value. Mwah!
While at the grocery store yesterday, I found and purchased a few of Gerber’s new line of organic baby food to keep in the diaper bag for outings. Strawberry and pears, granola, oats… Lisa, I think I’ve made my crunchy mom quota for the month. ;)
And speaking of crunchy mom quota… I’ve definitely hit it for May! Dan, Ryan and myself are going to Harrisburg on May 7th to take part in a rally to support breastfeeding bills that are up for voting. If passed, these bills – laws – would protect breastfeeding women and give them the legal right to breastfeed anywhere.
Okay, Dan is opening up his birthday gift… toodles!
I always thought women could breastfeed where ever they want, when they want with no “problems” … I think it is like that around where I live. Though alot of malls have made “quiet rooms” for mothers and their babies if they wanted a more quieter area to do so.
Happy Birthday Dan … he’s a quarter of a century old.
I’m not going to be that age for another few months!
Aidan – currently there are no laws in PA to protect breastfeeding. A woman can breastfeed, but in the end it’s at the discretion of management if they decide they don’t want her there, and they can put her out for it. Scary.
And yeah, I like teasing Dan about being a quarter of a century old. Fun times!
I must admit I am totally curious to know what Dan got for his birthday.
Awww happy birthday Dan, welcome to the horror that is 25 :P!
Happy birthday Dan
Breastfeeding is a natural part of a baby’s growth, but I think there should be limits. I don’t want to see it while I’m eating, and I shouldn’t have to. I saw a lady in Pizza Hut do it and it grossed me out so bad I had to demand a refund because I couldn’t eat.
It’s not the act itself, it’s the fact that the lady didn’t care to cover herself. And back when it happened, I didn’t like seeing naked women. I still don’t “like” it, but I don’t really care like I did when I was 16.
The fact is, people are offended by it. I don’t understand why some people can’t use more discretion. Seriously, at the dinner table?
Amy — you are eating at the dinner table — why can’t the baby? Where should she have done it? There isn’t enough room in the restroom. And maybe she forgot a blanket to cover up. If it grossed you out, don’t watch!
Hai..I am 1st time here. mother of 3 and moving a lot of country. I have 4 cats age 7 year plus. I love your blog. Maybe..my age..older than you. Opp..Happy birthday to your mum…She still young.Almost my age ..ha ha ha.
Lisa – Amy just stated that it’s not the act itself, but the woman did not cover herself. I am not trying to start any bickering, I too think beastfeeding can be a beautiful thing, but I don’t want to see anybody’s breasts, I don’t care where I’m at — or who it is. There are ways to be discreet.
The whole if you’re grossed out, don’t watch thing is a little played out as well.
I am not saying everyone is like this, but it almost seems like a lot of women who breastfeed are a little too proud of it. Those are also probably the women you see in pizza hut. I just don’t get what the big deal is, people have been doing it for years, it’s great, yay, yeah.
I saw this video on the internet, maybe I can fish up the link… this woman had been breastfeeding her children for entirely too long. I can’t remember how old they were. It was so disturbing, it seemed like they were deeply obsessed with the woman’s tits.
Happy birthday to your Mom and Dan
Both of my parents’ birthdays are in April. Great month 
Happy Birthday Dan! Make sure to post photos! That was a nice present for your Mom.
Happy Birthday to both your Mom and Dan!! If 25 is old, I better save up the money for a cane in June. ;)
And it’s awesome that you’re going to the rally. I hope there’s a decent turnout!
Debbie – I purchased some parts for his computer, as it is in desperate need of an upgrade. I also got him Incubus’ new CD, Light Grenades.
Amy – this is where we shall have to agree to disagree. A baby needs to eat, and it isn’t always possible to make sure to be home to feed the baby there. And I don’t know about other mothers, but I am not about to drop anything and drive back home to nurse my child. So as you can imagine, I have nursed Ryan just about everywhere – Walmart, Kmart, Target, Boscovs, throughout the mall, in restaurants, fast food places, etc.
And demanding a refund? Don’t you think that’s a little much? And why blame Pizza Hut for the actions of another? I can understand asking to be moved to a different table, but to outright demand a refund and leave seems to be a little much.
And covering while nursing isn’t always easy. Blankets are hot, they are bulky, and in my experience wind up drawing more attention to what I am doing. And all babies do not tolerate blankets. Ryan doesn’t. The one time I tried he threw a fit and ripped it off. So I gave up, and go “bare”, though I do wear layers so that I pull the top one up and bottom down, so my breast is pretty well covered by the top layer and Ryan’s head.
The problem with being forced to use “discretion” is who gets to determine the discretion? The breastfeeding laws that are in place typically state that a breastfeeding mother may nurse her child anywhere she herself is allowed to be, and the breast and/or nipple showing makes no difference. I wholeheartedly agree with this wording. If “discretion” was left up to store owners, restaurant managers, the police officer patrolling the public park, I can see many problems springing up.
Lisa – “If you don’t like it, don’t look” is a motto that I stand by.
