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. 

Late Night Take Out and Other Things I'll Miss About Being Pregnant

If we happen to be friends on facebook, you'll know how impatient I am for this nameless little girl to be born. However, I really do love being pregnant and have been blessed with two easy pregnancies so there are a few things I'll miss.

The Food

While I don't think a pregnancy is license to eat anything and everything (Jessica Simpson, take note) it's definitely a pretty good excuse to give into cravings you normally wouldn't (like ordering take-out curry noodles late on a Tuesday night).

Baby Kicks

Yes, your baby will kick and turn over and smile and do way more stuff once it's out in the world but then it will be for everyone to see. The baby kicks during pregnancy are just for the mama (especially in my case since it freaks out my husband) and i love them.  

Time Alone

I have a three year old and a husband so my time alone is fairly limited but I do have some. Adam goes to work, Reed goes to school and every now and again I sneak off for a pedicure and a chick flick all alone. With little girl arriving fairly soon, I won't have any time alone for a good long while. Of course, once she's actually old enough for me to leave and partake of said pedicure and matinee, I'll probably be so emotional that I won't enjoy it (the first time anyways. Emotions fade and my toes need some love).

My Big Ole Belly
In a few weeks or so I'll only be down a few pounds but it won't be nearly as adorable. As hard as it is to dress a pregnant belly, it's even harder to dress a postpartum body, particularly if you're breastfeeding. 

I'm sure in the weeks and months after this little girl makes her arrival, I'll be nostalgic for other things about my pregnancy but for now, I can't wait to meet her. 

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!