A Costume Search ‘Out of this World’

Halloween costumes. There they were in the store this week… hanging by the dozens: superheroes, princesses and members of the Paw Patrol. My little guy wanted “this one” and “that one”. I was able to curb the begging with one question.

Me: “What do YOU want to be for Halloween?”

Little guy: “Rocket!”

Uh oh.

Halloween 2012

I made his first ever Halloween costume. A photo from Pinterest and a trip to the fabric department, later… he was the butter to my popcorn. I actually loved spending my Friday nights cutting the felt and stringing the popcorn to his little hat.

The office was in for a real treat when we showed up. I was dressed as a movie usher. White shirt and red bow-tie while carrying my little bucket of joy. At 7 months old, he couldn’t do anything but wear it.

2013 was a little more interesting.

Halloween 2013

I couldn’t quite decide on one costume: so I chose three. Clark Kent cost nothing. I used things we already had around the house: Superman t-shirt, white dress shirt and Daddy’s tie. He was the hit of a community Halloween festival. The Strong Man consisted of five things from the Dollar Tree: fake mustache, dust pan (for the handle), black balloons, tattoo sleeves and Wite Out. I took him trick-or-treating at a nursing home, just like my mom did when I was young. And finally, I paid $3 for the Slice of Pizza. Check thrift stores in August or September for great costume deals. He wore that costume at an event held by businesses in our neighborhood.

No tricks in 2014… he was afraid of costumes.

From eBay

Now that he’s 3, my little one wants to pick his own. So he’s choosing what could likely be Mommy’s most difficult mission… Little Einstein’s Pat Pat Rocket.

Disney hasn’t sold it in years… and the prices on eBay are a little steep.

Wish me the best in my search! He doesn’t even eat candy.

This will certainly be a Halloween to remember.

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What’s So Funny? Breastfeeding Edition

I’m not sure what’s so funny… but until you’re a mother, you have no idea about the importance of what I’m talking about. -Me

Breastfeeding is taboo in the workplace… and today I tackled the subject like a linebacker during the state championship game. Don’t mess with Momma. The topic came up because the local hospital opened a Milk Depot – a breast milk donation bank for premature babies. The subject garnered lots of laughter.

Why on earth would there need to be a donation bank for breast milk? Who would let their child drink someone else’s milk? Why can’t the mother breastfeed her own baby? What… there’s a support group for breastfeeding? -Collegues

I looked around the room at who I was talking to: 2 baby boomers and 4 millennials. It’s time to get personal with you. What they don’t know is that I gave birth to a baby so big that the nurses said, “Congratulations, you gave birth to a 3-month old!” They don’t know that my milk didn’t come in right away; that we had problems latching or that a lactation nurse snatched a bottle of formula out of my baby’s mouth and threw it in the trash. I left the first support group that I attended in tears, after a new mother told me that I wasn’t trying hard enough.

My body ingested lots of water, lactation cookies and Mother’s Milk tea. I eventually found a group of supportive women who share stories, tips and sit in a circle… nursing without judgement. The new Mommies meet weekly at a church and populate a private group on Facebook. They understand the struggle and they offer advice. I wasn’t able to exclusively breastfeed. I went back to work full-time, but I squeezed out every last drop that I could for 6 whole months.

So, while it may sound funny that there are women out there who donate their breast milk — to a preemie, or adoptive parent, whatever — just know, there’s lots of love in that decision. And if you’ve been frustrated or fruitful at nursing your baby… good job Momma, just go with the flow.

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Doctors recommend donated breast milk be screened before baby’s consumption.