Big Boobs Blog

October 28, 2014October 28, 2014 / Dee / 10 Comments

In the first trimester of my fourth pregnancy, something happened.

My boobs ballooned to ludicrously large and have not returned to any semblance of normalcy.

My gorgeous girl and I in Sydney when I was 24 weeks pregnant.

The absolute largest nursing bra I have been able to get my hands on in regular retail outlets is a 14HH and I spill out of that even.

This may help give a sense of scale, as I am 7 months pregnant in this pic, and I do believe each of the ta-ta twins are about the same size as my belly. Sigh.

I’m sick of them. I’m sick of feeling like a I’d be more comfortable in a circus freak-show than at the supermarket, as even trips out of the house result in gawks and whispers, particularly if I am not carrying the baby as an explanation to my watermelon sized appendages.

This is the picture that started it all… Grumpy took a snap of James looking particularly cute, and I realised that one of my breasts was about the same size as my 7KG son. Sigh again.

Visits to friends and family who have not seen me in a few months ALWAYS result in comments of concern, surprise or astonishment. Some of my favourites include:

“Oh my word, they are even bigger in person.”

“HahahahahhahahHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHHHHHAHHAHAHAAAA!!!!”

“I know you keep saying you’re fat, but surely carrying a couple of things that are clearly bigger than a human head in front of you can’t be helping.”

“That’s just not right.”

There’s an extensive list of comments and quips regarding my sweater huskies (I can’t say sweater puppies as a euphemism here, as puppies can be tiny) and most of the time, I find it genuinely amusing and am glad people make light of them.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel as our sweet baby James has opted to start solids, which means my days of cluster feeds and distended, engorged, gargantuan ta-tas are numbered!

So this experience often makes me ponder the puzzle of people’s pleasure pillows.

Women the world-over, spend time comparing and contemplating their own and other women’s breasts.

Breast augmentation is far and away one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries the world over.

Meanwhile, there are women like myself that are genuinely tired and in my case, even a little embarrassed by the size of their bosoms.

So, as is often the case with my meanderings, I am not entirely sure what I am trying to communicate with you today.

What I will say, is this: As women, particularly child bearing women, our bodies are in a constant state of flux. I think we should all work a bit harder to accept ourselves and our bodies. Creating, growing, and continuing to nurture a tiny human with our body is nothing short of miraculous. It comes with a whole range of strange and surprising side affects and changes to our bodies and our minds. I just think we all ought to celebrate the many different shapes and sizes of women around the world pre and post partum, because we are all beautiful, and it is the differences that make us interesting and unique.

If you are a woman reading this, know that you are gorgeous. Whether you have or have not embarked on the breeding, embrace your boobs and your bum and all the bits, because they make up you, and I can assure you that you are truly beautiful. But the most beautiful thing about you is the kindnesses and quirks that cannot be seen with the naked eye. The thoughts and experiences that make you the amazing miracle you are is alluring to those who you have chosen to be close to you as you journey through the days and this life. So say it with me ladies:

“I am beautiful, I am strong, I am amazing and I am getting better and better through all my trials and triumphs!”

And, if you are a man, take the time to genuinely compliment (tactfully, and not lasciviously please) some of the women in your life today. A kind and candid compliment can change the trajectory of our day, and we need to hear more supportive stuff from you guys.

That is all.

Friday, Friday, Having a Tiny Exhaustion Induced Meltdown on Friday… Thank Heavens for Long Weekends!

October 23, 2014October 23, 2014 / Dee / Leave a comment

So it is nearly 10:00am.

Sweet baby James woke his trade mark half a dozen or so times last night, and because he was so thirsty he filled his diaper, it soaked through, and co-sleeping mamma bear me groggily placed an extra sheet down and slept in the wet patch. Don’t judge me. Most parents have done this, and trust me, you’ll do the most amazing things in order to steal a precious few extra minutes of sleep. And it is easier to change the bed now that he is asleep in his hammock and I don’t have a beautiful Hobbity husband snoring soundly beside me.

