waning about weaning (when did you stop breastfeeding?)

I was one of the lucky ones.

Long before having Levi I had decided that I wanted to try breastfeeding. I had done a bit of reading about it and talked to a lot of other moms about their experiences. I would have considered myself pretty well-informed on the subject, and I was very well-prepared for the fact that it might be extremely difficult… and painful. 

Actually, I had heard so many horror stories that I thought there was no way around it.

I thought to myself, “If I can just make it through the first six weeks it will get easier and it will be so worth all of the pain and trouble.” I would prepare for the worst and then grit my teeth with sheer determination until it got easier. (I know, I know. You’re already snickering here… Classic first-time-mom response right?)

And then I gave birth… And tried breastfeeding… And from the first moment it was…

Easy.

Imagine my shock! 

Imagine my relief! 

Imagine my joy!

I know that my experience is not the “norm” unfortunately, but for me breastfeeding was as natural and easy as anyone could ever hope for. (And after my unexpected c-section, I think it was grace to me… I'm not sure if I could have emotionally handled breastfeeding dramas at that point in time.)

And aside from the standard clogged duct here and there (yeah, that’s painful!) it has continued to be easy and hassle-free up until this day.

My plan has always been to breastfeed until Levi is twelve months old so that I wouldn’t need to wean to formula and then over to cow’s milk. I figured that if I could make it to his first birthday then I could easily wean straight over to cow’s milk and that would be that. Easy peasy.

It is now 24 days until Levi's first birthday and I’m faced with decision-time. 

And--although I'm normally an incredibly decisive person--I find myself... waffling on this one.

Do I really want to wean? Is this the right time? If I do, will I regret it? If I don’t will I resent it?

I’ve loved the convenience and ease and experience of breastfeeding and there’s a small part of me that wants to hang on. (Oh, the simplicity when traveling and the unrivaled ability to quickly comfort a sick or teething baby!!!)

And yet there’s another part of me that is more than ready to say good-bye to sharing my body in that way (yes, I sometimes feel like it’s “milking time” at mama’s bar *moooooo*). And I’m also ready for the freedom of not being bound to feeding times. (I still nurse at wake-up and bedtime and 1-2 times during the day… and have never really gotten into the swing of pumping much.) And then there’s the wanting to have my hormonal balance back to normal… for many reasons.

I’ve read what the experts say – there’s really no ideal time to wean… other than when mom and bub are both ready (and when there’s no major changes or sickness happening).

So the question is, am I ready? Is Levi ready?

Never mind cultural norms. Never mind convenience. Never mind what I thought I “should” do. Never mind age or months or measured out food.

Are we ready? And if we are, then how long do I give us to go through the process? A week? A month? A couple of months?

I’m not expecting anyone to answer these questions for me. It’s our decision, it’s personal, and I’m more than comfortable with that.

But what I am wondering is how you experienced weaning? Did you lead? Did you let your baby lead? Was it a combination? What it for medical reasons or going back to work reasons or emotional reasons?

Did you just know when it was time?

Would you go back and do it differently if you could?

Dear friends, I’d love to hear your experiences with weaning? Did you waiver a little like me? Or was it a cut-and-dry decision for you?

waning just a little,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

perhaps i should clothe my child more often?

We had some friends over for a mommy/baby play date the other day. It was fun watching the kids play together while my sweet friend and I caught up.

It wasn't until after our friends were gone and I was looking through the few photos that I snapped, when I realized that I hadn't even put Levi in clothes that day.

As usual, there he was in just his diaper with his rolly-polly tummy perched on top.

Yes, near-nudey baby was on a date with a well-dressed older woman.

{is she trying to hand him a sock here? i wouldn't be surprised.}

On another note, why is my child the same size as a girl five months his senior?

Dear friends, aren't you grateful for friends that you don't have to try and impress? 

relaxed, secure, and grateful,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

a motherhood rite of passage

I have now joined the ranks of pro moms everywhere… I survived 10 days with a sick child.

I guess I’ve been pretty lucky to have made it almost nine months without Levi getting sick. He did have a pretty high fever (102+) a few weeks back for about three days – but it was completely manageable with panadol and there were no other symptoms… so I’m not sure that one really counts. (As soon as the fever reducer kicked in he was happy as always… not acting sick in the slightest.)

But this last bout with a virus was a doozy: Low grade fever. Deep chesty, juicy coughing fits. Sneezing galore. A constantly snotty nose (every shade snot imaginable). Sore throat. Breathing problems. Ear infection. Choking and gagging (on too much phlegm) at night. And generally just miserable.

You know the kind – when your baby is just not himself? When he cries at the drop of a hat? When he snuggles far too often and only picks at food that he normally devours?

Poor little bubba.

And even now—two weeks later—the cough lingers on and he continues to have little munchkin sized sneezes. But babe is back to his normal, happy, hungry self.

I am no longer covered in snot... from head to boobs to toes. (Ever tried breast feeding a snot machine?)

The nasty little virus has packed his bags and peace'd out. (I hope you didn't feel welcome here or plan to visit again any time soon, Mr. Virus.)

Yes, all is well in the Booker household.

We made it to the other side without too many battle wounds.

Thank you borrowed vaporizer. Thank you little jar of baby Vicks. Thank you tiny droppers of baby Panadol. Thank you saline spray. Thank you endless supply of tissues. Thank you comfy rocking chairs. Thank you late-night cuddles. Thank you helpful husband and friends. Thank you patience and grace and time.

And now I can proudly say I have joined the ranks of pro moms everywhere.

We are survivors.

Dear friends, have you defeated sickness recently? How do you cope when you're knee deep in snot? Or maybe you passed another motherhood rite of passage you'd like to share abotu?

glad to be healthy and well, 

I decided to jump back on the bandwagon. 
Would you care to vote for the Memos?



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adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

my secret weapon

As a mom you learn to have many secret weapons.

Secret weapons for all sorts of problems...

Do you have a problem keeping your baby from rolling all over the change table, putting his hands straight in the poo (and then up to his face of course), or grabbing at the diaper as you're trying desperately to do the change-over as quickly as possible?

That's probably just me. {snicker, snicker}

Well... let me introduce you to my latest secret weapon:

See that little pink thing with the silver bendy neck?

Yeah, that's right. It's a clip-on reading light.

What's so special about a clip-on reading light you ask?

Not much. Except for the fact that this week it is interesting enough to keep Levi's hands out of his poo.

Probably next week we'll have to find a new secret weapon... but for now the reading light is working smashingly.

Dear friends, what is your latest secret weapon among your mommy's-helper arsenal?

feeling victorious,

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission