How To Date: Nursing Mama's Edition

If you ever read my first blog then you'd know how Adam and I feel about comic book movies. If you didn't then I'll give you the short version: we're huge nerds and we're seeing every one of them. In fact, when we found out my due date, one of the first things referenced was how we'd manage to see The Avengers, as it came out mere weeks after our daughter would be born. 

And now, many many months later, I give to you the 'how to see a movie in theaters while breastfeeding an infant' unofficial guide:

The obvious answer is to take your baby with you to see the movie. Newborns, if you're lucky, can pretty much sleep through anything and have no idea if you're watching something kid appropriate or not. However, the infant movie date is generally more successful for a matinee and possibly at a movie that's been out for a few weeks. I used to take Reed with me to the movies all the time and he'd nurse for the first half and sleep for the second but I was never brave enough for a crowded new release movie.

And, if you know Adam, we weren't waiting for a movie like The Avengers to die down. It's been out for two weeks now and it's still huge. So we had no choice but to enlist the grandparents and come up with a plan. 

Side note: I'm lucky this was Amelia, who is a solid 2 and a half hour eater at three weeks old. Reed nursed way more often so if your baby is a frequent eater, you may have to wait until they can go the length of the movie.

Adam decided he wanted to experience Joss Whedon's take on Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and the rest of the Marvel gang through the magic of 3D so we went to a 6pm showing at the Paradiso. My in-laws graciously met us there at 5:40 where I promptly nursed Amelia in the backseat of my car until just after the Coke commercials were over (Adam grabbed snacks and seats well before I started to nurse her). Then my in-laws took Reed and a sleeping Amelia to dinner at the McAlister's right next to the movie theater.

Adam and I saw the whole movie (including the 2 extra scenes before and after the credits) and I made it back to Amelia before she even woke up hungry.

Granted, a huge portion of this hinges on the involvement of someone else that you trust to take care of your baby. If you're lucky enough to have someone like that in your life, take advantage of it, at least every once in a while. 

Leaving your baby, especially if it's your first, can be heartbreaking but your relationship/marriage/whatever needs some attention too. And your sleeping baby won't even know you left but your boyfriend/husband/partner will certainly know that you were with them, and only them, for a short period of time. 

Introducing Little Miss Hinson...

We are officially a family of four and my sweet baby Reed is a big brother. I think that part is more shocking than saying I have two kids (nope, still real hard to believe). 

Amelia Bryce Elspeth Hinson was born on Saturday, April 21st at 5:45am. She's perfect and all three of us are in love with her. 

thanks everyone on facebook, instagram and every other social media site that I've recently utilized for all the well wishes and love. we really appreciate it :)

March in Photos

I had regular feature-type posts back on the old blog and I like the consistency of the concept but new blog = new features.
For the first one {which I thought of when I saw today's date} is an end-of-the-month wrap up in photos.

So here's March 2012:

Adam putting together baby girl's nursery furniture

I was working late in the studio so Adam brought me treats

 My in-laws placed an excessive amount of orange into his wardrobe

Reading a book on Adam's new nook {you're welcome, Adam}

Reed's attempt at flirting by reading with the older girls. I already like his style.

Beginning of my 9th month: 36 weeks, 2 days

Happy April, everybody!

7 Things Not to Say to a Mom Under 25

I came across a Babble.com blog post on 7 things you should never say to a first time mom over 40.  Even though that's not my mommy age bracket, I can safely say it's an accurate list. But it got me thinking of all the thing people {strangers} have said to me as a young mom and hence here's my list.

1. Was he planned?

You can't plan perfection.

Um, does it matter? I got this one tons during my first pregnancy and when Reed was an infant. Now that I'm pregnant with number 2, I've gotten "well, was this one planned?" and the ever classy "Don't you know what causes that?" At this point, I just smile and tell them I'm trying to catch up with The Duggars.

2. Are you married?

Amazingly, even though I'm married now, this question still seems just as rude. And when I wasn't, and said 'No, I'm not' the looks of pity were maddening. The implication that since I'm a mother all I wanted was for a man to come marry me was ridiculous.

side note: the white trash version of this question {which I've also gotten} is 'did your baby daddy stick around?'

3. I could never have been a mom at your age.
This is usually followed by a list of reasons like 'I really needed those years' or 'My 20's were my happiest time' and 'I'm a better mom because I waited'
I can never tell if they're defending their own life choices or if they're extra stupid. Sadly, when I was a newbie mama and had all those postpartum hormones,  I used to get my feelings hurt and cry to Adam about the mean old ladies at the grocery store.

4. How old are you?

with Jana and Ellie on my 22nd birthday

How old are YOU, lady? Young mamas, take my advice and lie. It's extra funny if you go younger (I'll get my GED any day now, ma'am!)

5. How do you afford a kid at your age?
Can I see a copy of your W-2 also, nosy stranger?

6. Are you the nanny?
You JUST heard him call me mommy. Or aren't your hearing aids turned up? This is usually a backdoor beginning to a conversation about how old I am or to share pearls of wisdom on child-rearing to which, as a young mom, I'm most likely ignorant.

 this last one isn't exclusive to young moms but it's something someone said to me once that I've ALWAYS wanted to include in a blog post:

7. You're really breastfeeding because you're lazy & selfish.

She said it's 'easier' to nurse than to get out of bed to make a bottle and by nursing, I was depriving Adam of bonding time with reed since he was always attached to me.
I don't even have to explain or defend that one, right?

Anyone have any more? Mamas of all ages welcome!

mommy blogging, take two

In pregnancy, there's a concept called nesting where expectant mothers take time to prepare for the arrival of their upcoming child. Typically, there's lots of arranging of the nursery and tenderly folding tiny clothes but as I await the arrival of kiddo number two, albeit daughter number one, my nesting has turned to a social media project. I had a blog for almost two years, which I abandoned once my husband {Adam} and I decided to try and have another baby. In a fickle attempt at a new year's resolution, I claimed to begin blogging again but every time I went to update, I found myself frustrated with the lack of a digital brand in my blog. Was I a mom blogger? And if so, did I really need to tell people what television shows I was watching in the new spring lineup?  

Alas, I decided to start from scratch, this time definitively as a mommy blogger {who also has a marriage and a career in progress}. Childless friends, I understand if you stop reading now.

And if we're not friends and the magic of search engines & social networking has lead you to this budding blog, here's a little about me and the people you'll frequently find me writing about:


This is me:



and like I mentioned, I'm 36 weeks (9 months!) pregnant with our first daughter:

Okay, so this was at 35 weeks and 2 days. Close enough. 

Adam & Reed, the loves of my life. 

Ellie, my best friend. And yes, I'm smashed in this picture. I get a pass, it was my 21st birthday. 

Right now, i work in radio {Rocky on Q107.5 & 96.1} and have an awesome internship with the I Love Memphis blog. In my wildest dreams, this blog will chronicle the journey from radio DJ & intern to the social media goddess and author I think I should be, but then I've been told I suffer from delusions of grandeur on occasion.

If not, I hope to at least be vaguely entertaining while I muse on motherhood, career aspirations and being a 23 year old housewife.