Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Lactivist leanings

So why do I still breastfeed after 10 months?  I remember watching a show a long time ago, maybe Oprah or something similar, and it featured a breastfeeding mother.  She said that she was so thankful for breastfeeding because it allowed her to discover her child's allergies.  She could eat only boiled white rice and plain boiled chicken.  If she ate anything else her child would react.  I can't even image having to go to that extreme!  But it always stuck with me the power of breastfeeding.  The baby eats what I eat.  I can control what I eat.  Similac, Nestle, Target don't get to feed my baby whatever is in their factory. 

I  wonder how Audrey would be different if I formula fed.  I'll never forget that realization that wheat was the issue.  How different she was after I cut out the wheat.  How much happier she was.  What if I had chosen formula?  I would have just thought she was a colicly baby, a fussy baby, a baby that no one could make happy.  How wrong would I have been?  I know that I"m lucky to know that wheat could be a problem.  DH has an allergy so I knew to be on the look out.  I hate to think of all of the people who never get a diagnoses and just suffer.  I hate to think of all of the suffering moms and babies.  I can't even image how hard it would be to have  child that can't be comforted.

So I breastfeed 'cause frankly I'm a control freak.  I need to know what my child is eating.  I can control my mouth so I can control her diet.  I breastfeed 'cause it is the best thing for Audrey.  She's a happy healthy baby.  Sure I'm off wheat til she weans but what is a few years without bread when I can see her happy and thriving. 

There are other women that may need help, who may need a helping hand, and who just need to know that breastfeeding is normal.  So I want to be there for them.  I want to be their support.  So the journey begins, how am I going to help women?

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Wordless Wednesday - Baby Chili

She is in a chili pot.  Dad thought it would be funny.  Audrey doesn't seem amused.  She tried to escape.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Twitter

I'm learning to use Twitter.  I'm actually having fun.  There are so many neat moms on there.  So anyways, this is a short blog post.  Just saying that I'm doing the twitter thing.  You can follow me at @hollinsgirl7

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

wordless wednesday - fun in cloth

Audrey in her GoodMama cloth diaper.

Caught eating paper.

I don't care I'll eat what I want to.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Getting over the American dream

So I bought the dream the whole damn hamburgs worth.  You know the one, where you buy the house, have the dogs, have the new car, have debt to your ears and don't bother to save.  I did it.  I thought at the time that it meant I was a real American.  I was finally an American.  Growing up Mexican in American in the 80s meant alot of name calling and taunting from both sides.  I was never enough of either so I picked one and went for it. 

It's funny how you gain perspective after you have a child.  It's not about me.  It's about doing the best for Audrey.  So that means paying off bills.  First things first, we lost the house then we moved to Texas so I had to give up my wonderful job and just last night they repoed the car.  I'm not upset.  Audrey is healthy and happy.  I have everything I need.  God has blessed me.  So I give.  No more American dream now I just want to focus on Audrey.  If that makes me unAmerican then screw it, we'll move to Africa and hang with the !Kung.  I wonder how long it would take for me to learn that language?

Sunday, October 10, 2010

!Kung babies

Okay so DH and I were talking today about our parenting style and the job we are doing with Audrey.  It was all prompted by a bad trip to the Dairy Queen after which both DH and Audrey got unintended wheat exposure.  Audrey suffer alot for our lack of research.  Lesson learned! 

But anyways, but to !Kung babies.  As part of this talk, DH reminded me of a time when we were back in high school, about 17 or so and he told me all about the way the !Kung people of Africa raised their children.  He was very impressed that they would put their babies on their backs and go on about their day.  I remember looking at him and saying that is crazy and I'll never do that!  Famous last words since of course I'm all into babywearing.  I toss Audrey on my back and move about my day.

I think the funny part is that I had shot the idea down without knowing anything about it.  It makes me so glad that I was 30 before I had children.  I was a stupid teenage and I don't think I would have been any better as a mom at in my 20s.  Having lived a little and met so many people has allowed my world to expand and for me to research and get to see the best practices of baby/child rearing. 

DH was saying today that he can totally see what that article the !Kung meant about babywearing and raising.  I think part of the reason I laughed it off back in the day was his whole love of the idea of a baby that can face down a lion.  That was his whole reason for wanting to raise a !Kung baby, so it can face down a lion!  But I understand it know.  Audrey is confident and happy.  She is a little too fearless for my taste.  She climbs on top of boxes and stands up.  She climbs to the edge of the bed to peek over and manages to just hold on and not fall over.  She crawls right into the middle of our dogs playing and expects them to part and they do!  I honestly think she could face down a lion.  It's kind of incredible. 

Without meaning to I'm raising a !Kung baby.  I'm raising a confident woman that can face down lions.  I think DH was right, the !Kungs have it going on!  Well played DH.  I guess I finally have to put a mark in your "WAS RIGHT" column.