Breastfeeding in Public, what is the BIG deal?

 I am breastfeeding my 5th child.  And thanks to all the media regarding breastfeeding currently, i.e. time magazine cover, I am once again self-conscious about breastfeeding in public. 

With #'s 2,3, and 4, I never gave it a second thought. 

As a new mom, 12.5 years ago, I was nervous every time I breastfed in public.  Didn't know what I was doing.  I was so self-conscious.  I still remember meeting my co-workers for lunch at Panera Bread to introduce them to my beautiful new baby boy.  He started fussing & man, was I stressed!  There were other employees from my company at the restaurant sitting nearby.  I thought "what if they see me?"  YIKES!  So I finished up & then went out to the mall area to nurse him.  Still nervous and uncomfortable about it.  At some point in that first year of motherhood, breastfeeding became, well NATURAL to me.  Because, afterall, breastfeeding IS natural.  It's what God intended for those lovely breasts on us ladies.

I breastfed #1 until he was around 15 months.  I proceeded to extend that time with each subsequent child.  #2 was just slightly more than #1, #3 was nursed until her 2nd birthday, and #4 was breastfed until he was nearly 3.  And I tell you what, I loved most every minute of it.  Oh sure, there were times that it was painful or a hassle.  I remember one time when one of the middles were old enough that I didn't have to nurse often in public.  It was Christmas Eve Mass and I wanted to wear my pretty black holiday dress.  Yes, a DRESS... I dont' get to do that much since I seem to be constantly breastfeeding.  But I decided to risk it. And warned DH that I would need his help blocking me, baby, and blanket if he decided to nurse mid-Mass.  And sure enough, he did....  I managed though.  I had a big blanket to cover up my legs... :-) 

It's easy to do.  I don't have to THINK about packing anything for my littles until they are eating too.  Even then, I sometimes forget & figure, well, at least they can nurse. 

However, since that article came out about nursing & subsequent discussions about people being anti-public-breastfeeding, I have found myself nervous at times when I have to nurse miss #5 in public!  I still do it, of course, but I kind of feel like a first time mom again with the nerves that I have going along with it.  I try to be modest, I have a big sheet with which I cover my little one.  However, she's a big girl and currently in that acrobatic nursing phase.  Those of you who have nursed longer than a year know what I am talking about...  The other day she was nursing on the couch & seriously was doing little somersaults...  Fine at home.  Not so fine if we are in a restaurant (which we rarely attempt) or church (which we do every week). 

Anyway, I am a happy breastfeeding mom.  I'm just thinking aloud here about the whole issue of breastfeeding in public.  It's my baby & I'll nurse if I want to  (to be sung to the tune of It's my Party and I'll cry if I want to)....

How did you grow up so fast?

Dear Nolan, how did you go from this to this to this

Potato Salad that the Kids LOVED

I have this recipe for Croatian Potato Salad that I have made a few times (again, recipe in Jill-speak is not an actual “recipe”…. but a method & throw together of ingredients). I went to make it yesterday & realized I was missing my key ingredient: BACON! So I had to improvise. I ended up making something that the kids were oohing & ahhing over… they have NEVER been that excited over potato salad…. So I must remember this.

Here’s my starting recipe for Croatian Potato Salad:

• Potatoes (peeled, cooked, cooled)
• EVOO
• Lemon Juice
• Big Bunch of Fresh Italian Parsley, chopped
• Approx 5 green onions, chopped
• Bacon Crumbled
• Salt, Pepper

• Ok, so that is YUMMY. What is not  when it has bacon in it???? However, due to the no bacon, here is what I did instead:

• Potatoes (peeled, cooked, cooled)
• EVOO
• Lemon Juice
• Fresh Italian Parsley
• Green Onions
• Grape Tomatoes
• Shredded Parmagian Cheese
• Salt &pepper

• It truly was a delicious modification & man, I do wish I had some leftovers today. I always have leftovers of potato salad… today I do not. That shows you how much the kids liked it!!!

3

I love fish tacos!

Something that is a sort of surprise "hit" in my house is Fish Tacos. Absolutely everyone LOVES them! In fact, there is never enough. There are just a few meals that have my kids begging for more and this is one of them.

 As I have said before, I am not a big recipe-following kind of cook. Many times I will use a recipe is a springboard. Then I just do what I want to it. So I do a few different things when I make fish tacos. I have had a few requests for my "recipe".... well, this is as close to a recipe as you will get.

