Picture of the Week

Kiki, the Lactivist

Who would have thought that I would be so into all of this? I guess I just never realized how weird people are about nursing. I'm so thankful I haven't come across the nastiness that some people have, but I just find it fascinating to read about situations that come up, and sometimes, like with the Bill Maher segment, I get all riled up about the ignorance that exists.

Here is a good article on the Huffington Post. Nothing earth-shattering, but it's a follow-up of sorts on the Bill Maher situation.

I guess he's doing his job really well. He's getting everyone riled up by being "politically incorrect." I guess the reason it bothered me was that it's not just him. He's speaking for a surprisingly large group of people, I think.

In other breastfeeding news in cyberland, here is a great article with some awesome pictures of women breastfeeding out in public (gasp!) in the 1940s. So cool!

Shorter hair...

I got my hair cut even SHORTER. I will post a picture sometime this weekend.

Nothing much going on. I'm just feeling very grateful lately for everything wonderful in my life. My daughter is such a joy. She has reached that age where she is interactive and even though we aren't actually having conversations, it feels like we are.

She gave DH a tough time while I was getting my haircut, though. I think she did it on purpose, because she gave me the most conspiratorial smiles when I got home. What a toot! :) She erased 2 hours of work on his computer, too... oops!! I'm torn between feeling horrible for him and giggling because that's who she is! A little destroyer. :)

Ok off to bake some cookies and watch the Office. Just wanted to check in. My last post was a bit of a tirade and I wanted my blog to move on from that. :) :)

Oh Mr. Maher....

I am getting SO SO tired of the attitude towards breastfeeding in our society. Luckily, I haven't ever personally experienced negative feedback while NIP. Quite the opposite, actually - I have had several supportive comments, and nobody has ever so much as looked at me cross-eyed while I'm nursing. And overall, I am able to have a sense of humor about most of the things I see. Like that news guy who was caught on camera pretending to lick the nipple of the image of breasts on-screen, when he was supposed to be reporting on breastfeeding. He didn't know the camera was rolling, and I'll admit I laughed at that. Silly things like that don't bug me.

But this... this is just ridiculous. This sums up the way a lot people out there think (as evidenced by all the laughs Bill got during his segment), and that saddens me. Breastmilk is the most natural and wonderful thing one can give her child. It's a bonding experience, it's nourishing, and it helps protect both the mom and child. (reduces obesity and illnesses for the child; prevents cancers for the mother) Those are facts. The AAP and the WHO both recommend that women breastfeed. Even formula companies say that breastmilk is best. So why is everyone so quick to put down those of us who are choosing to breastfeed!?! The bottom line is -- it is our legal right as women, as mothers, to nurse our children whenever or wherever they need to eat. I think it's a beautiful, wonderful thing. I truly don't understand why people are uncomfortable with seeing it. !?!? We have 13 year old girls running around dressed like hookers, but me nursing my little girl is disgusting??? So backwards and strange.

Anyway - here is what I'm talking about (the part I'm referring to starts at 3:14):

Oh Britney.

Her performance on the VMAs was so sad. She HAS to be on some sort of drugs. It looked like a junior high talent show. There is something very wrong with that girl.

The whole situation is heartbreaking - her poor kids.

The Starbucks Saga.

So I made it through the week without my iced venti non-fat chai. But I have to admit, it was hard! I missed that little treat each morning. I found myself eating more sugar throughout the day. I'm so pathetic, I know.. but I don't know if I can go all month like this. I need it!!

Hi, my name is Kiki, and I'm a Starbucks addict. Is there an SA around???

15-month appointment

We had N's 15 month appointment yesterday, and she did GREAT. I did decide to get the MMR vaccine, and not separate it out or anything, and so far she seems okay. A bit of a fever this afternoon, and the usual post-shots clinginess, but overall she is chipper.

She weighs 20 lbs, 7 oz and is 31" long. I was definitely able to tell that she had been chunking out a bit. I was so glad!! She's still in the ~15%, and we figure that's just where she is going to be.

I did have an issue w/ a couple comments the ped made about my continuing to breastfeed N, though. He said that I should think about cutting back, and when we talked about wanting to try for baby #2 in a few months, he said this would be a perfect time to wean. Arrgh. I'm going to chalk it up to him having a bad day & forgetting who he was talking to, and his not knowing that I want to nurse her until she is 18 - 24 months. As soon as I said that was my intent, he dropped it.

I was just really irked with the whole thing, though. Because he shouldn't be pushing for weaning. Even the AAP has come out with information saying that there are immunological benefits for the baby to nurse up to TWO YEARS. That's my ped's organization! I guess it's just the way our society is right now, that nursing beyond a year is strange and unexpected.

He also really pushed the flu shot, and even said that there will be a world-wide pandemic soon, and everyone needs to be vaccinated. Ugh. We are NOT doing the flu shot. We didn't do it last year, and we are not doing it this year. That's that.

We'll see how the 18 month appt goes. If he's still weird about everything, then he and I are going to have a little chat. This was not the norm with him - he is usually so open to what I want, and willing to work with me, and talk to me about what's what w/ the shots and all.

On the positive end of things, he said that N will be an early talker. He was really impressed with the number of words that she can say. I'm so proud of my little chatterbox. (Gee, wonder where she gets that!?!) :)

Curtis Roger

Last year on May 31, my friend Chantel gave birth to a stillborn baby boy at 40 weeks. His name was Curtis Roger. Since then, Chantel has gotten involved with a foundation called MissingGRACE. They do a lot with stillbirth prevention awareness, stillbirth awareness, grief support, memorial events and other projects. Chantel and her family are participating in the 2007 Kaila and Grace's Hope and Hearts Run, which is put on by MissingGRACE.

If you would like to sponsor Team Curtis, please visit this web site:

http://www.firstgiving.com/ateamforcurtis

Do they put crack in there?

I am embarrassed to admit how much I am dragging w/o my morning chai from Starbucks. Do they add something to it? Am I addicted? EEK! Only 3 days until I can have another one. It's going to be a long month people. A looooooooooong month.

First day with no Starbucks...

I did it! I did miss that small amount of caffeine, though. It makes a difference! But my daughter took a much better morning nap, so maybe this will be a good thing!! :)

I got some decaf hazelnut creme coffee at Safeway yesterday and it's pretty good. It did the job this morning.

Nothing too exciting to report today. Even though I am not working in an office, it still feels like a Monday to me. So weird.

It's only 8:20, but I'm exhausted. So I'm off to bed!!