My son is not quite fifteen months old. He's a very passionate little person - he can scream just as loudly over being put down as he can over getting a shot. And on the one hand, he's very independent - he's always refused to be fed with a spoon or to be taught anything, but on the other hand he's extremely affectionate. Cuddling and hugging have always been very important to him. I think that's why he nursed for so long.
Yep, I said, "nursed". I have not nursed him since Friday. I think we're FINALLY done. I was worried that it wouldn't happen until we could have a conversation about it. Nursing Lovebug was so different from nursing Ironflower. Lovebug's never accepted a bottle, for one thing. And Lovebug nursed 12 times a day until he was five months old. I had no choice but to get used to nursing in public. Ironflower accepted bottles and lost interest in nursing at ten months. I think Lovebug would have nursed until first grade if I'd let him. The fact that one of his first words was "nurse" really freaked me out.
But now that I'm finally done I'm a little sad. I didn't savor our last session enough. He's not a baby anymore. As I was reflecting on all this last night, I finally understood why some people have so many babies (I love those 16 children shows on TLC). Not only is it hard to watch your baby grow up (especially your last one), but each child is SO different. It's rather fascinating to imagine (or find out) all the different way your genes can mix together. But then I imagine being outnumbered by the children and I panic. And the thought of three kids in diapers (since Ironflower has stalled out in the potty training race) makes my debit card shudder. So even though it's bittersweet to know that Lovebug is a total toddler now, I don't think I'll be making any announcements soon (unless we win the lottery and can get a nanny).
4 comments:
If he really is your last one, get used to that feeling... I have three (and three's the breaker - it get's a little scary when you have more kids to herd along than you have hands... and there always seems to be a friend over or extra one thrown in...)
My boys were not big breast feeders, they were both pretty much done with it by six months - my daughter was the only one that had to be weened, the other two did it themselves... my baby is now five - this August we'll have the long awaited trauma of having all three children in school full day... but I know I'll be beyond sad to watch him truck through those doors and be done with me.
Every step of the way with him has been a little harder on me than I would have thought, my kids are pretty evenly spaced (9-1/2, 7, and 5) okay - getting rid of diapers made me smile - a lot!!! taking down the crib was hard, though, because I'd had one child in that crib since I became a mother and it really felt like the end of something. All of the milestones with him hit a little harder, mostly, I think, because it means you now have to embrace a new phase in your life as well..
Julia's birthday is coming up and I was going through her pictures from the last year. She has grown so much and I am absolutely stunned at how quickly it has happened. I told Dave just last night, "My baby isn't a baby anymore."
I'd love to have another one.
Merry-
Thank you for the insight. I really appreciate it. I will try to get used to it, but I think I'm only looking forward to the ending of diapers, I think all the other milestones will be bittersweet.
Julia's birthday is coming up and I was going through her pictures from the last year. She has grown so much and I am absolutely stunned at how quickly it has happened. I told Dave just last night, "My baby isn't a baby anymore."
I'd love to have another one.
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