A different kind of journey

If you would have asked me 15 months ago, when I first gave breastfeeding  a go (and when I say go...I had absolutely NO idea what I was doing- but knew it was something as a mother I wanted and needed to do) I would have never said that I would make it past a year. It was tough....learning how to do it all/all the hours you spend pumping to give your baby breastmilk for when you go back to work....no one tells you how taxing nursing is, and the attachment your baby has with you (at all hours of the night..ha) but once Henry and I got in our groove, it was like the stars aligned and we knew what we were doing. I remember once I got to 3 months, I felt relief and accomplishment that I made it that far and decided to set another goal to 6 months. Once I made it to 6 months, 9 months was my next goal. I remember the day I made it to 9 months, I had no idea how I made it this long...but neither I or Henry were ready to end our nursing relationship and I remember thinking could I possibly make it to a year??? No way. 15 months ago I would have said that would never happen, I couldn't imagine nursing a toddler! People would say "she is still nursing her 1 or 2 year old...ewww" and I would agree! SHAME ON ME! Well....we did make it to a year and I felt this sense of urgency to wean him when he turned one. The American Pediatric Association recommends nursing until at least 2 years old, along with our pediatrician who would ask me why I was in such a rush to end it when I would ask her for advice. Why did I feel this urgency to wean him????? Well that's easy....because of others opinions. Henry was not ready to wean at one, and honestly neither was I. Don't get me wrong...he's not attached to my boob all hours of the day or asking or anything like that, it's simply his comfort before he drifts off to lalaland....many others kiddos need this as well aka a pacifier or bottle or blanket or lovie. I have joined so many breastfeeding groups throughout the past year for support/encouragement/advice....and it seems every nursing mom I've come across feels the same way. Unless you have had and nurtured a nursing relationship with your baby past 1.... that person will never have any idea of the type of bond it builds and euphoria. Just as people who bottle feed say they feel judged for not breastfeeding...same thing goes for women who breastfeed...except we get the "you are STILL doing that????" jibber jabber. That's all it is to me now...jibber jabber, uneducated opinions, insecurities...etc,etc. I think back on our whole breastfeeding relationship and think Wow....I did it. Nobody praises mom's for making through the hurdles or breastfeeding and reaching your goals...no one. (I take that back...my mom did, and my mother in law as well...so thank you for that <3) I know that this journey is slowly coming to an end, and I will try not to be sad, but happy looking back on that amazing time of my life and I will never forget it.

This is an article I found on one of the facebook groups I joined about a woman ending her nursing relationship with her son. It broughts tears to these eyes.

http://www.natthefatrat.com/2013/02/on-end-of-nursing.html?m=1

ZOO!

This past weekend it was unseasonably warm and instead of going to the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum- we took Henry to the Detroit Zoo! We never got around to taking him last summer (I know...I can't believe it!...although we did do the Chicago Zoo with Ally, Annie and Ryan!). What can I really say other than that he LOVED it with his whole heart! Not only did he love seeing all the animals, but he loved running free and being around all the other kids. His favorite animals were definetly the GEESE and DUCKS! HAHAH! They were everywhere and he always yells "wooooah" whenever he sees birds, and they really excited him. He really liked the rhinos and kangaroos as well. Pretty much everything and every animal was an amazement to him. Me and Kyle realized how out of shape we are...the zoo is huge and Henry was running around everywhere. I really do hate when I see parents coop their kids up in strollers the whole time and think it's good (even though way more exhausting for us parents) to let them run free and explore. The difference on a tots face...from being stuck and contained in a stroller, to running free and exploring. I felt bad for some of them there! Even when we go to the mall, I rarlely bring the stroller with me. I love watching him walk/run around and have some control in what he wants to do and what he wants to see.

Henry LOVED all the animal statues and we think he thought they were real....too cute

Henry chasing the geese

Lots of other little ones were pushing strollers and so of course Henry wanted to follow suit

Vegas & Henry 15 month update!

The hubby and I had a wonderful time in sin city. I missed Henry terribly and thought about him non-stop…but I had pictures texted to me all the time and lots of updates which helped. I don’t even think he realized we were gone! It was probably good for him too to get out of his normal routine. He LOVES his grandparents and they all had so much fun with him. This is our 6^th (yes 6^th!) time going to Vegas since we’ve met, and it wasn’t our typical trip. Usually we go to a few shows, and we kept checking the show tickets, but we didn’t see anything that really interested us. I would like to see another Cirque show, but Kyle wasn’t too info the first one we saw…I will admit…they are WEIRD. We had fabulous lunch and dinner’s everyday… I cannot get over the food there. It is always SO good and I’ve never had a bad meal. It isn’t your normal burgers and fries…everything is different, and so fresh, and so amazing. You can’t get food like that over here in MI. We won some money too! All in all…great trip and great couple’s time. Now I am back in full time mommy mode. J

We went over my mom’s last Thursday since Bub and Kati were in town for the night before they leave for Florida. Kati’s mom and sister came over to meet Henry….he was hilarious, as usual, and loved being the center of attention, as usualJ. He was running around in just his little diaper, and making everyone clap for him and just acting like a goof ball. He is always flirting with Kati and he gets a little shy around her! It is so cute. It is so sweet how much he loves uncle Bub…always reaches for him or runs right to him with his arms out. When Henry and I first got there I asked Bub if he didn’t mind watching Henry for a few minutes while I showered. SO random…but I LOVE all my mom’s skin and body products and wanted to use them! LOL. I also dug through her closet and found the comfiest clothes I could find and lounged in those the rest of the day over her house. She laughed when she got home... it reminds me that I really need to start buying some nicer face cream and what not because it really makes a difference.

