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  • Romance Wednesday: Hustle

    One of the things that I love and found attractive about my husband is that he’s a hustler.  He’s gets his hustle and grind on everyday.  No, I’m not talking about the slinging dope or selling crack type of hustle.  Trust me, his hustle is all 100% legal and legit. 
    Growing up without his parents having any positive involvement in his life, he pretty much raised himself.  He decided that instead of going down the wrong path like those around him, he was going to hustle in a positive way.  He was going to hustle and make something of himself.  And he did!!  So, I’m sure that a few of you might be familiar with this song below. 
    I dedicate it to my hustler-my husband. Thank you for always holding it down for the family!!

  • Thank you mama for giving me the boob……

    I figured that nursing was just one of those things that I being a Latina “had” to do. Of course I would nurse, my family for generation upon generation nursed all their babies. I almost felt obligated to do so. I knew that nursing was good and yada, yada yada but I didn’t see what the big deal was honestly speaking.
    Now to put this in perspective, my mama gave birth to all 4 of us sans epidurals and nursed all of us until we were at least one. The minute I told her I was preggers she said “buy jourself one cheapy watchcloth and scrub your tetas’”. As wonderful as that sounded…..I never did it and boy did I live to regret it. Nursing was what the women in my family did. It was expected. I figured I would give nursing a shot and that was that.
    The day I delivered my beautiful daughter Camilla via an emergency c section due to “fauilue to descend” (yeah….we will talk about this load of crap on a later date) I was almost in a fog right after surgery. I remember being wheeled into recovery and seeing my husband and asking him to leave me and go be with Camilla. After about 45 minutes, I was brought to my room, which was now filled with about a dozen friends and family. As my daughter was brought into my room, my mother tells me to “get ready”. I didn’t know what she was talking about…I just could not believe I had “real”  baby. “Get ready” meant take my boob out. So I did and carefully placed Camilla into a “football” hold that I had seen in one of my pregnancy magazines. My mother looked at me with a bewildered look “what is that??”  “La football hold” I muttered. That lasted all of 2 minutes before the women in my room told me to hold her cross body so I did.  Camilla ate furiously. I thought “wow this is great….pretty easy”. Then came the next day…….
    So up until 24 hours after my C-section, nursing really wasn’t too bad. Then the drugs wore off and my mid section felt like someone had sliced me open and ripped a baby out of me.  Every time Camilla ate I wanted to quit. Every time she cried for milk…I cried. My nipples hurt so bad. The nurses helped, a lactation consultant helped…but NURSING STILL HURT!!!
    When we were all finally sent home my mama was there waiting for us. Almost immediately after getting home, Camilla cried because it was time to eat and yup I started to cry anticipating the pain. My nipples were raw! I wanted to quit so bad. Here is where my wonderful mama came to my rescue. Whenever I complained she said to me “that’s Camilla’s milk not yours..give HER, HER milk”  and “soon it will not hurt anymore.”
    When I thought about the milk rapidly filling my boobs as my baby’s milk, it all of a sudden was not about me anymore. I would prop my feet up, relax my shoulders and nurse. I wanted Camilla to have “her” milk. I felt like I finally understood why the women in my family nursed….it was because what else would your baby eat?  I have to say that all the pain was gone in about a week and now that I am on my second 100% nursed baby….I LOVE NURSING. I love that semi smilie face my 9 month old son gets in his sleepy eyes after getting a full tummy of his milk. I love that nod and smile you get from other moms when you are nursing in public. I love that my kids can be around sick adults and fight the germs. I love everything that breast milk has given to my children. But most of all, I love you mama for helping me, coaching me and just being their for me and my boobs.
    PS. When your about 8 months pregnant, don’t forget to “buy jourself one cheapy watchcloth and scrub your tetas.”
    Veronica Avery lives in Hillsborough, NJ with her two children Camilla and Caden and wonderful husband Rodney. She teaches elementary school in Newark, NJ.  She loves all things nursing and is living proof that nursing mamas can wear heels, make-up and skinny jeans.  

