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Donna's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 5/19/07 -------------------- 4/21/07 3/11/07 2/9/07 1/9/07, Entry 2 12/22/06 12/11/06 11/28/06 11/20/06 11/15/06 11/10/06 11/1/06 10/24/06 10/17/06 10/11/06 10/3/06 9/25/06 9/17/06 9/11/06 9/6/06 8/27/06 8/20/06 8/13/06 8/6/06 7/30/06 7/23/06 7/16/06 7/9/06 7/4/06 6/25/06 6/19/06 6/11/06 6/4/06 -------------------- Donna's Introduction

07/23/06 - Flea market, new store, and weaning update

July 23, 2006

Yesterday, we went to a flea market in the morning and went to some stores in the afternoon.  We hadn't been to the market since before Justin, so that was fun.  Justin ended up getting a new hat and a couple of toys, and I got a Barbie (I have been collecting the holiday ones each year).  Justin walked with us, and wore himself out.  He fell asleep in the car on the way home.  Today, I went to a new children's clothing store that just opened.  The prices were really low, kind of like a Walmart but with a much bigger selection.  So I got Justin a shirt, jeans, and two pairs of pajamas all for about $25.  I hadn't planned on starting fall and winter clothes shopping yet, but since I was there I figured I might as well buy a few things.  I can't believe he already wears a size 3T.  Where does the time go?

As I have mentioned, Justin is breastfed, but I probably have not mentioned that he is still nursing.  We are working on weaning by the time he turns three.  I had hoped that he would wean himself by then, but I don't see that happening in the next couple of months.  He has always loved nursing so much.  We had our share of normal latch-on and soreness issues in the beginning, and a couple of nursing strikes, clogged milk ducts, and thrush, but through it all he's kept going.  To me, there was no feeling in the world like watching my baby nursing, looking so content and peaceful.  Since it will most likely all be coming to an end soon, I wanted to write a little about our experience, so I don't forget.

I went back to work when Justin was two months old, and I remember the week I started work, my milk supply suddenly dropped and I was worried I wouldn't have enough for him.  I was determined to nurse for a year, and I didn't want it all to end at only two months old.  So I was on a mission of nursing every two hours or so at home, and adding extra pumping sessions.  After a few weeks of doing this, I had more than enough milk.

I never imagined that I would be nursing a toddler, but that is the way it has worked out.  My goal was to nurse for a year and then start weaning.  He actually lost interest for a few months near the end of the first year and I thought he would wean himself by that time.  But then around a year old he wanted to nurse more than ever, so I decided to continue for a while. 

Earlier this year (February I think), he also lost interest for several days, but then he picked right back up just like nothing happened.  So right now I am trying to gradually wean him by cutting back on the time he nurses before bed, which is really the only session left that he does every day.  We started with 30 minutes and we're down to 20.  Many times he finishes before falling asleep, so he is able to fall asleep on his own now with me lying next to him, which will help I'm sure.  Although I know I will miss him nursing, I think that three years is long enough for me.  I may not have the experience of nursing a baby again, so I feel really lucky that we have been able to continue for this long and that we have both enjoyed it so much.

Below is a picture of Justin playing in the ball pit at the birthday party I wrote about last month.

Donna and Justin

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