Weaning

And so the time has come. After much discussion and research, Elvis and I decided recently that a year was probably about long enough to breastfeed. I love it and Henry loves it, but it’s just becoming too painful now that he’s got those four precious teeth. So we set out on what I thought would be a long road, eliminating one feeding at a time until he was entirely off the boob. Contrary to all the reading I did, the nighttime feeding was the first (and easiest) to go. It’s actually been about 3 weeks since Henry nursed to sleep at bedtime, and I don’t think he even noticed. I still cuddle and read and talk to him before bed, and we say our prayers before I put him in his crib, and I don’t think he’s ever slept better than recently, when his belly is full of solid food. Glorious. So I progressed to eliminating a pre-naptime breastfeeding as well, and wouldn’t you know it? Nary a fuss. Last week the kid didn’t get a boob at all, and he was just as happy as a clam. He still nurses occasionally in the morning, but I’d say he’s about 96% weaned at this point. And you’d never know how much he loved nursing now, to my dismay.
That’s right: as much pain as it caused me in the beginning (physical and emotional), I have fallen in love with nursing my son. It was so sweet to hold him in my arms and nourish him myself, and while I love the new ease and freedom of not having to confine ourselves to the nursery at feeding time, I also feel this sense of loss that I couldn’t have imagined. The days of being able to hold my little lovebug in my arms as he sleeps are numbered, and the thought brings tears to my eyes every time it flits through my mind.
How on earth am I going to make it through a lifetime of these little milestones?

A Cheerleader for Motherhood

I know as well as anyone that motherhood is simply NOT for everyone.  Heck, I was certain it wasn't for me until about 2 years ago.  But now that I have gone through the process, and know just how sweet life is with a baby, I want everyone to experience it. 
With a few exceptions, my friends are all still very single and in no real hurry to settle down.  I have friends with babies now (totally a must for new parents), and they are all fantastic friends as well as wonderful parents of smart, beautiful children.  But I can't help wishing my girlfriends would hurry up and fall in love, get married, and start popping out babies too.  I want to love and support them as they grow their families, just as they have supported the 3 of us.  I want to watch their bellies swell with life, and calm their fears about labor.  I want to see their lives enriched in ways they could never have imagined, babysit for a few hours so they can shower and nap, and watch their little miracles grow and discover the world.  Yes, I want more little friends for Henry.  He loves other kids, and it's always so much fun to watch him interacting with other little ones.  But more than that, I just want everyone to experience the pure magic that Henry has brought to our lives.  I love him so much, and it seems so greedy to hog all the joy of motherhood.
Yes, it's difficult, tiresome, messy, thankless, sleepless, noisy, smelly, exhausting work.  But the rewards are so priceless: a toothless smile, a giggle, a drooly kiss.  Pure, so-sweet-you-can't-help-but-cry, unending love both given and returned every second of the day.  What on earth could be better?  I'm sure I can't think of anything.
So come on, ladies!  Join me, won't you?

Mon Petit Amor <3

My Little Frat Boy

So, breastfeeding. It was a long and rocky road for Henry and me, but ever since we got the hang of it it's been sweet, smooth sailing. I never thought I would still be doing it at almost 10 months but here we are, four precious little teeth and all. As far as I can tell, the only downside is Henry's new and all-consuming obsession with boobs. It doesn't even matter whose boobs, he just loves 'em. His new favorite activity during play time is to glance from my cleavage to my face, rub his face against my chest, and then grin hopefully up at me. It's kind of cute, since he's so little and adorable, but I can't help but be reminded of a little drunken frat boy every time he ogles me and then flashes that adorable little smile. 
Oh, this kid is gonna be a heartbreaker.