I just nursed Ivy that kind of nurse where her eyes go drowsy like it's the best thing she's ever tasted in her whole entire life.
I love that she will be nine months old tomorrow and still tosses glimpses of a two-week old newborn my way, an appetite insatiable only for me -and the occasional crumb on the floor, limp with security in my arms, pudgy fingers in my long hair.
This is one of my very favorite parts in early motherhood. She takes bites but I will not wean until she is ready. She gets distracted and will crawl away to play and discover.
But she will come back to nourish, to soothe, to comfort.
Us both.
Photo by Beth.
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June 13, 2009
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My grandmother passive aggressively criticized me today for continuing to breastfeed my son past six months.
It makes me sad that she didn't have the sort of blissful experience I have nursing my son. My heart aches when I think about how quickly this time will pass. I weaned my first around 14 months and likely will this time around too. I'm pretty sure we're not having any more kids so when people ask if it's a pain to be nursing I go on and on and on about how much I adore it.
You put it into words so nicely. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome picture. I need to get some of me nursing James. I have some nursing Jack and they are favorites.
It's a perfect relationship. I'm so glad that you can put it into words. :)
beautiful picture ...
beautiful words ...
beautiful ...
(I'm nursing my own babe as I read this and had to let out a happy sigh ... this time is too fleeting ...)
"I will not wean until she is ready" is my favorite line. My oldest nursed for comfort and at bedtime until he was 3.
I will never forget sitting on the couch with my three year old watching Discovery, seeing a Momma Moose nursing her baby. I had told him he couldn't nurse - that it wasn't bedtime. He says "but the momma moosey is nursing her baby and it's not his bedtime". You know who won that one , right?
I heard all the "if he's old enough to ask for it" comments. I would always reply that he was lucky to have a Mom that would listen.
I wouldn't change it for the world.
This is absolutely beautiful. You somehow managed to capture in words just what a wonderful, singular experience nursing is.
It's making me think of how anxious I am to start breastfeeding again. When Luke weaned, I have to admit that I was a little relieved... it just wasn't very much fun any more at 8 weeks pregnant. But now that I've had time away, I miss the sweet nursing moments, and I can't wait to have them all again.
My little Z & I had a rocky nursing relationship from the start - I was always nervous about it because he struggled with it so much. I am planning to relax and enjoy it much more with my next baby.
My mother is a big supporter of breastfeeding, and my MIL, which helps, but one of my most vocal grandmothers hated nursing & told me I would regret it - but I didn't. :) I had to wean my little boy at a year, though, because he was a BITER & my body could not take any more.
this is so incredibly sweet. My youngest is 20 months old and I miss nursing her so much. She only weaned 3 months ago and I am already feeling myself wanting another baby.
You captured such an intimate moment in words so well.
nursing is a gift... for both. :)
I glad that you are able to enjoy the experience of nursing,I didn't get that chance.
I'm still so weepy that it didn't last with my son. (can you believe I STILL have thrush?! it won't fully heal until i get rid of all this candida in my system.)
This photo, and your words, touch me deeply... and do make me a little sad that I'm not experiencing that bond and joy.
I know you're taking it all in, and enjoying every moment... so I don't have to tell you to do so.
You're a sweet Mother, with an equally sweet daughter. Love on that baby girl for me.
Nell
Love this post!!! Sounds just like us. And that picture is gorgoues!!!
I miss nursing my toddler; he gave up when all the milk went away during this pregnancy.
I wish I would have had some pictures. Yours is beautiful. Enjoy the time with your nursling as it sounds like you definitely are. :)
Nursing our newest one (1 month old) is one of my favorite things. Especially the early morning feeding. It is just she and I awake. Everything is quiet and peaceful. Wonderful!
Those first two paragraphs tug at my heartstrings. And the photo just icing on an already GREAT post! Beautiful, Steph.
I love nursing my Elliott. He's just started to look up at me with a smile that says "I forgot you were there" and the milk dribbles down his chins. It's wonderful.
*happy sigh* I love this post. Even as a first time Mom, I keep every one of these kind of moments close to my heart. I love feeling this particular kind of peace of being curled close to my 7 month old when he's nursing and sleepy. I'm far, far from ready to give it up.
What a great post! I know what you mean with catching fleeting glimpses of a newborn in your little Ivy still while nursing. It's the same way with my little one that will be ten months tomorrow. I see the newborn come through and wonder where the time has gone already. It's so bittersweet... :)
This post made me so happy. I am still nursing my 15-month-old boy, and he loves it.
I was so anxious about breastfeeding when I was pregnant that I had a dream that I gave birth to a nine-month-old who already knew how to nurse.
I say luckily we are a successful breastfeeding team. But the truth is, if you are determined to breastfeed, and you aren't afraid to ask for help and work for it, almost anyone can do it.
Yes! :)
I love how peaceful my daughter still is at 26 months at night when she nurses, the glimpses of baby still in her sweet toddler self. She calls it "milk of mommy"
Nursing is one of life's most beautiful experiences. People are sometimes appalled that I'm still nursing my 19 month old. They sometimes have the nerve to ask when I'm going to wean him. I just say when he's ready. Okay, so sometimes I get a little snippy, and say when he goes to college. ;)
Ah, this is so beautiful.
