Anyone that knows me or reads this blog knows that I am seriously pro-breastfeeding. Not the nursing nazi “you must breastfeed or your child will suffer serious consequences” kind but one who advocates heavily for openness, education and to at least give it the old “college try”. I mean – you stretch yourself to oblivion to have the baby, and your milk is going to come in regardless, so you might as well stick it out for a month or two. Any breastfeeding is better than none. (Please note, that is you are physically unable to breastfeed because of adoption, cancer, or any other reason that is completely different and this doesn’t apply [nor should it]).

So how is it that something that is is free, natural and “the best” for your baby something that comes under fire all time? The ads that I see make it so easy to just say, oh forget about breastfeeding, I can just buy formula and it does the same thing. No it doesn’t, and its so disheartening to see so many ads for formula and none for breastfeeding. I realize that marketing and advertising (the same industry that butters my bread I know) is paid by companies who produce formula, and its not like myself and a bunch of other breastfeeding mothers have the capital to advertise like formula companies do, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating. Breastfeeding should be promoted just as much, if not more (personally I vote for more) than formula.

Well, I’m happy to say that those long sleepless nights and wide eyed, deer-in-the-headlights look are gone. At least for the moment. This year has been a whirlwind of baby, baby and more baby. The milestones my little family has marked every month astonish me, and I couldn’t be happier to call the hubby and Baby R my own. Not everday is a fun day, but even the worst of days leave us smiling. There’s usually nothing a smile from Baby R or a squeeze from the hubby won’t fix.

My little girl is a toddler now – hard to imagine that just 13 months ago she was a little lump who cried, pooped and nursed a million times a day. Now she is a stubborn, independent, smiling little blondie with a knack for wrapping Daddy her around her finger and saying uh oh whenever she drops something over her highchair – on purpose.

My darling little daughter wants absolutely nothing to do with drinking milk out of a sippy cup. She’s a pro at the actual physical ability, but when she finds out its milk and not water or juice coming out she opens her mouth and lets it run all over. Awesome.

Now, in fairness, we did try on multiple occasions before the last few weeks to give her milk out of a sippy cup, but she refused so I though she just needed time. Cue “bonehead” sign above my head.

A friend of mine told me it was hell on earth getting her son from the bottle to the cup, so I’m cringing thinking about Baby R still being bottle obsessed in six months. Weaning her from nursing hasn’t been a problem, in fact, just yesterday she finally took a bottle from me. The first time ever. If I was around she wanted the boob, not the bottle. So it seems my stubborn little babe is very particular.

I’m on the 4th type of sippy cup this week, and my nanny wants me to get the kind of cup  the other little girl has because sometimes Baby R will drink from that one. Great. Another $5 bucks to shell out for a STUPID CUP.

I’m sure there will be lots of tears (on my part?!) in this process, and so much for my “smart” thinking on getting this process started early.

But, getting back to my original thoughts. This modest girl, this beautiful, smart fabulous chick who won’t let anyone see her naked – WANTS A BOOB JOB! Yes, a boob job. I don’t get it, why does someone who covers up all the time, want a boob job? Isn’t a breast enhancement going to draw attention to her chest? I’m flat as a pancake, and if I was suddenly carrying around some C sized melons, people would definitely notice.  So I’m a little curious as to why she so desperately wants bigger boobs. And, I’m not lying or being nice by saying she’s beautiful, smart and fabulous – she really is  – and very accomplished. So, forgive me saying it but WTF?

If someone is extremely modest – to the point where I think she’s actually uncomfortable in her own skin – why would she draw attention to herself with new knockers? Please explain. And, for the record, seeing my boobs after nursing, I might just sign up to get a new pair too.

So hubby and J go to pick up his car, and he ends up talking them down in price and release his car for a lot less than it would have been without the sweet talking. He also gets into a conversation about towing at Harris Teeter and the tow truck driver – who was the SAME guy who towed me – says that towing at Harris Teeter is on hold right now because some lady made a stink about it. Now, at this point in the story, I cannot help but laugh (along with my husband) because both he and J just looked at the guy and said, really? Too bad. The guy had NO idea that J and my hubby were part of that issue.

So, apparently, my complaint is actually changing things. And that is very nice to hear.

