Tattooed Mamas FTW

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I got my first tattoo when I was 18 or 19. I was still living at home and had to pay my sister $5 to not tell my parents. And now, my parents have way more tattoos than I do. Tattoos have totally gone mainstream.

And am I bemoaning that fact? Am I a tattoo snob? Hell no! I love tattoos, on any and everyone. They're beautiful, meaningful, make a statement and are personal. Sure, there are a hell of a lot of crappy ones out there (hello, Ugliest Tattoos) but I think they are a great thing.

I know, I know. You don't think a tattoo will look good on your skin when you're 70 (psst... nothing will look good at 70, sorry). You don't like any image enough to have it permanently on your skin. There are lots of reasons people always give to not tattoo- but here's the thing:

So, without further ado, here are my tattoos.

Shoulder, left

Left ankle.

Chest, right (cover up of my first 2 tattoos)

Shoulder, right. 

And if you're not on Twitter, you are fortunate to have missed my hours long whiny #tattootweet fest as  I got my Mother's Day present. I H.A.T.E. getting tattoos- it hurts. If you haven't gotten one, it feels like exactly what it is- a needle stabbing you a million times and being dragged over your skin. It's not fun. Thank you so much to my Twitter pals for keeping me company. I really appreciated it!

So, what about you? Do you tattoo? I'd love to see- leave your links in the comments below!

I'm Comin' Out- World Breastfeeding Week

Tweet I have been thinking about "The Breastfeeding Post" for a while now. I knew it had to come, sooner or later. I've been hesitant- breastfeeding isn't something I discuss much. I don't like being judged by the Judgey McJudgersons out there, and I don't like receiving hate mail either (from this ill-fated post). So I've decided to just be quiet about my milk-making. Enjoy it and not talk about it, so I don't have people trying to send me on Dr. Phil for it. I hate Dr. Phil, by the way. But that's beside the point. (Although worth mentioning, I feel.)

I am Not Blessed Mama, and I have been proudly making milk for the last ten years.


Yup, you read that right- ten damn years. It all started with Spawn#1 back in April 2001. He was a great nurser- I feel so lucky to have had him give me a good start. And then I just kept going and going, like a lactating Energizer bunny. I've nursed through two pregnancies and tandem nursed after each of them. I've nursed in virtually every conceivable position and situation. On a train, on a plane, on a boat, on a goat. Well, not really on a goat- but you get it.

All of my kids have been 4 years old when they've stopped nursing. Yup, you read that right as well- over 4 years old. Sadly, my kids nursing careers didn't come with an expiration date, so we just quit when we were done. I know a lot of society doesn't get it, and they judge. And I hate those Judgey McJudgersons more than even Dr. Phil. Because something so beautiful, natural, wonderful and kick ass should not be judged. All mothers make the best choices for their own kids, and should never be judged because of it. Just as I would never judge a mother for formula feeding, I expect the same respect.

I'm coming to the end of my nursing career. Spawn#3 is nearing 4 and a half, and that's quittin' time for me. Sometimes I wonder what my life will be like when the milk is gone- how can I possibly be the same person? Heaven knows these old girls need a rest, but still. It's hard to imagine. Breastfeeding has been such an important part of our lives, it's gonna be hard to see it go.

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, I would like to send my love out to all the breastfeeding moms out there.You are beautiful, awesome, wonderful women doing the best that you can for your babes. You deserve recognition! I wish I could give you something (Look under your chair! You get a car! And you get a car! Just kidding, you probably only have dustbunnies)- but all I can offer is my admiration, respect and support. Whether you nursed for 2 years, 2 months or 2 minutes, I salute you.

Pic courtesy of Dr Momma

{this moment}

Tweet *A Friday ritual, inspired by Soule Mama. Insert sappy sentiment here blah blah blah.*

Should this make me nervous?

Gone, But Not Forgotten

Tweet Well, I'm actually not dead, so that may not be appropriate. Hello, my dear mama friends! I am sorry that I have gone MIA like that. Really, you deserved better. I hope you'll forgive me. The holidays sort of took over and it has been a while since I even opened my poor laptop. It's got abandonment issues now, and the other day I caught it trying to attack the iPhone. 
This week I had a really great idea. My parents got me some laminate flooring, and my Dad and I installed it. Because really, why wouldn't home improvement projects be a great idea right after Christmas? I am full of glorious ideas!
This was my house this week:

So hopefully you can forgive my absence. I appreciate your understanding. 


It's been tough lately, I tell ya. 
Just look what I found in the bathroom. 

 I'll be back in 2011, I promise, my dears. Not Blessed Mama has missed you. 
Happy New Years to you all. 

Wordless Wednesday... And A Few Words

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Anyone have a rake?

And a few hours?

Happy Fall!

Where Do You Belong?

Tweet I gotta tell you about something that's been bothering me, my dear mama friends. At home I am the classic mama martyr- doing everything for everyone else, tirelessly, ignoring or postponing my own needs. You know the drill. The thing that bugs me is that I don't have any place of my own in our house. I don't have it decorated how I would like- I'd have to say our style is Ikea-HandMeDown-Cheap. We don't own the house either so we can't do too much to it, although I have painted a little. Since we co-sleep and I'm constantly nursing a babe at night, I bed hop to which ever room happens to need me (with a nursling in tow). So the master bedroom isn't really mine- we have no office to make a computer corner- the living room has Taco Bell lights in it. My stamp just isn't anywhere. Well, my friends might argue that the kitchen is mine- it's decorated in Hello Kitty stuff. But I didn't buy any of that stuff (even though I do love it)- and let's face it, the kitchen is a torture chamber of endless chores not somewhere you can relax and enjoy yourself. 

But upon reflection, there is one place I really love. And here it is. 

It's my hammock. A good friend gave it to me when she was leaving town a few years ago, and she has no idea how much joy this simple thing has given me. I nurse my little guy in it. I read in it. I snuggle my big kids in it, and tell them that I will squash them if they dump us out. I watch the kids screaming "LOOK AT ME MOM!" on the trampoline in it. I chat with friends, play with my iPhone, and listen to the breeze in it. It's big, orange, and comfy. And this is the view:

And finally, the people in the hammock:

So, where do you belong?

I took these pictures with the Hipstamatic app for the iPhone, which has to be one of the coolest apps ever. It isn't free, but it's awesome.