Just a few pictures from a semi-recent outing about a month back. This was the first time Alexis successfully spent 4 hours outside and fell asleep on the way home. It was nice to feel almost normal, going out to grab a smoothie and a sandwich. It’s also amazing to see how much she’s changed in just one month and a half.
Playing with her Lifefactory teether while we wait for hubby to come out of Publix. It was too cold inside so we had to leave.
Waiting for food! And Alexis’ first time in a high chair! It was truly a day of firsts. I don’t know why but I was so proud of seeing her sit in a high chair ( High chair cover by Infantino). I guess because it was impossible to take her anywhere prior to 5 months, these first outings were really special to me. I finally felt normal, being out and about with a baby. I also can’t wait till we can share our meals with Lexi soon, after she becomes comfortable eating and handling foods.
I am not exactly sure why but I absolutely love breastfeeding outside of home. I think a lot of things go into that feeling: being able to provide food for Alexis without much hassle at her first request, the convenience of it, just the act of breastfeeding which I always found so wonderful, and a big part of me really wants to do my part in making breastfeeding in public a normal thing, one that isn’t frowned upon, or that is almost never seen. I want public breastfeeding (with or without a cover) to become a thing people don’t blink an eye at. And the more we all can throw our own inhibitions aside and proudly ( or shyly at first) feed our babies without caring about what other people think, the more those “other people” will accept it. How can one be ok with breastfeeding, if one has never seen it done and if breasts have always been a part of one’s sexuality and nothing more.
{off my soapbox for now}
I keep attempting family self-portraits once in a while but I haven’t really been good at them. Instead of relaxing and just taking my time setting it up, I am always worried that Alexis is tired and I am wasting time taking photos. I need to chill out a bit and do what I did before Lexi was here. I am going to resume taking themed selfies with Alexis soon. As soon as I feel like I can take the time to set the photo up properly, I’ll start participating in photo memes with Alexis. And I need to remind myself to do a family photoshoot one of these weekends.
Sorry for the lame photos today, I am trying to queue up as many posts as possible, because I will be busy these coming up months with friends visiting,a trip to Disney and a few other things on the horizon.
Love the family photos! You’re truly a beautiful and blessed family. Congrats to the little miss for all of her firsts! Falling asleep in the stroller is a big step. I’m sure you will have a great time taking her places now that she’s more comfortable being out and about.
And kudos to you, sister, for nursing in public. I think that’s great that you are doing so without a cover. It’s something people really need to get used to. I know around here, it’s still quite “taboo”. It seems like a lot of people are slowly changing their opinion on NIP, which is great since so many more moms are breastfeeding nowadays. Have fun! :o)
Thanks for the soapbox, and the public breastfeeding. I wrote a post on my blog just Monday about the topic because I am struggling with doing it. I live in Maine… I’ve never actually seen a woman breastfeeding in public, so I’m struggling with being able to live a “normal” life with baby, but still feeding her. I need to be more like you and just do it!
It’s funny you say that because I have NEVER seen a woman publicly breastfeed here in Florida either. I’ve seen one do it with a cover and that’s it. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention before Alexis.
Good Luck with adjusting to NIP, sometimes you just have to NOT care what people think.
I live in Florida and see woman breastfeeding all the time. Maybe Ft. Lauderdale is different.
I am trying really hard to be comfortable with it, but my baby makes it difficult to be discreet. He is at the stage where he is constantly squirming and pulling off to look at me, completely exposing my breast numerous times during feedings. Does Alexis do this? How do you keep things discreet?
Yes, she totally does it and I just make sure that I keep my attention on her and as soon as I see her pull off I cover the boob with my hand or pull my top back on. But in the end I think you just gotta get comfortable with the fact that if someone happens to see it, it’s ok. They are just boobs.
I’ve also got a very distracted nurser, and I find that the best way to stay discrete is to wear a shirt over a nursing tank – pull the shirt up and the tank down, and very little is exposed, even when a distracted baby pulls off to look around (or try to climb all over you like a monkey 🙂 ). I breastfeed in public all the time, but I don’t think the next table over at a restaurant needs to see my entire breast when my girl is distracted, lol!
Elena, did you participate in the Big Latch On on Saturday? I attended a great event in my city, and it was so cool to know that thousands of women were all breastfeeding at the same time, all over the world!
I can’t believe that you weren’t able to go out until 5 months – I would have gone crazy with cabin fever! We were talking my girl for walks 5 days postpartum, but I’m super lucky to live in a city where we have fantastic restaurants, museums, etc. within walking distance so I never had to worry about a baby crying in a car seat.
No I didn’t know about the big latch! I doubt I would have been able to participate though, we had friends visiting last week.
We did go for walks right away (not 5 days pp but as soon as she was alright in a carrier) but never got out to go to normal places besides doctors visits and occasional outings until she could handle being awake for 4 hours. With a baby that sleeps every 2 hours and won’t fall asleep unless there’s nothing to look at( read: anywhere but home), it was virtually impossible to do anything if you live in the burbs.
Back to breast feeding in public comment, I applaud you for being able to whip it out in public with no second thoughts. I think it’s horrible how doing something so natural and wonderful for our children is looked down upon. I don’t have children of my own yet but agree with your comments and thoughts on this topic. Step back up on that soapbox!
Around when will you be at Disney? We’re taking my son (16 months) for his first real trip (I went while pregnant) in October, and we’ll be doing Mickey’s Halloween Party. We also get to stay at the brand new Art of Animation with a Lion King suite, so I am psyched! 🙂
Oh you suck! Lol art of animation was booked for our dates (September). I contemplated going to the halloween party this time but Lexi is just too little . Last time we went though it was a blast!!!
