Embarrassed

I don't know if anyone has seen the you tube video with Holly McNish reading her poem about breastfeeding in public but it is so powerful and makes such absolute sense.  If you haven't seen it you can see it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiS8q_fifa0 .  I love helping women reach their breastfeeding goals and a complaint I hear often is, "I just feel so uncomfortable nursing in public and it makes it so difficult to go out."  I feel so heartbroken when I hear this.  What is wrong with our culture that you can't do something as simple as feeding your baby?  As Holly says:
"So no more will I sit on these cold toilet lids
No matter how embarrassed I feel as she sips
Cos in this country of billboards covered in tits
I think we should try to get used to this."

I must say though that I do have some hope.   I have actually had pretty pleasant experiences breastfeeding in public.  I like to be modest in the fact that I try to sit out of the beaten path.  Despite what many may feel I do not want to flaunt feeding my baby.  I actually would prefer you not even notice.   I did have one experience though that was very painful and almost had me in tears so that is all that I will add to such a wonderful poem.

Mckenzie was about 6 months old and I was at Chick Fil A.  Imagine that! HA! Anyway, it was just me, her and Bailey.  I had gotten Bailey set up with her food and I was starving and Mckenzie was asleep in her car seat.  As soon as I started eating she started to stir and I knew that she was going to be hungry but I just wanted to eat and move on.  Anyway, Bailey ate and then wanted to go play.  So, I sent her off into the playroom and scarfed down my food. Mckenzie stirred more and more and begun to fuss and in her true fashion as she did as a baby.  Then as soon as I took her out of the car seat she started to scream with drew attention to me.  I knew I should have fed her sooner but as any mom of 2 young kids can tell you, breastfeeding or not, sometimes someone ends up getting put off a little to long.  Anyway, I got her latched on and breathed a sigh of relief as she settled down.  I felt relief and like supermom. Both kids were happy! One in the playroom playing away and one eating her lunch happily. Then I noticed some women looking at me. Women of young children just like me.  Surely they understood my super woman moment here and could smile.  Nope.  They stared and talked about me the entire time I nursed Mckenzie.  They said things like, "Why does she have to do that here?" "It is just so disgusting" "Can't she go somewhere else?" "Why doesn't she cover up" I really couldn't believe my ears and as the sweat ran down my back from being so nervous and the tears welled up in my eyes what I wanted to say to them was, "Why not here?" "What is disgusting about feeding a baby the way God designed" "Where do you want me to go? Do you want me to take a screaming baby out of here who is starving and a 2 year old who just wants to play on the playground." "I really wouldn't mind covering up but I have no idea where my cover up is.  I used it with my first but to tell you the truth I am not even sure I have diapers and wipes much less something to cover up with." I think this is how most nursing moms feel.  I just wonder if we will ever live in a country where breastfeeding is the normal way of life. 

Meals on Big Wheels

 

The girls and I went and volunteered today with Meals on Big Wheels.  It is a program in Dallas for kids to volunteer by delivering meals to seniors in Dallas.  You get to ride this party bus that is an old school bus all decorated up.  The girls were quite excited about the bus ride!

 

 We went with my moms group.  Sandra, Brooklyn, Janna, and Kaylee getting their groove on the party bus.

 

 

The girls not cooperating and chilling on the pink chair

 

 

Michelle, Cole, Luke and Aiden having a snack before delivering meals.

 

 

Chase not impressed with my pictures.

 

 

Everett and Amy

 

 

The girls and I.  Bailey's thing to do was closing her eyes for all pictures! Turkey!

 

 

The girls did so good at delivering meals.  It was a rainy morning and so once the rain stopped it was very humid and they were sweating walking through the apartment complex and delivering meals.

 

 

The went right up to the doors and knocked on them and screamed "Meals on Wheels" I think they thought it was like backwards trick or treating! HA!

 

 

Our cool ride.  You can also rent this bus for parties.  I am trying to dream up a reason I might need this bus! HA!

 

It was one seniors birthday so the whole group sang happy birthday to him.

 

 

Sugie carrying her meal.  All the people were so grateful for our deliveries.

 

 

Again no eyes....:)

 

 

Meal anyone?

 

 

Sister insisted on carrying the meals herself. :)

 

 

My groovy monkeys.  I hope that they got what we were really doing but I am not sure they saw past the bus ride and screaming "Meals on Wheels" HA!  But I would like to continue to do things like this.  I feel like sometimes when living in suburbia I loose focus of what is really important and just how blessed we really are.