So, I should be getting ready to go to the personal trainer with Grumpy because, well, I am a chubster and something must be done. I am also exceptionally fond of both the ladies who train us and seeing them is a genuine treat.

This is Jody holding James. She is more than a personal trainer, she is a close family friend. Her and her daughter also take care of James when Grumpy and I go out on Date night, I am so lucky to know them, let alone have them as trainers! Contact me if you’re keen to get training with her, she may have a couple of spaces left…

Linda is AMAZING and will be competing in the world bodybuilding comps in the Gold Coast in a few short weeks! She’s very nice, smart, kind and funny too. Although I haven’t known her for the more than a decade I have known Jody, she is a firm friend and it is an honour and pleasure to spend time with her, in or out of the gym 🙂

I’d also intended completing a guest list, several work documents, an event budget, chasing up a large debt and nailing down a meeting with the elusive debtor, following up on completing my post-grad study, and setting up a Facebook event for the Halloween party we’ll host here this year completed by this time this morning. Oh, also need to hire a skip for garden waste, check up on our rental baches, read and sign off several quotes for various maintenance and start hunting down someone to build a fence, planter boxes, and a chicken run, and then another person or company to wash the houses and clean the gutters. Jeepers. It looks like a lot when your write it all down. Eep.

Somewhere among all of this there are after school activities, reading, snuggles, walks, cooking, yelling, swearing, shopping for groceries and all the other components of child rearing, or, in our case, herding a rather large tribe of children through the days and weeks together.

Today, for the first time this week, I did not wake the children and chase them around the house to pack their lunch and get ready for school. I did not make Grumpy his coffee, I did not sit in bed trying to work while the kids brushed their teeth and I did not take the tribe to school and daycare. Today: I. Just. Slept. In.

Sleeping in… Hubby kindly took a snap to share with you 🙂 Gosh I Love bed…

I’m up now and I just had to share the thoughts and gratitude with you as the week draws to a close and New Zealanders go off on a much needed holiday weekend. I urge you all to relish the time, drive safely, breath deeply and rest and rejuvenate, because gosh darn it, we grown ups deserve it!

I know there are single parents, amazing caregivers, hard working couples, and people who are struggling through hectic schedules every day, not because they choose to as I do, but because they have to in order to keep a roof over head and shoes on their feet. And with that thought, I am re-energised. As soon as I have posted this I’ll be calling my business partner and bounding up to give ‘er heck through another day.

I complain about Grumpy an awful lot, but only because he can be a pretty big jerk. The flip side of that is that he is honest, loyal, fair, supportive, funny, kind, passionate about many of the same things as I am, and once in a while he steps up and takes over so I can have a morning like this. We’ve got a fair whack of stuff to do this weekend, so spending the entire time at the bach unplugged is not on the cards, but we will be there for as long as we can manage and come back rejuvenated and recharged.

My baby girl is heading up with her bestie and their family to Pahia for the duration. It is the first time I’ve left any of my babies in the care of anyone other than my mother for more than an overnighter. I am certain she will have a ball, and I can honestly say I had the click with the mother, who shares a great deal of good and bad characteristics with me. I know she’s in good hands, and it means we are down to three Hobbits from four this weekend.

So, whatever you are doing, wherever you are going, travel safely, take it easy, and enjoy removing yourself from your own brand of chaos and/or routine if you are able to do so.

I wish you well on your journey today and every day.

Off to get some work done now. Feeling way better after writing this all down. Thanks for reading!

Why do We Gossip?

October 23, 2014October 23, 2014 / Dee / 2 Comments

Gossipy Gerties… They’re everywhere, in every demographic, age group, country, class and creed. So why do we gossip?

Why do people talk about people? We all do it. Even those who are the sweetest, smartest and strongest in character and conviction have a vent about someone or something now and again. There does seem to be a fairly strong and interesting correlation between clever and content people NOT engaging in gossip or smack talk, and rather building others up even in their absence. We all ought to engage more in the building and less in the tearing down.

Excellent observation!

So where was I going with this?

Oh yes.