I pretended it was spring this past weekend and did some spring cleaning upstairs! I L-O-V-E cleaning, and it has gotten worse since I had Henry! I love feeling organized and everything to always be in its place. I went through all of his clothes and boxed up the clothes that are too small. I know a lot of people get sad doing that, or thinking of their babies growing up…but I just get excited for him and I am loving every stage more and more! Back to cleaning…. I am really trying to throw stuff away/store it if it isn’t being used or is just “extra”. Babies don’t need to be surrounded by a million toys and I have gotten good about putting a lot of it away, and separating it into rooms so we don’t have a ton just in our living room. I’ve read since Henry was a newbie that it isn’t good for the babe to be surrounded by a ton of toys and it is better to give them a few options and keep rotating them out.  I am the complete opposite of a hoarder…whereas Kyle likes to hang onto stuff and it drives me nuts.  I think a household runs SO much smoother when everything is clean, and has a place. Now if only I could get Kyle to understand this….:)

Henry update: 15 months!

Henry is officially (unless he sleeps bad the night prior) down to one nap a day, and has been for a few weeks now (he will take a second nap in the car if we are out usually). I have to remember to write all these things in his baby book so I can compare with future babies! They say they usually drop the first nap around this age and he definitely has…which I am thankful for, because it makes going out and doing things easier since I know he doesn’t nap until around noonish now. Even if he only gets an hour nap all day….he is still cheerful and doesn’t get cranky like he used to when he was younger. He somehow naps better at daycare sometimes than at home! They tell me they sometimes even just rub his back and he lets them give him baby massages after baby yoga time. What! I couldn’t believe it. He is pretty good at sitting still to watch a movie or whatever…but to lay there and get his back massaged shocked me! I need to try it…I hear baby massage is awesome for them. Speaking of daycare…he still loves it. Walking up to the door everyday he smiles so big and can’t wait to take his jacket off to see his buddies.  We discovered he likes fish sticks (my favoooorite!). I am going to try normal fish with him…I think we did a while back and he liked it. He is a pretty good eater for the most part, I can’t complain. Isn’t always the biggest eater, but I know he will let me know when he is hungry. Oh- minus milk and eggs. He hates it and gags. His words are still fascinating me everyday…my mom showed a few videos to a speech pathologist at her work and she couldn’t believe Henry was only 15 months (yes…I am totally bragging!!!! ;)) No but really… sometimes I don’t even realize he is picking up on things and he does. When we were gone to Vegas, his grandma Val taught him that sheeps say baaa….and when I read him a book the other day and pointed to the sheep he smiled big and said “baaaaaaa”.  We have been making him say owl, octopus and hippo a lot because it sounds so stinkin cute. He loves hippos.  When he wants something from me and I am busy he has started saying “MAMAAAAA”. He has said mama for a while, but not to get my attention. :D LOVE that.  What else? Oh- he really enjoys “organizing”. He loves taking bowls out and stacking them and moving them around, same with items from the pantry, etc. He will bring real food to his play kitchen and put them in the fridge. He likes throwing his dirty diaper away in the garbage after we change him and claps after. His favorite movies are Finding Nemo and…..Lion King. I LOVE snuggling up with him after a long day and watching a Disney movie. It is the best….I myself  am a big Disney lover. We’ve found that anything with animals in it he likes. He is really loving his dog Iggy…although I am still not totally comfortable with them playing. Iggy still isn’t a huge fan, and Henry likes to ride him like a horse and is constantly climbing all over him. Henry loves throwing him the ball and chasing him around outside. We took Henry sledding for the first time in our backyard and he LOVED it. All the neighborhood boys were doing the same right next door and he had fun watching them.  I have some cute videos of him going down the hill... I will try to post one. He wanted to keep going over and over. I was surprised he actually stayed in the sled going down the hill. He had a few big falls, but he is hardly ever dramatic and nothing seems to phase him really. That’s why when he does cry from getting hurt, we know he’s serious.  

We have some fun things coming up, we are taking him to the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum this weekend, I am so excited! The link is here: http://www.aahom.org/ If any mommy friends want to go, let me know! We leave for Chicago in a few weekends as well for our niece Ally's 2nd birthday! I can't wait to get Henry and Ally together as well. They are so cute together every visit we have.