  • Thank you mama for giving me the boob……

    I figured that nursing was just one of those things that I being a Latina “had” to do. Of course I would nurse, my family for generation upon generation nursed all their babies. I almost felt obligated to do so. I knew that nursing was good and yada, yada yada but I didn’t see what the big deal was honestly speaking.
    Now to put this in perspective, my mama gave birth to all 4 of us sans epidurals and nursed all of us until we were at least one. The minute I told her I was preggers she said “buy jourself one cheapy watchcloth and scrub your tetas’”. As wonderful as that sounded…..I never did it and boy did I live to regret it. Nursing was what the women in my family did. It was expected. I figured I would give nursing a shot and that was that.
    The day I delivered my beautiful daughter Camilla via an emergency c section due to “fauilue to descend” (yeah….we will talk about this load of crap on a later date) I was almost in a fog right after surgery. I remember being wheeled into recovery and seeing my husband and asking him to leave me and go be with Camilla. After about 45 minutes, I was brought to my room, which was now filled with about a dozen friends and family. As my daughter was brought into my room, my mother tells me to “get ready”. I didn’t know what she was talking about…I just could not believe I had “real”  baby. “Get ready” meant take my boob out. So I did and carefully placed Camilla into a “football” hold that I had seen in one of my pregnancy magazines. My mother looked at me with a bewildered look “what is that??”  “La football hold” I muttered. That lasted all of 2 minutes before the women in my room told me to hold her cross body so I did.  Camilla ate furiously. I thought “wow this is great….pretty easy”. Then came the next day…….
    So up until 24 hours after my C-section, nursing really wasn’t too bad. Then the drugs wore off and my mid section felt like someone had sliced me open and ripped a baby out of me.  Every time Camilla ate I wanted to quit. Every time she cried for milk…I cried. My nipples hurt so bad. The nurses helped, a lactation consultant helped…but NURSING STILL HURT!!!
    When we were all finally sent home my mama was there waiting for us. Almost immediately after getting home, Camilla cried because it was time to eat and yup I started to cry anticipating the pain. My nipples were raw! I wanted to quit so bad. Here is where my wonderful mama came to my rescue. Whenever I complained she said to me “that’s Camilla’s milk not yours..give HER, HER milk”  and “soon it will not hurt anymore.”
    When I thought about the milk rapidly filling my boobs as my baby’s milk, it all of a sudden was not about me anymore. I would prop my feet up, relax my shoulders and nurse. I wanted Camilla to have “her” milk. I felt like I finally understood why the women in my family nursed….it was because what else would your baby eat?  I have to say that all the pain was gone in about a week and now that I am on my second 100% nursed baby….I LOVE NURSING. I love that semi smilie face my 9 month old son gets in his sleepy eyes after getting a full tummy of his milk. I love that nod and smile you get from other moms when you are nursing in public. I love that my kids can be around sick adults and fight the germs. I love everything that breast milk has given to my children. But most of all, I love you mama for helping me, coaching me and just being their for me and my boobs.
    PS. When your about 8 months pregnant, don’t forget to “buy jourself one cheapy watchcloth and scrub your tetas.”
    Veronica Avery lives in Hillsborough, NJ with her two children Camilla and Caden and wonderful husband Rodney. She teaches elementary school in Newark, NJ.  She loves all things nursing and is living proof that nursing mamas can wear heels, make-up and skinny jeans.  

  • The Best Start

    When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I quickly purchased all the books I could to prepare myself for my impending motherhood.  After thorough research, I knew that breastfeeding would be the choice for me.  But, when my daughter was delivered by emergency C-section 3 weeks early, she struggled to latch on that first time and her tiny preemie mouth couldn’t seem to make it work.  Thankfully, I had wonderful lactation nurses who helped me, not just in the hospital, but also after we went home.  As frustrating as it was at times, I refused to give up.  

    We finally got the hang of it and I proceeded to nurse her exclusively for an entire year.   As she grew older, I found it odd that all her friends were sick so often and she never was.  She had the occasional cold here and there, but no allergies and she didn’t get the stomach flu until she was 4.

    I found out I was pregnant with my son in 2007 and immediately, I knew it was time to pull out my Boppy pillow & Medela pump again.  But, little did I know what a challenge lay ahead of me.  He made it full term, unlike his sister, but he had several medical problems.  Breastfeeding him was the most difficult experience…not at all the special bonding time I had experienced with my first.  But, again, I steeled my will and continued to try everything I could to make it work. 


