Babies, Babies, Babies!

They're everywhere. You see them smiling back at you from the covers of every magazine in the arms of their glamorous celebrity parents. You see them snuggled into their slings and strollers in front of you at the supermarket. They're on the big screen, they're on your tv. They are everywhere.
Maybe I hadn't noticed this crazy baby fever that's swept the world until my little ninja came into my life. And you know what? I totally love it! I feel like I've joined some elite club or sisterhood. You're in public with your little one, other parents always want to come up to compare stories and ask questions. I know I am definitely guilty of this, too. I really never thought I'd be having conversations with complete strangers about my nipples or getting stitches on your hoo-hoo. It's like you've suddenly become best friends for a brief minute all because in your head you're all like "girrrrl, I know where you've been". Just today while waiting for my tire rotation I had a conversation with another woman waiting about breastfeeding, teething and her copy of 50 shades.
While I love the closeness and understanding of most women in this sisterhood, it has to come with the negatives. Because we all feel like we can poke our noses into the lives of other mothers because we've all earned (yes, earned.) a few stretch marks, sometimes people see that as license to judge and critique our parenting techniques. I would never want someone to feel like less of a mother because their child takes a bottle or a pacifier. My plan was to breastfeeding exclusively for the first year. For whatever reason my milk production basically just stopped. I drank my weight in water and fenugreek tea. I tried pumping in between feedings to stimulate production. Any little old wives tale in the book was put to the test. I just couldn't do it. I felt like a failure as a mother. It certainly didn't help when complete strangers (and every nurse I saw) told me I just wasn't trying hard enough. I've finally just come to the conclusion that my baby is my baby. It is my choice how MY child gets fed. Emily is a perfect, beautiful and healthy little girl. Every child is different and so is every parent. We're all going to do this differently and as long as we are not bringing danger into our baby's lives I say we can throw the book out the freakin' window when it comes to raising our children.
Well after that mini rant I will end on a positive note. I love all the little tips and tricks Ive learned from my new club members. I love hearing the hilarious and sometimes just strange stories from these men and women. And I definitely LOVE seeing all these cute little babies everywhere!

What's the strangest or funniest conversation (or most helpful tip) you've ever had during one of these mother-to-mother interactions?