Weaning

This might be it.  I think I am excited about it too.  Leland hasn't nursed since maybe Sunday morning.  Honestly I can't remember the last time he nursed.  We have been only nursing twice a day and only when he asked.  The past few weeks there are mornings or evenings he doesn't ask for it, or a full 24 hours without asking but then he would always ask again.

I didn't want to push him to wean because I wanted it to be on his terms.  So this may be it.  But I don't want to get too excited about it because he could still ask sometime this week and start up again.  I am excited though because it wasn't very comfortable anymore but not enough to make him stop.  

If this is it, that means we made it 22 months of nursing.  I am very happy with my decision to nurse this long, it has been really good for Leland and me.  I plan to nurse just as long with any other children as long as they are on board.

I am glad I am not upset about this either.  I was pretty sure I would be upset, but I think being pregnant  helps me not be upset about him ending our nursing relationship.

Full night sleep

It is official.  Leland is night weaned, after 19 months of nursing when he pleased at night (also known as the after hours breastfeeding cafe).

Leland was sick last week and must have been really tired and not feeling well because two nights in a row he didn't nurse until morning.  Like sun shining morning, not 4 am morning.  So I quickly pounced on that and didn't look back.

I didn't want to push him into night weaning, I wanted it to be more on his end.  But seeing that he really could do it, made me realize he needed just a bit of a nudge from me.

The third night, he was feeling better and wanted that 4 am feeding back.  Instead I gently told him "no milk right now" and rolled over and fell back asleep.  He wasn't so keen on falling back asleep but after some crying he got the message quickly.  It wasn't too bad on my part because it was 4 am and I was tired, so I was pretty out of it during the crying.  The next couple of nights he continued to wake up say "mama" and sign milk, but minimal crying happened.  I continued to say "no milk right now".

Now I can see the light.  Or I am just getting plenty of continuous sleep.

We are now down to three nursings a day- wake up, nap time and bed time.