     He was later diagnosed with GERD (a severe case of acid reflux), which was why he would scream when laying down & nursing.  I had to buy a different nursing pillow that helped prop him up and I learned to burp him more frequently for relief.  Even though we had found our rhythm, he abruptly decided he was done with nursing at 6 months old.  But, instead of giving up, I kept pumping (up to 6 times a day during growth spurts) – even when it meant setting my alarm for 4:00am to pump the milk he would need for breakfast.  I continued this until he was weaned at the 1 year mark.


    Looking back on it now, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t do it any differently.  My kids are some of the healthiest in our circle of friends and I truly believe it is because I gave them the best start they could possibly have.  Even though I have battle wounds from my years of nursing – going from a C cup down to an A and nearly destroying my breast tissue from all that pumping.  It was a sacrifice that I would gladly make again – because motherhood is about being selfless, caring for your kids no matter what the cost & giving them all that you can.  And, let’s face it…they’re worth it!







    I am a wife of 11 years and a stay at home mom (kids ages 7 and 3).  I write the blog Penny Pincher Fashion, where you will NOT find me talking about breastfeeding or my adventures in mommy-hood.  But, as much as I love all things fashion & beauty, my family will always come first!http://www.pennypincherfashion.com/

  • New Look

    How do we look?  Yes, this is the new look for the time being at least.  I like to keep things fresh, fashionable and fun around here.
    Monday, YUMMommy will return with another guest post for National Breastfeeding Awareness Month.  So, join us.  

  • Romance Wednesday: Support

    As you all know, it’s National Breastfeeding Awareness Month!!  And I am a breastfeeding mom.  Today also happens to Romance Wednesday.  So, I’ve decided to combine the two.  
    I started breastfeeding in 2008 when Moo was born.  For me formula wasn’t even an option.  It’s my belief that breastfeeding is how God intended for us to feed and nurture our children if were able to.  Not to mention, I had an allergy to diary throughout my entire pregnancy and figured that my baby was most likely allergic.  I’m not even sure how my strong desire to be a breastfeeding mother started or where it came from.
    I just know that one day my husband and I were talking about things we wanted to do after the baby was born.  He asked if I was going to breastfeed or use formula and I replied “Breastfeed.”  I didn’t even take a moment to think about it.  The words just kind of rolled off my tongue.  I was kind of shocked at how certain and confident I felt about my choice.
    At first, my husband wasn’t on board with the whole idea of me breastfeeding.  His fear was what every man’s fear is—the changing of the boobs. LOL. I just had to break it down to him that I was breastfeeding end of discussion.  If my boobs changing was going to be an issue then he could walk.  He sobered up quickly.
    Knowing how he felt about breastfeeding, I was kind of shocked that when I came home from the hospital he was so supportive.  That first night was rough.  I was sore from my stitches and the whole getting up and out of bed was not going to work.  Thankfully, my husband did all the getting up and out of bed.  We weren’t initially going to co-sleep, but it somehow morphed into just that. (Later post.)
    I kept waiting for him to pressure me to switch to formula but he didn’t.  He stuck right by me.  He kept my ice packs frozen to help with my engorgement, made sure I was comfortable and did store runs for milk pads and nipple cream.  And when my mom (who I thought would have been my biggest supporter) turned out to be the one who kept hounding me about putting Moo on soy formula or pumping only, it was my husband who stood up for me.  
    Breastfeeding showed us both somethings.  It showed me that I could follow through on a long term commitment and that he really was my biggest supporter.  It showed him that he wasn’t with me because of my boobs.  He was with me because of who I was and not what my assets looked like.
    Here I am on round two and he’s even more supportive than ever.  We did have a little power struggle early on but like last time he realized breastfeeding was truly what was best for us and JJ.  So, ladies don’t give up on breastfeeding if it’s what you want to do. So, what your partner or family doesn’t support you.  Keep doing it and eventually they’ll either get on board or shut up about it.
    Men, the same way you like for us to be understanding of your video game and sports habits, we expect the same when it comes to breastfeeding.