 

The whole group today.

 

 

My moms group.  Thanks so much for setting us up for this Amy.  It was a great time!

 

P.S. I need to get PCB posts up...



Art Camp

 

Bailey went to an art camp at Arts a Blast before we left on vacation.  Here she is the first day. She was excited but also a little nervous.  Sorry for the blurry pic.

 

 

I was hesitant about signing her up for this camp because it was a little pricey but by the end of the first day I could see that she was going to do really cool stuff there! 

 

 

By the end of the second day her art work was complete! She was very proud of her "city"

 

 

I pulled these next couple of pictures from arts a blast Facebook page.  Sugie in action

 

 

Her class with their masterpieces.

 

 

End of the 3rd day with her "monster" project.  I had asked her how she made them and she told me with a straw.  To be honest I was doubtful but then...

 

 

sure enough on the FB page there it was Sugie using a straw! HA!

 

 

Mr. Clark teaching teaching them.  Always good to know your child is paying attention while you are away.

 

 

Her final piece of art camp was her "dog kitty"

 

 

Again, from FB her in action

 

 

Bailey had a blast and I was so glad that she got to go and experience it! We will for sure try it again next year!  Now to find a place for her art work!



Blueberry Hill 2013

 

We went to pick blueberries again this year at Blueberry Hill in Edom, TX.  Sister had fallen asleep on the way there so she was not amused by picture taking in the beginning! ;)

 

 

It was a toasty day and I think that nice weather over the holiday weekend made the berries pretty picked over but we had a fun time.  A guy that worked there said they had 1000 visitors on July 4th!

 

My sister and Harper went with us.

 

 

I think Harpie had a lot of fun!

 

 

Daddy helping sister pick some berries

 

 

Sister wasn't into picking berries as she was a few weeks ago.  She just mostly played like she was swiper and hid in her fox hole.  HA!

 

 

After sweating and picking blueberries we all enjoyed some yummy blueberry ice cream.

 

 

Sugie thought it was tasty

 

 

Red, messy faced twisty.

 

 

Then at the end Sugie did not want to pose for pictures but twisty was ready! HA! Bailey did take some pictures in another sign but I will have to get those from my sister.

 

 

Harpie and Twisty! It was a fun time! Thanks for coming with us.

 

 

Just for comparison here are the girls last year. They have grown so much! Bailey's head now covers the word Blueberry in the sign.



Cousin Visit and 4th of July

 

Trev's brother's family was here to visit for the holiday week.  Bailey was happy to have all her cousins here.  Here they are enjoying a little quiet time watching a movie.

 

 

We also went to the bowling alley to practice our skills.  Mckenzie won with a little help from Cade and Lane.  Bailey was making her mean face for the camera.  That crazy girl!

 

 

Bailey took Jude for a few rides before her driver's license was revoked for not paying attention while driving! HA! :)

 

 

Cade, Lane, Chad and Pizza Man trever having make your own pizza that we cooked on the grill. Yummy!

 

 

Papaw and Nana enjoying a afternoon at the pool.

 

 

Laura and I soaking up the rays

 

 

Trev the human junker

 

 

Super Jude!

 

 

Bailey showing papaw and nana her swimming skills.

 

 

On the 4th we headed to our usual fireworks spot! Nana and the girls with their super cute 4th outfits that she bought them.  They were too busy looking at the planes flying over head.

 

 

Me and my loves. :)

 

 

Can't have a camera out without Sugie's "mean face"

 

 

Twisty hogging daddy's chair.

 

 

Ms. Sassy

 

 

Aunt Laura making her laugh so she wouldn't make her mean face. :)

 

 

Cutie!

 

 

Trev and his glow glasses. :)

 

 

The glasses were a little too big for twisty but she looked pretty cute!

 

 

They made me go nuts! HA!

 

 

Trev and I waiting on the fireworks.

 

 

Me and my little twisty

 



 

Sugie danced the night away.  I am not even sure she watched the firework because I think she was dancing the whole time. :)

 

 

The boys and their mom

 

 

Sweet Twisty

 

 

Sweet Sugie

 

 

Twisty slithering her glow necklace like a snake on nanna

 

 

Lane doing cool tricks with his necklace.

 

 

Without the flash. :)

 

 

Sugie watching fireworks

 

 

Sugie cuddled up with nanna watching the show.

 

 

Sugie was all about nanna and didn't want her to leave.  Sweet girl when she isn't being awnry. :)

 

 

Daddy and twist.  It was a fun week.