It is no secret that I can be pretty judgmental, in positive and negative lights. I form very strong ideas, feelings, and opinions about people and things. I do not suffer fools and if I feel wronged by someone or disagree with their actions they’ll almost certainly know about it. Perhaps that’s why I am not often surprised when it gets back to me that people have been saying vile or mean things behind my back.

What goes around comes around I guess. And frankly, the chances are, I probably earned some of the smack talk. Then, again, I’ve been handed back some pretty malicious and cruel words and thoughts from the mouths and hearts of people who I thought were friends, or at least on my side as I was on theirs. Those instances hurt. But the sting is softened by the army of advocates who speak kindly of me as I do of them. Kind and true words make everyone feel better and stronger. Being a jerk about someone behind their backs is just going to make the person dishing out the negativity look bad in the long run.

The truth also comes out in the wash. People will believe the lies and embellishments of fools or meanies for a time, but the truth and a person’s character will shine through.

True douchebags can be well admired and supported for a time as well, but again, the general talk about them will change when the truth about their dark dealings, dubious decisions or distinct douchebaggery finally comes to light.

Mean spirited or nasty people may be admired and spoken well of for a time, but the way they treat others and the way they act will be noticed and one day their reign of BS will end. No need to speak ill of them, they will seal their own fate.

So why do people talk about others? Why do haters hate and spend precious time and energy dragging other people’s reputations through the mud by saying mean or hurtful things behind their backs?

Well, in my 30 odd years of passive research on this matter, I’d say it could be owing to a number of things. Here’s some of them:

Jealousy
Insecurity
Boredom
They are just mean
You did something gossip worthy, out of character or dumb, and people talk about it because it makes them feel better
They just do not like you.

I’m aiming to keep my thoughts a bit more brief and succinct, so I shan’t unpack each of these points too much.

Perhaps the vast majority of gossip is just entertainment. But none of us find it very entertaining when we are the subject of other people’s chatter. So think about that before or as you engage in mean or hurtful gossip. Also think about what the person dishing dirt to you may be saying while you are absent.

So I shall endeavor in earnest to speak kindly of others and not engage in mindless or inane gossip about people I do or do not know. I’ll try and get back to you on how it goes. I am guessing it should pan out rather positively, for me and the people I am either not talking about, or speaking fondly of.

Have a great rest of the week.

Thanks for reading!

Breastfeeding Around The Globe

October 1, 2014October 2, 2014 / Dee / 5 Comments

Okay. So in the long standing tradition of over-sharing, I have now spent 9 weeks taking selfies and random pics of feeding fourth and final child in various locations around the globe. From Auckland to Andalucia I have demand fed this almost insatiable little Hobbit.

I will spare you further pontificating about my parenting style or my experiences feeding and share some pictures so you can come to your own conclusions about how you feel about feeding in public. I cover up for my own modesty, and in all our travels I was only confronted once, strangely on a BC ferry. Everyone else was pretty good. I even fed him on the subway sitting right next to strangers, who were not fussed at all and quite relieved that I fed him and he was quiet after a good grizzle.

So, thanks in advance for scrolling through this 8-9 week cross section of our Hobbity adventures. I personally find it much easier to feed him on the go, and was thankful to get settled on the cruise ship so I could express and leave him at the creche for a couple of hours and enjoy a guilt free glass of wine!

Also just want to take a second to admit to the fact that I found feeding an absolute nightmare the first time around. I also found it tough to start out with with subsequent kids. I was mere moments away from giving up because it was so painful and difficult. But I pushed through (barely) and am glad that I did.

I’ll let these pictures tell the story for the rest of the blog.

Coming up for air after a good feed. He went to sleep so I could eat my dinner and that is the ideal outcome!

This is what a hungry baby looks like… not happy

Breastfeeding at WestCity Mall in Henderson selfie

WestCity Selfie V. 2 🙂

Stanley Park in Vancouver. People were very nice and there were a couple of women in their 50’s that congratulated me for feeding in public as it “just wasn’t the done thing” when they were raising their kids… hmmmm.