The YMCA and the Case of the Bitter Betties

I am not the mom who freaks out over every little thing. I'm just not. Germs don't bother me like they do other moms...I breastfeed, so my kid has ultra immunity (knock on wood). I don't worry about an exact schedule...we have a routine that is pretty flexible. I don't worry about how often Christian eats...he eats when he wants to. When Ken and I leave Christian with someone for the day, we don't leave 6 pages of notes on how to care for him. We just don't! If we didn't trust you to take care of our child, we probably wouldn't leave him with you! (Not to mention, the only people who have ever watched Christian for the day are highly "baby-skilled" people...they're probably better with him than I am!)

With alllllllllllll that being said, I do have a bone to pick with a few Bitter Betties in the nursery at the YMCA where I work out. Every damn time I take Christian to the nursery at the Y, they have something to say about the way I parent him or his behavior. It would be different if he was a horribly behaved toddler who ran through the nursery stealing toys and boppin' other kids upside the head. BUT HE'S NOT! HE'S A BABY!

Here are a list of different incedences:
1) I was informed that, "We don't try to hold the babies unless we have to..." "Really? Why?", I asked (thinking it might have something to do with a liability issue...) "Because we don't want to spoil them", was the reply I received. My thoughts? It is YOUR JOB to spoil my kid for AN HOUR AND A HALF or LESS so that I can work off this baby weight which YOU have so obviously NOT worked off! (Even though your kids are 45...)

2) One day I received several snide looks when Christian was dressed in a onsie that said "I am boob man". When I told the nursery woman that it was ok to give him milk if he got hungry, she asked, "When was the last time he ate?" "It really doesn't matter. He's not on a feeding schedule since he nurses", I answered. "Oh. (humph) That's why he's wearing that shirt..." My thoughts? Why the hell else would he be wearing that shirt???? Are you dense? Do you think that I dress my kid in a onsie that says, "I am boob man" because he has a sexual attraction to women with large breasts???? HE'S A BABY, YOU WEIRDO! Ugh...

3) Christian likes to squeal. He just does. Ever since he found his vocal cords (at birth), he likes to exercise  them. He's not unhappy when he squeals...he's excited! When he plays with a toy that is highly amusing, he squeals at it! It's what he does. HE'S A BABY! So when I come in to pick him up from the nursery, the last thing I want to hear is how "Next time we're gonna bring our ear plugs..." My thoughts? Maybe you should remove your earplugs from your (I'll let you fill in the blank. It'll be like Mad Libs...)

4) Apparently no child is equipped for life without a dadgum paci. Except you wanna know what my kid does with a paci????? He spits it out. But according to the nursery women, my child would fare much better with a paci. So "next time you need to bring a paci"...GUESS WHAT? NOT ALL BABIES LIKE PACIS! MAYBE just MAYBE if you'd PICK HIM UP AND PLAY WITH HIM, HE WOULDN'T CRY! Just a suggestion...

5) Even Ken has gone in there to make sure I wasn't exaggerating...hey! I've been known to exaggerate every now and again...shocking, right? And do you know what they said to him? They said, "You must spoil your baby." To which he replied, "Yes. Yes, I do. It's my honor and privilege to spoil and love and hold that baby every chance I get. And if you don't want to spoil my kid for an hour, you're in the wrong business."

With all these incedents, I'm sure you're wondering if I've said anything to management. And yes. Yes, I have. But it doesn't do a lick of good! Nothing changes...

These horribly bitter old ladies remind me of the mean ole' elephants in Dumbo...remember how mean they were? They were mean because they were jealous or scared or intimidated. And I think the ladies in the nursery are just plain old bitter.

Believe me, I am waiting for the next time they say something to me so I can give them just a little piece of my mind. But more than anything I am really just ready for a new gym...

GOAL!

It seems like yesterday that I was worried sick about whether or not I'd be able to pump enough milk for Christian while I was at work. I remember feeling so nervous and insecure about my milk supply along with my will to do something so physically taxing. But now my son is six months old and I have made it to my original goal.

Christian will have nursed or had breastmilk now for the first six months of his life. Even as I say that, I can't believe I did it...or rather, we did it, as it took many peoples' support to encourage such an accomplishment. There are just a few people I'd like to thank...

-Mama, thank you for encouraging me to breastfeed. It was the best thing you did for me as a baby and it has been the best thing I have done for Christian. It is so helpful to have a mother who is supportive of breastfeeding. You truly planted the seed.

-Ken, thank you for being my cheering section through this journey. You being proud of me day in and day out is what inspires me to continue providing milk for our child. Thank you for reassuring me and supporting my decision.

-Lisa, thank you for allowing me to borrow your pump and for all the advice and support you've given along the way. You have saved my family countless sums of money and eased my mind just by sharing your story.

-Rebecca and Margeaux, thank you for encouraging me to pump milk at work and tolerating our "topless chats". If it weren't for the two of you and our amazing team, I would never have continued pumping after the first month I returned back to work.

-Christian, thank you for being the best teammate any nursing mommy could ever ask for! Your sincere enjoyment while breastfeeding lets me know that all the struggle is totally worth it. I can't imagine not breastfeeding you. And that's why we will continue this journey together for as long as we can. I love you so much. And what I especially love is the bond that we share through you nursing. I love the way you "talk with your mouth full" and look up at me with milk dribbling out of your mouth. I love the way that when nothing else will comfort you, my breast will. Sometimes I think that our bond is weakened because I chose to go back to work, but when I get to hold you and nurse you, I know it's as strong as ever.

-ME! I am so proud of myself for accomplishing the goal I set out to do! Not many women breastfeed anymore...and even less are willing to pump at work...but I DID!

