~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
{pretty}
After a week away from home (John at a course for work, Freddie and I with my family in Massachusetts), it was a relief to finally be back this weekend. On Sunday morning the boys let me sleep in while they took a walk; I woke up to a beautiful bouquet.
Right at 7pm, the sun reflects off the windows across the courtyard from us and shines straight onto the flowers.
{happy}
We went to the park with some St. Greg's friends today.
This is not just a park, but a park.
Freddie got to ride his first train (other than the Metro).
This one has a bridge, a tunnel, several crossings — pretty much a baby roller coaster! And my boy is nothing if not a thrill seeker–he leaned over, caught the breeze in his hair, and enjoyed every minute.
(He doesn't get this from me. I rode my first roller coaster at 26, and cried afterwards.)
Freddie's been crawling, cruising, climbing, and generally getting into everything for months now.
But even with a solid four months of intense cruising, he's been taking his time transitioning to walking. (He'll be eleven months next week. This is not ANYWHERE NEAR a concern.)
Today, though, he practiced standing at the park for a long time, then considerately waited till Daddy got home to take steps between us several times!
{funny}
{real}
Since we're talking about nursing on the blog this week, I thought I'd add this–just a quick visual of a convenient way to nurse a VERY squirmy baby in public. Freddie only recently started spacing nursing further than two hours apart (during the day).
I'm a homebody, but even I wasn't going to spend eleven months not leaving the house for more than an hour and a half at a time!
Of course, these days Freddie's very mobile, but he's really never been a calm nurser. He squirms constantly, grabs at me, my clothes, certainly any nursing cover I ever tried. But I love scarves anyway, and wear them all the time–I can just pull my shirt down a bit, let him nurse, and even let him play with the scarf. The scarf just gives me privacy, but doesn't cover his head, which I find preferable for both of us.
Here I guess he'd pulled the scarf off from around my neck — normally it's wrapped around me in the usual fashion –but you get the idea.
[inlinkz_linkup id=527941 mode=1]
Amy says
I love the fact that you have found a group of “friends with children” with whom to connect. When my kids were young we went to a play group which was a fancy word for a mommy support group. I am still friends with these ladies and the first of our group graduates next year.
Janet says
I am enjoying the weather here in NY. It is not humid the last few days so I have been thankful for that.
By the way, A bit of encouragement for you. Our daughter did not walk comfortably on her own until she was 18 months.
Have a beautiful day!
Margie says
So happy to see a post from Suki! Love all the daughters!!
chere mama says
I am with you on the roller coasters! I had to pretend to be really excited when one of my little guys wanted to try one for the first time. Their faces looked a lot like your little guy’s on the train. My face was green with a big fake smile as I shouted a little too loudly…”isn’t this FUN?” They have all loved speed and the wind in their hair. I prefer to wave from the ground now. Your little guy looks busy and fun.
Anastasia says
I love Suki posts. Your little guy is adorable, and trains… are they not the best? Also this encouraged me to finally do another PHFR, I haven’t managed a post in ages since my new baby arrived.
Ellen says
I took my brothers and their friends to Six Flags a couple of years ago, and so went on my first roller coaster at about 25 years old. It was one of the most dreadful experiences of my life. They looked at me afterwards and were like, “Ellen, ARE YOU OKAY???!!!” No, no, no. Nuh-uh. Definitely not.
Suki says
And it wasn’t even that so much that I was scared! It was just so darned UNPLEASANT. Why would you PAY MONEY to do that?!
Jenny says
When I was younger, I LOVED roller coasters! But then I had children and pregnancy broke me somehow. I now cannot tolerate a roller coaster. It makes me so ill. But I remember when I used to ride them with pleasure.
Rosemary says
I love scarfs for nursing in public! I haven’t even tried to use a cover for my twins (now 18 months old and still nursing). Also, one of them is STILL only cruising, and walking if you hold his hand … I think he just doesn’t want to walk until he’s 100% certain he won’t fall down. 🙂
Laura says
Wow, what a great park!
I love that nursing scarf. Looks much more ‘squirmy baby’ friendly than the cover I have.
Betsy M says
Love your pictures Suki. What wonderful men to get you flowers! Your nursing pictures are especially nice. I like to nurse with a scarf as well but need to figure out more outfits to go with scarves that are nursing friendly.
