On Nursing

In the spring I was down to nursing Jed 3 times a day.  I nursed him in the morning, after school and then at bedtime.  I stopped nursing him in the afternoons on April 22nd.  I stopped nursing him in the mornings when we were in MI over the summer.  And now I am no longer a nursing him in the evenings....I am no longer a nursing mother, nor shall I ever be again.  This makes me sad.  My plan was to quit nursing him all together the day after his 2nd birthday, but I just couldn't tell him no.  Thankfully he quit on his own last Monday.  My nursing journey ended on Labor Day of all things.  I thought this kind of funny because it was all I had left to hold on to of my time of being a mother to a baby.  It's what still connected me to the miracle of my pregnancy, labor, delivery and care of a newborn.  Nursing has been one of the most special, precious and miraculous things I have ever done or experienced.  The human body is amazing and God created it so perfectly and thoughtfully.  It never came easy for me at the beginning with either of my children, but it was so worth the fight.  Nursing was not only the most amazing bonding experience for me and my children, but it also taught me so much about myself....about my determination, perseverance, willingness to fight.  Though I would not fault anyone for giving up, it was so hard at first, I'm so happy that I fought through the extreme pain and even suffering, sleepless nights, judgmental eyes, stress, and total time commitment, to make it work.  It was worth it all.  I am so thankful for my cheerleaders that helped me keep up my fight when it got really hard...Kyle, my parents, Peggy and Jenn Smitley.  I have spent 4 years of my life nursing my babies and it's been one of my greatest accomplishments.