  • Romance Wednesday: Support

    As you all know, it’s National Breastfeeding Awareness Month!!  And I am a breastfeeding mom.  Today also happens to Romance Wednesday.  So, I’ve decided to combine the two.  
    I started breastfeeding in 2008 when Moo was born.  For me formula wasn’t even an option.  It’s my belief that breastfeeding is how God intended for us to feed and nurture our children if were able to.  Not to mention, I had an allergy to diary throughout my entire pregnancy and figured that my baby was most likely allergic.  I’m not even sure how my strong desire to be a breastfeeding mother started or where it came from.
    I just know that one day my husband and I were talking about things we wanted to do after the baby was born.  He asked if I was going to breastfeed or use formula and I replied “Breastfeed.”  I didn’t even take a moment to think about it.  The words just kind of rolled off my tongue.  I was kind of shocked at how certain and confident I felt about my choice.
    At first, my husband wasn’t on board with the whole idea of me breastfeeding.  His fear was what every man’s fear is—the changing of the boobs. LOL. I just had to break it down to him that I was breastfeeding end of discussion.  If my boobs changing was going to be an issue then he could walk.  He sobered up quickly.
    Knowing how he felt about breastfeeding, I was kind of shocked that when I came home from the hospital he was so supportive.  That first night was rough.  I was sore from my stitches and the whole getting up and out of bed was not going to work.  Thankfully, my husband did all the getting up and out of bed.  We weren’t initially going to co-sleep, but it somehow morphed into just that. (Later post.)
    I kept waiting for him to pressure me to switch to formula but he didn’t.  He stuck right by me.  He kept my ice packs frozen to help with my engorgement, made sure I was comfortable and did store runs for milk pads and nipple cream.  And when my mom (who I thought would have been my biggest supporter) turned out to be the one who kept hounding me about putting Moo on soy formula or pumping only, it was my husband who stood up for me.  
    Breastfeeding showed us both somethings.  It showed me that I could follow through on a long term commitment and that he really was my biggest supporter.  It showed him that he wasn’t with me because of my boobs.  He was with me because of who I was and not what my assets looked like.
    Here I am on round two and he’s even more supportive than ever.  We did have a little power struggle early on but like last time he realized breastfeeding was truly what was best for us and JJ.  So, ladies don’t give up on breastfeeding if it’s what you want to do. So, what your partner or family doesn’t support you.  Keep doing it and eventually they’ll either get on board or shut up about it.
    Men, the same way you like for us to be understanding of your video game and sports habits, we expect the same when it comes to breastfeeding.

  • Pumping Only

    Being pregnant with number two everything is different. I so thought I was having a girl, because this pregnancy was so different from my first son. It’s so different that I want to give him the best life I can give him. That’s why I am choosing to pump.

    When I had my first son at 18 years old, I knew that breastmilk was what was best for him, but I felt overwhelmed by the whole process. I wanted him to have the best life, but I was going through postpartum, I already felt like he was ruining my life, I just wasn’t into the bonding thing yet. That is when I was given a pump. I didn’t know ANYTHING about pumping. I wanted him on formula, but my husband wanted him on breastmilk. So I made a compromise. I said I was going to try it for 2 weeks and if I didn’t like it back to formula he was going. Well I was not educated enough to know that 2 weeks is not long enough time get your milk in, or that the pain eventually goes away.


    I am now more prepared. I feel more educated. I am choosing to pump only because I will be gone from him 4-6 hours a day. I also have a very active husband who really wants to be involved. Pumping gives me the best of both worlds. I give him the best milk, and he can still get a bottle so my husband can give that to him and still get his bonding time. Do I advise everyone to pump? No. If you can get the bond with your baby and he or she latches on by all means breastfeed.

    If you are like me and only thinking about pumping I am across this posting for us. I think this posting really gave me the info I needed and the confidence I needed to make pumping happen. I will be in school pumping and I thought it would be awkward. I know understand that breast milk is a beautiful thing and instead of being embarrassed to pump in class I  think I am going to be proud.

    Did you pump or breastfeed? Any advice for a pumping mother?



    Kanesha Morrison lives in Oklahoma with her husband and one-year-old son. She loves to speak on parenting, marriage, school, but most of all MONEY. She is a full-time stay at home mom, who blogs about her journey through life. Please check her out and read her atMoneyMattersMama.com