Suki says
Thanks, Betsy! Finding nursing friendly clothes is such a pain. I know all the principles of what to look for–loose fitting, crossover, button-down, etc.–but where to actually FIND these things? It is a mystery.
b says
Mom2Mom and rummage/consignment sales. Sometimes thrift/consignment stores also. Sometimes the big children’s consignment sales/stores (JBF, OUAC) will have maternity/nursing clothes but not always.
Ashley says
I agree! I’d love to wear more dresses but it’s especially hard to find a nursing-friendly dress.
Virginia says
Love the happy train face! The scarf is a great idea.
Mary says
Love the nursing pics…this baby is due any day and I do have some scarves though I’m not sure if using them during the humid summer weather to come will be crazy uncomfortable. Glad most of the places I go anyway are nursing friendly and hopefully I won’t have to worry too much about it!
Diana says
I did it…just a few minutes after midnight, but that’s ok, yes? It’s my first link up with you lovely ladies….thanks! Love your blog!
Leila says
Thanks for joining, Diana!
phfr is always open until the following Sunday night — so yes, it’s all good!
Annalisa says
I never thought about pulling my shirt down at the neck and using a scarf from the top. That’s much cooler for summer nursing than wearing a nursing tank underneath every day – even – when – it’s – so – hot. And it draws less attention to the fact that you’re nursing (if you’re concerned about that) than those nursing covers that babies hate and make you hotter anyway.
Suki says
Yes, I can’t stand the thought of always wearing two layers in the warm weather! And honestly, I don’t care much about drawing attention to the fact that I’m nursing (Freddie is very loud, we are never inconspicuous!), but I am much too vain not to care about people seeing my tummy!
Donna L. says
Hi Suki! What a wonderful post!
I have had two “Aerobic Nursers” so I totally understand the squirmy nursing sessions!
My Great Aunt said that it looked like I was “nursing a monkey” when I was nursing my first boy–he was twisting, wiggling, pushing making noise–it is rather a workout!
I found a nursing tank-top type of thing that hooks right on to your nursing bra—I loved that it covered my tummy and then I could simply wear my other button-up shirts over it–and they were so modest even in public areas…They are called: Undercover Mama covers…I bought one white and one black and pretty much lived in them when we were out of the house…I hope they still have them! Or maybe someone handy with a needle and thread could make some!
God bless you all!
Suki says
Haha, I’ve gotten the monkey comment as well! And my sister-in-law once said (very sweetly and jokingly) that she loved seeing Freddie and hearing him nurse.
I have seen those Undercover Mama tanks! In the cooler months I just wear a regular stretchy cami and pull it down, but I get very overheated wearing layers in the warm weather.
NY Mom says
Have you seen the “nursing Madonna” paintings or statues? They kind of blow my mind – I love the sacred confirmation of breast feeding and there’s little attempt to hide the mechanics of it all. Of course at the time of their creation, the artists were portraying a scene common and ubiquitous, well before puritanical restraints came into play. I often think in our time, we employ modesty and privacy more to protect against the modern corrupted perspectives of womanly beauty.
One of my sons was a highly distractable squirmy worm in my arms and I mistakenly and tearfully interpreted his disinterest for a signal to wean. That was at 9 months – quite early as my others nursed well into their second year. Now I know better and would love to bring back those days. Nursing is such a blessed and beautiful thing, even if your child wants to nurse in between constantly checking out the world behind him!
Josie says
Love the nursing pics, Suki! I don’t know why I hadn’t figured out the scarf trick . . . love it. Always a question of whether to pull the shirt up or down! Not to mention the time I was happy I had a cute dress to wear for Easter—so glad it fit!—before my mom was like: so what’s your plan for nursing in that one? No plan. Just taking off my clothes in the bathroom again.
Woman of the House says
Awwwww, Freddie is so adorable! Those big brown eyes melt my heart!
Ashley says
I use a scarf too, especially when we travel.
If you don’t mind sharing, I’d love to know what park you went to with the train. We are going to be in the area next week and my daughter is obsessed with trains (all big motorized things, really), so I’d love to take her. Feel free to email me the info. Thanks!
Caitlin says
late comment, but I love this! My little guy is VERY active also, at 6 months old. We call him a bag of snakes! Lovingy, of course…. And he must hold his foot, exactly like that, when he nurses. So funny!