Breastfeeding has been in the news here locally quite a bit this past week. It all started when a nursing woman was asked to cover-up or move while feeding her 5-month-old son by the wave pool at Elitch Gardens in Denver. Apparently some people at the pool complained that she was exposing herself. (Note: Nearly naked women walking around in skimpy bikinis is not offensive, but using your breasts for the purpose which they were intended is.) The woman knew that CO law (CRS 25-6-301, 25-6-302 (2004) recognizes the benefits of breastfeeding and encourages mothers to breastfeed. The law also allows a mother to breastfeed in any place she has a right to be. [SB 88]) protected her right to breastfeed anywhere she has the right to be and stated that to the employees, who then proceeded to get their supervisor and eventually the Denver police involved. Ultimately, she was able to feed her son, but only while being harassed the whole time and told it was “common sense” that she should cover up or move. Common sense to put a blanket over the baby’s head in 90 degree heat? Huh?

I feel so bad for this mom for having to deal with that for simply trying to feed her son. I applaud her for knowing her rights and not backing down despite them berating her.

I don’t understand the people who find a baby eating to be so offensive. If it honestly bothers them that much, why do they insist upon looking? Why not turn your head and look elsewhere?

Some local moms held a nurse-in at Elitch’s a few days after the incident, which also made headlines.

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On a more positive note, the other local breastfeeding event is the upcoming National Mile High Breastfeeding Celebration to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at the Auraria Campus in Denver. The event features family-friendly vendors, food, and entertainment for the whole family, as well as an attempt to set a national record for the most number of women breastfeeding at one time. The goal to surpass is 1,130 moms. Registration is required for participation in the record-setting event.

It sounds like a fun way to spend the day and support the cause, so me and the fam are going to head down there and hopefully help break the record. :) Anybody else local to Denver going to participate?

Stumble it!

Welcome to my Father’s Day edition of Best Shot Monday. :)

With the temps in the upper 90s, we spent the afternoon yesterday at the rec center pool. It was Julian’s first time in a pool and he seemed to enjoy himself, as well as his little fist which he chewed on the entire time. (Perhaps another tooth is in the works?) Ava went down the slide countless times and had no fear in the water. We need to sign her up for some swimming lessons. And Jody enjoyed cooling off in the water, while I enjoyed the impromptu photo shoot, and then the water as well. A good time was had by all. :)

Here’s my choice for BSM:
Don’t you love the mohawk that Jody sculpted on the buddy? His hair dried like that too. So cute! (Oh, and the chubby lil knee roll there too. Love the rolls.)

Here are some other pics from our afternoon:

Lastly, I want to share one of Jody’s Father’s Day presents. For the past two years, I’ve made him a storyboard of Ava holding letters to spell out “DADDY.” We did it again, but this year, of course, Ava had company. ;)

Be sure to click over to Picture This to see everyone else’s choices for Best Shot Monday.

Stumble it!