My mother today was saying that nursing til a year is 'weird' and that I definitely shouldn't nurse til two.
My daughter is almost 5 months old, and I'll nurse as long as she enjoys it. :)
I was so sad that my little girl wouldn't nurse past five months this time..she was just wanting to do too many other things...I nursed my son till 18 months and wouldn't trade it for the world...
Beautiful. Sometimes I miss that.
Beautiful!
An absolutely beautiful post!
breastfeeding in Malta isnt common and when people ask till when and I say defeintely till 1 year than we see they are amazed and think we crazy....but 5 months already passed toooo quickly i thinkà !
Beautiful...
Oh I love that also. It is my favorite part of Mothering.
I let Amelia wean herself (2 weeks before Libby was born) and she has never asked again. I weaned Seth and he still would nurse if I let him. I think there is something to be said for letting your child take the lead.
Beautifully put!!! My family is not so supportive of breastfeeding and I cannot for the life of me figure out why.
Lovely post.
oh - miss this so much - my little one just stopped nursing last month - "no more momma" is what she said (she will be three on Sat)
mommy melee - I got that as well from my MIL with my first and second children and stopped a bit after one year for all the grief I was given! I agree - I LOVED TO nurse my babies!!
I've been shy to ask someone to photograph Matthew and me nursing, but you've inspired me to make myself do it anyway. I know I'll be sad if I don't. I didn't get to nurse Alex as long as I wanted - we were done before six months. Your post has reminded me of how I cherish this part of babyhood, too, and how much more fun and special nursing has gotten as Matthew's gotten a bit older. It's more of a give and take now - a conversation, in a way, and I really, really love it and am so thankful we've persevered through the tough times and gotten this far! Such a blessing to mother and baby, isn't it? Sigh.
I remember those days! They aren't long past, and they will be here again shortly.
Izzie weaned herself at 23 months (she'd been down to one nursing daily for a few months at that point). I think that had I not been *unknowingly* pregnant, she might have continued.
I can't wait to experience nursing again with Calleigh.
Sweet, sweet, sweet. I just love breastfeeding. I love when those eyes roll back and the body goes limp. Oh man! Just this morning I cross-nursed a friend's newborn...barely a month old. And boy he OWNED my breast. My own babe just turned one, but it already made me excited to have another one day.
Love your blog. Six flower mom sent me over!
I nursed my first until she was 20 months, my second past the two year mark (gasp!), and am enjoying every minute of nursing my 4 1/2 month old. It is such a sweet and loving time shared between mama and baby ~ you've captured it beautifully.
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. My 19 month old still gives me that look sometimes and it makes all the whiney toddler times melt away.
I have read this post twice now. And I just think it is beautiful. I had a talk with a friend the other day about weaning. Grant it, she doesn't have a child yet, but she was adament about weaning at max 12 months. I tried to tell her it is so much more than just the nourishment of the body. It is nourishment of the soul. It is soothing and comforting for both the child and the parent. She still didn't quite get it.
*happy sigh* I LOVE those nursing sessions and that look. I nursed my son until he was around 12 months when he weaned himself-and my daughter is 6 months and we're going strong. I haven't even started solids with her yet.
I LOVE nursing. And so does baby #2 who is almost 15 months old. She hasn't given it up yet, and neither have I. We even co-sleep still (I know how crazy of me). According to my family at least, they all think I am crazy, need to wean her so I can "have my own life" and because, well, she is just too old. Even the crazy nurse at my sister's maternity ward told me the other day, "she is way too old to still be nursing". Well um thanks, but I think I know what's best for me and mine. I didn't say that, but I was thinking it, and still get mad when I think, how could someone in the "baby field" say such nonsense. Doesn't she know that in most parts of the world women nurse until at least 2??!! I don't want to give it up, and other than wanting to have another baby soon (and not being able to while nursing) I wouldn't give it up for anything. Nothing quite like it, and I feel blessed that it is still so easy and such a joy (even with teeth and all). No biting yet, well at least not too much. :)
Beautiful post. Due to prematurity and being in the hospital, my Ivy never really got the hang of breastfeeding. Sometimes I long for it. She's 5 and a half months and I'm still pumping for her, but it's definitely not the same.
Where did you get that adorable headband Ivy is wearing?
Beautiful!
Beautiful. I love that drowsy, just-nursed-and-I-couldn't-be-happier expression.
There's something sweet about nursing a toddler, isn't there? It's different than nursing a newborn, but it's oh-so-special in its own way.
GORGEOUS. Lovely shot, Beth and the writing is brilliant.
I didn't realize our babies were around the same age. Junior was born August 31. He's been much better than his sister and only takes the occasional bite. She self-weaned at 18 mos...probably because I was entering the second trimester with Junior. I wonder when he'll be done? In the meantime, like you, I enjoy the glimpses of newborn in my baby who wants to be a toddler already!
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