Boogher – I know exactly what video you’re talking about. The mother’s girls were 7 and 9, or something like that. I agree that is way too long to be breastfeeding. In my opinion, weaning should definitely be in the works by the time the child is two. Three tops.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uHRyRCHuQ7g
link to said breastfeeding video
See, I do not agree with that, though ultimately it is that woman’s decision. To me, weaning breastfeeding is like when you would wean a child from a bottle or a pacifier. There comes a time when enough is enough, and the child should wean.
I hope Daniel had a great birthday and that he enjoyed your present!
I like how you do a great deal for promoting breastfeeding!
Nan – so far his birthday has been good, though he has to work tonight. Grrr. But, that’s a rant for another time.
And thank you. I do try.
I saw some of that video and that’s really disturbing. As far as breastfeeding, it’s nothing wrong with it, I just don’t want to see the breast. I plan on breast feeding, not from the actual breast, but pumping into a bottle. It just disturbs me to know a child, my child is sucking on my tit. It’s more of a sexual thing to me so that is why I don’t want anyone but my partner sucking on my breasts.
Sheena – I can respect your decision on choosing to pump exclusively. However, I would like to warn you: while pumping works, a breast pump will never be as efficient as a baby when it comes to getting milk out of your breast. Be prepared from the start to simulate a baby nursing – pumping every two to three hours around the clock for the first month or so, and after that every two to four hours during the day time, and not going any longer than six to eight hours at night. And even with sticking to that, you may still need to do different things to increase your supply (oatmeal, fenugreek, brewer’s yeast, flaxseed meal, domperidone, etc.), and/or supplement with donated breast milk or formula.
I’m not trying to scare you off or say that it won’t work, but I’ve been down that route myself, with Alyssa. We introduced bottles too early, and stubborn pain in the ass that she has been since birth, she refused to nurse and by two months of age would only take bottles. So I pumped like crazy until she was ten months old, and towards those last few months had to supplement with formula, because I couldn’t keep up.
Happy Birthday to Dan and Jenn’s Mom!
Happy Birthday to Dan and your mom! I hope they both have a great birthday!
I’m glad someone found that link, but bothered at the same time because I couldn’t help but watch it and be disturbed all over again.
Ku8dos to you for voting on the BF bill! That’s so great to read =D
Er, sorry about the 8.. NAK ;)
Jenn,
I’m sure it will have to be that way, considering you do breastfeed and you feel its necessary.
When I am eating, I don’t want to look up and see a woman’s breast. If I did, I would go to a gentleman’s club. The fact that there’s a baby sucking on them isn’t relevant. There are bathrooms, there are better places to be. I have to watch you breast feed because you don’t feel like going into the bathroom or out to your car? (Not YOU, but you know mothers in general)
I was disgusted and couldn’t eat. I ordered the food before she started and it came directly after. It wasn’t so much a refund, but a refusal to pay for what I couldn’t eat. And the restaruant didn’t put up any sort of fight about it. They were ashamed and the manager apologized very quickly. I know you don’t feel like it’s a big deal, but it is to other people – whether it makes sense to you or not. You have to respect others, too.
I don’t mind people doing it, I don’t mind where they do it. What I mind is them laying their breasts out in public.
If I weren’t aware of the many ways to keep from showing yourself in public, I might agree with you, but I know there are bras made for it, blankets, breast pumps, etc.
When I was younger my brother came home and told me he was eating dinner at his friends house and had to leave because his mom started breastfeeding her 7 year old son at the table.
Amy – so what is it you disagree with? Nursing in public blatantly, boobs out for everyone to see, or nursing in public, period?
I can definitely agree that women should *try* to be discreet, as long as their baby doesn’t put up a fuss about it.
Otherwise, what is the mother supposed to do? Bathrooms are filthy. I can’t imagine sitting on a toilet and nursing my child, or standing near a sink and doing so.
And it’s hard to wrap a schedule around a baby’s impromptu hunger.
Now, breastfeeding a seven year old? Not cool. Weaning is a good thing. No child should be breastfed for that long. My own cut of is around the age of one to one and a half, two tops.
I dont have any problems with breastfeeding what so ever. However I do have a problem when I take my 3 1/2 yr old son out and a mother has her boobs hanging out feeding her baby. I dont want my child seeing that or asking about it. There comes a time and age for that stuff. However, I dont think mothers should leave wherever they are to feed their baby.. I feel mothers should be able to do it anywhere…But like you said Jenn women should TRY to be discreet. And if not, then I know ehre there are places for breastfeeding mothers to go… every mall here has a room, and there is ways if a baby wont nurse under a blanket… like u said u layer clothes, theres the bras, etc…. I just dont agree with it hanging out for everyone to see.. Although it is a natural and healthy thing in life.. theres always people in public places and children that dont need to see that.
Also, I think its good to have a cut off age. Personally I think two is too old… 1 – 1 1/2 in MY opinion is perfect.. but to each their own!
Way to go Jenn with the BF bill thing I think thats awesome. I think moms should be able to BF anywhere…
I will probably only breastfeed up until the 1 year mark an start weening even before that mark… although most of any feeding my kids get will mostly likely end up being pumped breastmilk in a bottle as most places give between 6-8 weeks maternity leave and after that I’d have to go back to my full-time job. I personally don’t think there’s anything wrong with breastfeeding in public, I just know I’d never really do it in public.