On Nursing...

As I write this it is close to 1 am, and I am awake, nursing my grumpy teething baby. Moments like this make me so thankful that I have this cure-all to offer my otherwise inconsolable baby. I love being her comfort. I love that she needs me. But I must admit, as we close in on her first year (eek!) I am hoping to see an end to breastfeeding in sight....and it is seemingly nowhere on the horizon. 

Lyla (and mama and dada) had a rough first few months. We battled colic and while I did also have a rocky start to nursing (low supply, scabbed nipples, plugged ducts...eesh.) I don't know how I would’ve survived her colic without having my breast to offer. We spent many a morning/afternoon/evening/night sitting on the couch just nursing. Because while the pain of her constant attachment to my breasts was excruciating, the relief it gave to Lyla was enough to stop her constant crying...and ultimately was the only thing that kept me sane during those first months.

Back to the present. My teething girl is now asleep, still half nursing.  This isn't unusual. Lyla still wakes a few times each night and mostly refuses to go back to sleep without the comfort of my milk. At almost a year, she still nurses every 2-4 hours. No matter how much solid food we give her, she still is insistent on nursing at the same rate she was months ago.  So obviously it is more for comfort than for nourishment (honestly, my breast is the equivalent to a pacifier for other children).

So much time is spent on that couch!  Lyla mostly nurses herself to sleep for naps....
and then I sit and hold her till she wakes up.  Wow.  Is that crazy?  I am taking attachment parenting to a new level.  

I have mixed feelings on how to go about weaning her. I don't want to upset her and I gotta admit, I am just too exhausted to fight her on it. ‘Oh you actually want to sit with mama and be still for a bit?  I can relax and simply watch TV?  FINE.'  Seriously, it’s the only real break I get.  But I’m not sure that without some real boundaries that Lyla will gradually wean…ever.  And what’s funny is that I always said I didn’t want to be that mom with kid who was walking and talking and asking for “milk” but as we stand now, it seems inevitable (because she IS walking and talking and asking for milk…).  Needless to say, I am exhausted.  I feel like our sleep situation won't change as long as Lyla is still reliant on breastfeeding and I won't be able to leave her for more than a few hours at a time (did I mention, she REFUSES my breastmilk from a bottle or sippy cup).

THAT FACE slays me.  Makes me want to nurse her forever...just to see that sweet, content face.

Moms, is there a sudden change that happens, where your nursing baby loses interest in nursing?  Does weaning happen gradually (within reason…like in a few months, not a few years) or should I be taking more initiative to turn her away sometimes when she wants to nurse?  I’m afraid if I keep just following her lead that I will be breastfeeding a teenager.  Help!

xo

Jayme

Steppin' Out on a Saturday

Yes, it's Saturday, and yes, I got dressed up because I actually had somewhere to go!

Today we celebrated our niece Zoe's first birthday.  It was a gorgeous day for a party.  Aurora fussed all morning and refused to take a nap, so she of course fell asleep in the car on the way there, then only napped about 15 minutes.  There were lots of other little ones at the party, so she thoroughly enjoyed herself.  I thought it was going to be much cooler outside than it was, so I had her dressed in this cute sweater and all ready for her own Steppin' Out pic, but it ended up being way too hot.  So, no outfit pics for Aurora (she's in a plain onesie and leggings) or Q (who came straight from coaching soccer in his coach's gear).

Just me:

leather jacket-vintage, black top-?, lace skirt-Target, tights-?, boots-vintage, 
necklace-vintage key on a chain

I have been dying to wear this leather biker jacket and planned my whole outfit around it...then I got outside and it was too hot to wear to the party!  Of course, I still wore it for the outfit photos.  You also may notice my hair looks a little different (it looked much more awesome yesterday, but today it flattened out since I took the pics post-party).  I did my own ombre hair, and I love it!  The ends turned out awesome.  I will have to get a closer photo, but it was really easy and the color is amazing.

Here are a few little pics of the birthday party--which was fall-themed.  Zoe's dad made two really cool pumpkin (as in, shaped like actual pumpkins) cake and there were lots of yummy goodies to go around.  There were also party favors for all the little ones--a new book for Aurora to add to her library (Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin).  Q read it to her at bedtime...and man, was she pooped.  She napped for two hours once we got home this afternoon, and I bet she'll be sleeping well tonight.  Mucho stimulation.

 Party people! (No babies were hurt in the making of this photo.)

 Aurora made a new friend.

 The birthday girl with mommy and daddy (and a glimpse of the awesome pumpkin cake!)

 

Aurora was thoroughly enjoying all of Zoe's new toys...

 

 ...but she got her own little present to open too!

We had such a good time at the party...I couldn't help but start thinking about Aurora's turn to party in a few  months. WOW.  These babies are growing up too fast!  It's so amazing to watch how far they come with every single day.  Being a parent is beyond words.

xo

Amanda