After my summer pool fiasco, and not being able to get Baby R + her stroller into the neighborhood pool, I had taken a break from thinking about all things related to warm weather, sun, and water. It is, after all, the middle of winter, and thinking about warm weather will only torture my ghostly pale physique. So imagine  my surprise when I get an email from the city, complete with picture (!) of the brand new doorbell and handicap access sign at the entrance to the pool! YAY!! SO awesome!

Although my battle was kind of a pain (I admit, I really don’t like confrontation, though it might seem otherwise on here) it was SO worth it. Hopefully this summer, and subsequent ones, no one will have to struggle to get into the pool because they are either in a wheelchair, or pushing a stroller. Big thanks to Ralph at the City of Alexandria for helping me out, and really listening as to why it was important that everyone, no matter their capability, have access to the pool. I’m super excited to go push that doorbell in June. BTW – as you can see from the picture – this post is LONG overdue!

And while I may have used the term assholes to describe those involved in the situation, which as my Mother so nicely pointed out to me, was not how I was raised and cast a cloud over my otherwise well written post; at least I did not assault anyone over it. Though my hubby did do an epic job of assaulting our car mirror.

On Saturday, January 1, 2011, my husband and I went to Harris Teeter in Potomac Yard to do some grocery shopping. We purchased some products, and left to visit friends who live above Harris Teeter, in a condo complex managed by Armstrong Management. We have been told on multiple occasions, by Armstrong Management that parking at Harris Teeter was allowed until 12pm. We intended to finish our grocery shopping after our dinner, and when our baby daughter had fallen asleep so we didn’t believe it would be a problem as we were patronizing Harris Teeter – and not only once that night, but twice. However, when we returned at about 9:50pm our car was gone from the Harris Teeter parking lot.

We went inside to ask the Allied Barton security guard (her name was Tiana G.) if she had seen anything, and she replied no, but perhaps the car had been towed. She was then asked if she had authorized the towing. Again, she replied no, she did not have that authority. We went upstairs to ask the management company if they had the car towed. The reply was no, they did not tow cars from the Harris Teeter parking lot. However, he did know the towing company used by Harris Teeter, and called them to verify that our car had been towed. We returned to Harris Teeter to relay this information to the assistant manager on duty, Rudy, said to come back in the morning and that the store manager would be able to assist us with who had our car towed, and that is should not be a problem to be refunded our $115.

Once we retrieved our car, by driving to a dark and seedy area (with our infant daughter in the car) we were told by the towing operator that they were given authorization, and showed us proof of signature. I was appalled to discover that the Allied Barton security guard, who is contracted by Harris Teeter (as told to me by the assistant manager Jay Tracy) had authorized the tow, even though she had denied to my face that she had the ability to do that. I returned to Harris Teeter and asked her about it, and again, she denied that she had authorized A-1 Towing to tow my car, but acknowledged it was her signature.

The next day, Sunday, January 2, 2011, I spoke with Jay Tracy, the assistant manager, and he told me in no instances does Allied Barton have the authority to tow my car. Nor did Harris Teeter authorize my car to be towed via Allied Barton and A-1 Towing. He also said that while unfortunate, he could not help with any satisfaction towards getting our money returned – a direct contradiction of what the assistant manager the night before had told us.

I am extremely disappointed and very angry that 1. Harris Teeter towed my car when I am, and have been for a while now, a loyal customer; 2. Harris Teeter did not authorize the security guard to tow my car, yet she did it anyway, and then lied about it 3. Harris Teeter employs unethical and rude contract workers 4. Their workers are extremely uninformed as to protocol and who has authorization to tow; whether it’s the management company or Harris Teeter or Allied Barton Security. 5. The predatory towing practices of the A-1 Towing company that Harris Teeter has contracted with and finally, the unresponsiveness that Harris Teeter has shown to my complaint.

I have spoken with Armstrong Management and they stated to me that they do not contract with A-1 Towing to tow cars from the Harris Teeter parking lot, because in Harris Teeter’s lease agreement the parking lot is controlled by Harris Teeter. Why then was Allied Barton who was not authorized, as told to me by Jay Tracy of Harris Teeter, the company that towed my car? Every company involved in this is blaming another company, and it’s extremely frustrating as a loyal customer. It’s unconscionable that a company says I can only park for two hours to do my shopping (with a baby that is sometimes extremely difficult) and then when that’s over tells me that they have no idea who towed my car, but that they did not authorize it, and don’t know who did. This has been a horrible experience.  

We shall see if they say anything. As of now, it’s still quiet.