•  Here goes: For the Fish::::: TILAPIA ----- I always start with tilapia which is a mild white fish. However, you can use any fish you like. Or shrimp. Yum. I have done shrimp before. Cut the tilapia into somewhat similar size pieces for even cooking. I have breaded the fish a few different ways: panko bread crumbs, flour, cornmeal (or a combination of any of those). Fry it up in a pan.... the last time I made it, I used coconut oil for the first time & I LOVED how it turned out. However, normally, I have just used either vegetable oil if I am deep frying or olive oil for pan frying. When the fish comes out, salt & pepper it.
• FOR THE TACOS::::: I love to heat up corn tortillas for fish tacos. To me these compliment the fish the best. I like to heat them up in a teensy, weensy bit of oil. However, you can use white flour tortillas or just plain ol' crunchy tacos.
• FOR THE GOODIES:::::: I make a "salad" of coleslaw mix (or shredded carrots & cabbage if you want to make your own), fresh cilantro, fresh tomatoes, black olives, corn, olive oil, fresh lime juice, salt, pepper. This is my basic salad mix to serve on the tacos. However, I have had to make alterations due to missing ingredients or other ingredients that we have that sound muey buena.
• FOR THE SALSA:::::: I love homemade salsa. This is another thing for which I do not follow an exact recipe. I start out with fresh tomatoes, fresh cilantro, lime juice, onion, fresh jalepeno, salt, pepper, garlic. I puree this in the food processor. I have added pineapple to it in the past. I have tried it with some peaches in it. Yum. Lots of options. Just play around with it until you like it.
• FOR THE GUACAMOLE:::::: To me a taco isn't a taco without avocado. I personally will just cut up an avocado & eat it with some salt & pepper on it. So it doesn't have to be made into guac for me to like it. The last time I made fish tacos, I actually just chopped up an avocado and chopped up a mango & put them together & voila, yummmmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyy. However, my basic guacamole is just avocado, onion, tomato, lime juice, salt, pepper, a little garlic.
• NOW PUT IT ALL TOGETHER!!!!!! I usually do not use cheddar cheese on my fish tacos. I love cheese, but these just do NOT need it. However, I will let the kids put some on theirs. You know kids &cheese.... That is it.... like I said, you can alter pretty much everything on here. I have made them sans fresh salsa & had to use a jar. I have mixed a little fresh spinach & iceberg lettuce into the salad. I have served it with sour cream, though really, again, this just does NOT need it. Ok, now the big question is, will this or won't this keep the formatting I have put in here... I am getting a LITTLE BIT angry every time I type something up on here & it doesnt' keep the formatting... So here.... we.... go.... PUBLISH

It's a Pasta Salad Time of Year

I almost took a picture of my lunch today because it looked so yummy & pretty. I should have. I didn't realize I would be writing a post. The more I thought about it though, I thought, "Dang, I should share that simple, delicious recipe"....

  This is the time of year that I make many pasta salads. I do this for a couple reasons. A) It's soccer season & we are busy & on the go & often have to come home at 7:30pm & I need dinner READY N.O.W.!! B) My fall/winter READY N.O.W. dishes don't sound as good this warm time of year, i.e. soups, casseroles, crockpot meals.

  Here is what I made last night. 2 pounds of macaroni (cooked in generously salted water) EVOO (as much as you like/need/want) Lemon Juice (see above EVOO) Real Bacon Bits or Crumbled bacon (the key is REAL (fabulous) not fake) again, whatever sounds good to you. Fresh Basil ( big handful, chopped) Fresh Cherry Tomatoes (or grape) 1 large container Fresh spinach (approx 5 ounces, chopped finely) Mozzerella cheese (would have loved to use buffalo mozzerella, but all I had was shredded regular) Parmesan Reggiano (shredded) Salt & pepper to taste So YUMMY... Yummy... yummy. This was eaten last night in the van at baseball practice. Yep, it is that time of year. So glad there were leftovers for today. BTW, pasta salads are super easy meal ideas for us on-the-go parents. You can pretty much add anything that sounds good. On Friday night, I made one that was more southwestern. It included the following: fresh cilantro, EVOO, lime juice, tomatoes, black olives, avocado, cheddar cheese (it needed some grilled chicken, but I didn't have any).

  Pretty much, anything I put in a pasta salad, the kids will eat. and it's easy. so that is a WIN/WIN....

My kids like ramen noodles... GASP!

Ok all you health nuts out there, go ahead and smack me.... (verbally, since we are just here online). My kids like, no actually, they LOVE ramen noodles. They request them (and receive them) about once per week. I know that there are a LOT more healthy options out there. However, my kids eat healthy most of the time. And truth be told, I like the effect that ramen noodles have on my wallet.

Anyway, sometimes I eat them with them. Occasionally, they sound kind of tasty to me as well. Not that often though. I had plenty of ramen during college. Sometimes I try to doctor them up though in order to make them more tasty.

  Here's what I did today & I must say that it was a hit. And even I LOVED them.... 1 package shredded carrots 1 small onion Coconut oil Approx. 1 T of peanut butter Lime Juice Fresh Cilantro 6 packages of Beef Ramen Saute the carrots & onion in the coconut oil. Add the cooked noodles, lime juice, seasoning packets, fresh cilantro. Voila! This seriously tasted like something from Noodles & Co (our family favorite!)

I, Melinda Jill, take you, Patrick, to be my husband.

"I, Melinda Jill, take you, Patrick, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."

Today is the anniversary of my marriage to my perfect husband. I'm not saying he is "perfect" perfect because let's face it, none of us are perfect. However, I know that God chose Patrick as my husband and he is perfect for me. We have faced many ups and downs during our marriage. I honestly believe we have come out stronger.

 Marriage is a sacament.

When Patrick and I married at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in Chicago 13 years ago, God joined us and the two became ONE. Without the grace that God has given our marriage, it would have been easy at times to let the "bad" overcome us. I'm so thankful for the Faith that Patrick brought to our home, to our marriage. He has shown me how important it is to turn to God, to pray "all the days of our lives".... Not just in the bad or the sickness, but in the good and in health. I think how much richer our marriage is because of our faith. I think of the example that we are providing for our children. I pray that they go out into the world and find a spouse who shares their faith, who will share the foundation that will strengthen their lives and their marriages. 13 years ago, dressed in white, filled with a nervous happiness, I walked down that aisle, Trumpet Voluntary playing, on the arm of my Dad. There at the end of that LONG aisle (St. Mary of the Angels is a BIG church) stood my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, and the husband that I thank God for every day. I can't really put into words just how blessed I am to have him. But I am SO, SO, SO truly, truly, truly blessed. I am so thankful that I get to spend my life with him. I love you Patrick.