Going forward, I know I am entering holiday season at work and it will become less and less convenient to pump milk at work. However, if I can continue to at least pump twice a day I will still be able to provide enough milk for Christian while I am away. And I think twice a day during holiday is totally doable. I would like to get him through one year...and I remember when I didn't think it would be possible!...and now I have a new goal; I would like to nurse Christian until he is ready to wean himself. If that means he's done nursing at one year, so be it. If he decides he's done with the breast at 18 months, that's ok, too. But I am dedicated to nursing as long as my son finds it satisfying and comforting. And I feel so good about making that choice.

Yellow Bird

When Marcella came to visit us in July, she brought Remmy a stuffed animal. Since Remmy destroys all stuffed animals and leaves the remains scattered throughout the house, we decided that the stuffed animal should go to Christian. (Side Note: Remmy has stolen about 10 of Christian's toys, so it was only fair!)

Since then, the plush chick has been dubbed "Yellow Bird". Yellow Bird is one of Christian's favorite toys (if not his favorite). He plays with Yellow Bird much like he plays with his pillows. He loves to laugh at Yellow Bird and will sit and stare at him...it's pretty freakin' cute.

Mommy even happens to know a song about a yellow bird that her Daddy taught her...it goes a little something like this:

A yellow bird

With a yellow bill

Was sitting on

My windowsill

I coaxed him in

With crumbs of bread

And then I smashed

His little head

Now, isn't' that endearing? (By the way, I do not condone violence against animals...just in case anyone was thinking of calling PETA.)

Three Year Tribute

Our first Picture Together

Hay Ride in North GA

Three years of marriage and so much to be thankful for. How could I ever describe the twists and turns that led me to my loving husband? I will never deserve him, and I will forever cherish him. He is simply the best man I have ever known.

On vacation in the mountains

My birthday at the Melting Pot

Our Wedding Day

The tattoo I got on our honeymoon

At a coffee shop on our honeymoon

Out to dinner

In South Beach

At the aquarium

First visit to the OBGYN

Easter

On vacation in Florida

Ken's Corner: Interesting Logic

Mommy, while blowing on Christian's tummy: "I think Christian is going to have an outie!"

Daddy, while cleaning up the kitchen from dinner: "Why would he have an outie? We both have innies."

Mommy, while inspecting Christian's belly button a little closer: "I think it has something to do with how they cut the cord..."

Daddy (still cleaning the kitchen): "Probably. But I don't want him to have an outie. I want him to have a belly button like ours."

Mommy: "Outies are cute! Why do you want him to have a belly button like us so bad?"

Daddy: "So we all match."

Mommy: laughing and appreciating Ken's interesting logic

Under(pants) Progress...

Ahhh...pregnancy! A glorious time in a woman's life when she can celebrate the life growing within her and dream about the child soon to be had! Right? Anyone? Hello?

Ok, ok! So I was NOT the most pleasant pregnant woman. Hell, I was miserable! But part of that can definitely be attributed to the fact that I gained a whopping 65 pounds. Yeah. I have no shame. I'll admit it. And it wasn't exactly my fault. I mean, if Christian had not had a craving for ice cream every day, I wouldn't have eaten it every day. (And, for the record, I have no idea how this child didn't weigh 12 pounds at birth...)

HOWEVER! Guess what? I have lost 40 of the 65 pounds! I am back to my pre-pre-pregnancy weight! When I got pregnant I was super skinny because I had just lost 25 pounds (Murphy's Law...). And I feel I can best represent my weight loss, and my future weight loss, with this picture...

 

From right to left...

The Institution Panty: Super comfy and super durable. Amazing stretch capacity. Will not arouse sexual attention from husband (unless removed). After one has lost enough weight, The Institution Panty will: bunch up in pants, sag in bottom, not arouse sexual attention from husband (unless removed). 

The "Look-I-Can-Fit-Into-Semi-Cute-Undies" Panty: Also comfy and durable. A slight bit less stretch capacity. Small embellishment and/or color other than white improves chances of sexual attention from husband (chances also improve upon removal).

The "I-May-Be-A-Mom-But-I-Look-Like-A-Sexy-CoEd-In-These-Little-Things" Panty: Comfy only if you are a waif. Durable? Who cares. Stretch capacity? Not much, unless you like rolls hanging over sides. The "I-May-Be-A-Mom-But-I-Look-Like-A-Sexy-CoEd-In-These-Little-Things" panties will ensure sexual attention from husband.

So now you see where I have been, where I am, and where I'm headed. My goal is to be at 130 by January. That is where I was happiest and felt the best about myself. 

I know weight is only a number...but it wasn't about the number for me; it was about the feeling. I want to be fit and I want Christian to understand the importance of being healthy.

I can use all the support I can get! I am committing to three days MINIMUM in the gym per week and will tack down a meal plan in a week or so. I find that being accountable is super motivating. Updates to follow! Any words of wisdom, support, tips, etc. are welcome!

A Solid Start (The Remix)

There is a time for everything and everything has a time...that's how the expression goes, right? No? Well, you get the idea. What I am trying to say is that Christian is ready for some solids! How do I know? Because at dinner tonight, he tried to eat his Bumbo seat. Really. I'm not kidding...he tried to eat his Bumbo seat while watching Ken and I eat our meals.

After our last ordeal with solids, I decided to follow my La Leche book to the T when introducing solids...again.

Step 1) Offer food to him during the family meal time.
Step 2) Hold the spoon sideways to his lips and let him lip the food into his mouth. Coax him to eat just like when you breastfeed...don't force him, but offer.
Step 3) Let him put the food in his mouth. If it gets messy, so be it! Babies who feed themselves are less messy in the long run. (And honestly, we're at home, so it doesn't matter anyway!)
Step 4) Put the baby in the bathtub ASAP!

Christian LOVE, LOVE, LOVED his organic spinach and carrots!