Starfish Envy

They're Just Boobs

Can we talk about something?

Is anyone else getting really tired of reading about moms getting kicked out of public places or getting (how is this even possible?) arrested for breastfeeding?

The manager of an Applebee's in Georgia recently called the police on a woman who was breastfeeding her son.  Last week there was a whole hubbub in the news about a professor at American University who breastfed her baby while teaching a class. (The class wasn't disrupted, mind you.  She just fed her baby while she taught.  Frankly, I was impressed.)  A month or so ago, I read about a woman getting kicked out of a courthouse for breastfeeding.  And another who got kicked out of church.

I mean, come ON, people.

They're just BOOBS.

And breastfed babies need them.  To eat.  And grow.  And flourish.    

To feed Champ, I have hauled mine out at Katsuya, while crosslegged on the floor of The Container Store, in a movie theater, in a corner at Barnes and Noble, and at several of my favorite neighborhood diners.

Do I flash them all over the place?  No.  Do I make every effort to keep everything covered?  Frankly, no.  It's too much trouble.  If you tried really hard, you could probably see some skin.

The horror!  Boob skin!

But here's the thing.  Champ rarely agrees to take a bottle, so if I have to (or just want to) go somewhere, she comes along.  She loves being out and about, and I love getting to spend the time with her.  

Seriously, it's just not a big deal.

Now, this is just my own comfort level.  Different people are comfortable with different things.  

But for those who are uncomfortable with public breastfeeding, the solution is quite simple.

Don't look. 

Happy And I Know It

This weekend my friend L came over for a visit.  We went for a stroll, then came back and oooh'ed and aaah'ed over Champs adorable (and plentiful) baby clothes while Champ ate her lunch of breastmilk straight from the source.  

At one point L said, "So... you're still happy?"

And I thought... happy?  Is that what I am?  It's so much more than just... happy.  I don't know where it begins or where it ends, I just know it's everywhere.  All encompassing. 

Her smile is everything.

 

Oh Happy Day

One year ago today-- September 13th, 2011-- my daughter was conceived.  

Today-- September 13, 2012-- she is exactly thirteen weeks old.

A year ago, I was feeling hopeless as I got in my car and drove across town to my reproductive endocrinologist's office.  I had started the cycle with seven follicles, and a bag of drugs in preparation for my second IVF.  But when most of my follicles stalled and got out of synch, my doctor decided there were too few follicles to bother with IVF.

We would just do an IUI. 

I remember telling my doctor how totally pointless the whole exercise seemed.

Today, exactly one year later, without even realizing it, I got in my car and took the exact same route.  Only this time, my daughter-- my amazingly wonderful daughter-- was in the backseat.

I haven't found the words yet to describe how happy, how whole, how blessed I feel with Champ in my life.

But I can say one thing with certainty and clarity:

Thirteen is my lucky number.