We cant stop talking about Disney we are that excited. It was “our favorite place” before Lexi and we are so stoked to be taking her there!
Bummer! We booked ours really early, and in fact when I’d checked a few days prior, Lion King suites weren’t open yet for registration. We got lucky 🙂
Disney is one of our favorites too – we’ve gone every year (sometimes twice) since 2006.
How much was the suite?
Before Lexi, we’d go to Disney every month, and at times we’d go every weekend. We were kind of crazy when it came to Disney parks.
Hmm, we have a package with free/upgraded dining (regular plan, not quick serve which was free), so it’s tough to figure out the cost of the room.
The package for 5 adults for 5 nights, with 3 park days and the dining came to just under $3400. Knowing what we’ve paid in the past for just 3 of us in a moderate resort that really wasn’t too bad. (Ever go during Christmastime? Holy hell, it’s expensive).
Anyway, if you divide the package by 5 adults thats $680 each, divided by 5 days it comes to $136 a day. Knowing that the park tickets are $89 a day, that leaves about $47 a day each, times the 5 adults = $235, which if I recall when I booked it sounds about right for the night for the hotel. I pay around $170 when I stay at a Hampton Inn so it sounds like a great price to me! 🙂
Oh, and that $47 includes a small fee for the upgraded dining so actually the room is cheaper than $235 a night.
I seem to remember seeing the rates be in the 250 ballpark. But since fl residents get a discount it was hard to know what it’d end up being.
I know during sept value is 65/night, moderate is 120-130/night and deluxe all differ. (with a fl res. discount)
But like you said these prices are waaaay cheaper than most hotels so I never saw the need to stay off Disney.
I do have to comment on your husband’s shirt. That stripper logo is an interesting choice for a family day out.
Ha! I was wondering if anyone would notice. You’re the first one.
No one notices even in real life.
And I don’t know that it’s a stripper per Se.
Well it does appear that her panties are around her ankles do maybe she is just a lady with an underwear malfunction.
Ahahahahahaha!!!!
Trust me people notice the shirt.:)
The photos turns out great, they are super cute!!
Yay for normalizing breastfeeding! 🙂
turned**
I applaude your efforts to make public breast feeding a normal thing! Adults eat in public – why not babies! Certainly babies look much better eating than many of the rest of us do! Beautiful photos, as always. 🙂
Jenna
her legs are just the yummiest:)))))))
you are all just adorable!!!
Do people really object to breastfeeding? I can’t say it’s a phenomenon I’ve ever noticed. I’m sure there’s millions more mothers making a fuss about it than there are people who could give two hoots (or should that be hooters!).
Breastfeeding in public? Definitely.
I have never had anyone say anything to me about it. However I never made a big production out of it either so no one probably even noticed. To me, I would like it to be treated as a normal activity so I treat it as a normal activity.
What have been your negative experiences with nursing in public? How did you respond? I’m always nervous about getting caught off guard and could use some advice with a good come back.
I’ve only had a family member get shocked at the idea of breastfeeding in a restaurant. But I haven’t been doing it for that long since we have only now started getting out more.
And how about the stories of women getting kicked out of places for BFing.
I breastfeed in public all the time. No one has ever said anything to me or even looked at me funny.
She is just so cute!
I live in NC, not exactly the most progressive state, and I haven’t had any comments on my NIP. We have done it at the mall, at a restaurant, at church, at the Dr.’s office, at the park, and I’m sure other places I can’ t think of. I think if a person makes it a big dramatic act, people will notice. I’m sure that if anyone sees me at all, they just assume I’m snuggling my baby! of course, my little one is only 14 weeks, so she isn’t too wiggly while nursing. She just gets down to business.
I can’t imagine anyone making a dramatic act out of it lol
How do you nurse dramatically? I think it’s really just luck. Ive had women tell me about comments they have received.
And I also think once Lexi is a toddler, I might start getting comments, but so far it’s been good except for the one incident I mentioned earlier.
Here in Mexico nursing in public is something unheard of :/
People actually feel sorry for me when they hear I nurse every 2-3 hours. They say: “Oh, you poor thing, you can never go out then”. And I laugh, because I breastfeed everywhere (with a cover): in a mall, in a restaurant, in a park, in a State office 😛
They just remain astonished when I tell them I NIP 🙂
I thought US is more open to that…
Great pictures! Just want to say “thank you” for shopping at Publix. Supports my family. :o)
I love her face in that picture of all three of you at the cafe. A preview of her teenage years, perhaps? 😉
I really wish that it didn’t have to be referred to as nursing “in public”. It’s such a shame that it’s still considered a taboo thing to do. My almost 19 month old (still very much a boob man) has always been a feed-me-now-or-face-my-wrath type of dude so we never really had a choice! Those first few times are intimidating, mostly because it doesn’t feel normal at first. I mean, I can count on one hand the amount of times I have seen a woman breastfeeding her child in public. I know that the amount of moms that breastfeed is starting to rise so my only explanation for that would be that many moms are choosing to take their children to a private location to feed their babies, be it their car or, and this makes me sad, a public restroom.
Anyway, keep up the whenever/wherever feeding of your little lady. The more and more we make this a normal thing, the more we’ll see new moms choosing to do the same. Without fear or intimidation!
Ave Maria! What were you doing there?!
Hanging out 🙂