Pants-tastic

Thanks, mom, for Singer's magic pants!! They are the coziest, comfiest pants ever. Even though they don't look like anything special, they sure do keep his little diapered behind warm.

Bring it on, Philly winter!
--Jess

PS: John finally added another recipe to Dr. John's Recipe Corner. Check it out...it's a goodie.

TSA slapped my wrist...reprimanded for nursing

I'm so ashamed. TSA felt the need to embarrass me for breastfeeding in public. I'll never do it again.

NOT!!!!!

Below is a letter I wrote to Austin International Airport. This stigma against breastfeeding must stop. There is nothing more natural, and I plan to nurse whenever and wherever Singer needs to eat. I want to raise awareness about this incident. Please assist me in spreading the word, and feel free to contact me for details. It won't get easier to breastfeed unless we educate.

On the morning of October 12, 2010, my husband and I were traveling home to Philadelphia from Austin, Texas with our five-month-old son. At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport the line to the security checkpoint was completely backed up, and passengers were waiting over an hour to walk through the metal detectors.

I could tell our son was hungry and wanted to nurse, but we were stuck in line for at least another twenty minutes. I asked a nearby TSA officer if I could bypass the line to get through so that I could nurse, but he said no. So, my only other option was to nurse while standing in line. I was wearing a cardigan and nursing tank, and my son's body was positioned so that the majority of my breast was covered. I would wager that no one around us had any clue that I was nursing.

When we reached the security checkpoint where a female TSA officer was checking IDs and boarding passes, my son was almost finished nursing. The officer asked me to quit nursing until I reached the other side of security where I could find a restroom to nurse in because "the other passengers aren't used to seeing something so inappropriate". I was shocked by her demanding tone of voice, but I replied calmly, "there is nothing inappropriate about feeding my baby". She then threatened me by saying that if I did not stop nursing she would call someone to assist me. I have no idea what she meant by this ultimatum, but fearing that we would miss our flight, I unlatched my son from my breast and walked through security without any further conflict.

My husband and I were furious at being called "inappropriate" by an authority figure whose job was to monitor the airport's security. How my breastfeeding infant was a cause for TSA involvement, I will never understand.

In Philadelphia, families traveling with infants are ushered through a separate security line. I have never had any issues with TSA in Philadelphia International Airport.

By sending this email, I simply wish to raise a flag.

Heated,
Jess

Singer in the city & my 28th birthday

We went hunting for a secret flea market in Queen Village (my favorite Philly neighborhood!!), and when we finally found it, Singer pooped and we had to go back to the car because I forgot the diaper bag.

Oh well, we got some cute pics on the way.

This five-month-old is really loving his city. After all, he's a natural born Philadelphian.
He had his first cold this week, which was no fun. But, Singer's been a trooper, and hopefully he'll get better soon.

Also, we were supposed to have friends over for dinner, but baby boy's cold made us change our plans. John brought home Birthday Pad Thai instead. It was delish!!



Gotta a feelin' 28 is gonna be a good year,
Jess

Yard Sale blues...

Whoa whoa! I've got the yard sale blues! Yeah, I said I got the yard sale bluuuuueeess!!

So, nothing is worse than dragging a ton of stuff out to the park across the street, setting up tables, making cute cardboard YARD SALE signs, and smiling at total strangers, then counting your day's earnings to total $30. What a bummer! I'm no closer to my stroller.

We'll probably spend the money on subway tokens and a pizza splurge from City Pizza. But, on the upside, City Pizza has the most incredible Hawaiian pie I've ever tasted! Looking forward to that :)

It's actually funny how "yard sale" means something completely different in Philly than it does in Texas. In Texas, "yard sale" means someone is moving or getting rid of a lot of really great stuff, and you better get there early or the goodness will be gone! In Philly, "yard sale" means don't look those crazy people selling stuff on the curb in the eye--they might be on drugs.

Lesson learned,
Jess

I'm obsessed...

with THIS stroller!


One of the mom's in my playgroup has it, and I'm coveting. The canopy is so huge and shades her whole bambino, it's a jogger--good traction, good movement, good shocks for a crazy urban world that Singer and I daily brave, and the whole stroller weighs less than 17 pounds!! It folds up super easy, and I think it would be perfect for the subway.

My plan: have a yard sale, sell a ton of stuff that is cluttering up my life, and then buy the City Mini!

We'll see...

Feeling a little materialistic,
Jess

A little nostalgic...

We went to Assateague Island this past weekend with our friends Chris and Shelby. We were camping in Ocean City, and I nearly peed my pants when I realized that THE Assateague Island from the Misty books (that Grama Frieda used to read to me) was right next door.

We hopped across the bridge, and I was holding on to a glimmer of hope that we would see the wild horses. A lady in the bathhouse at the camp ground told me that I probably wouldn't see any--apparently people go years and years without seeing any horses. Plus, it was raining so our chances were even slimmer.

photo by Shelby Stanhope

WE SAW HORSES!!!!!!!

It was so amazing. They were completely peaceful and content with their surroundings. I wanted to cry.

Remembering the way those horses used to make me feel,
Jess