Getting to know you...

Whoops, looks like I'm the first!

I'm Andrea, 34 yo mom of three boys.  Oldest turned five in Feb., middle turned four this month, littlest turned 2 in January.  Yes, they are spaced very closely together.  I've been breastfeeding, nonstop, since February 2003.  Heh.  I tandem nursed from April 2004 until, oh man, August 2007?  Goodness.   I'm a SAHM who writes in her spare time.  I don't have much of it, but I try.  I also love to read, and if my boys are ever quiet for more than a minute at a time, I will be sitting snuggled on the couch with whatever book I happen to be reading at the time.  I don't read books -- I consume them.

My youngest is still nursing and probably will continue to nurse until he's three or so.  I did choose to wean, rather than wait for self-weaning, with my older two.  My oldest was a bit over three and showing no signs of letting up, and I had two other nurslings who were draining all the energy out of me.  Something had to give.  It didn't help that almost overnight he had developed a latch issue that involved leaving tooth imprints in my areola.  So, yes, I weaned him.  More abruptly than I wanted to, but he didn't seem to mind.  My second son was also weaned, primarily because I was just ready to go back to nursing just one child.  I'm very pro-tandem nursing, but 3+ years of it will wear a mom down.  ;)  He was gently weaned.

I don't know when my littlest will wean.  He isn't as avid a nurser as his older brothers were -- whereas they still nursed 8-10 times a day at this age, he's perfectly content with 5-6.  However, he's very adamant that he gets those 5-6 nursings a day, so he may last as long as they did, or he may actually self-wean.  We'll play it by ear.  :)

Hello.  My name is Madonna and I have one daughter, Grace, who is one year.  I started nursing her after only 30 minutes out of the womb, and we've been going strong ever since.  She never took to a bottle, much to my husband's disapproval.  Oh, well.   She took a sippy cup of water at 5 months and ocassionally will take some breast milk from it as well when I have to be away at a nursing time.  She nurses probably 5 times during the day and 1-2 per night.  I couldn't imagine any other way to feed my baby.  I have loved watching her grow up in my arms, have the ability to stop and rest to nurse, and know that I can comfort her during illness and stress.  My concern right now is that my husband and I have a trip every fall offered by his company.  It's a big deal and a fabulous vacation.  They send out a list every spring of wonderful and luxurious destinations, and you send in your top four choices.  I didn't go last year, which was to Bermuda.  My husband went for two nights (one day of the trip is business).   I don't want to miss it this year, which might be (our first choice), the Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona, but I will not wean Grace for a trip.  Has anybody ever traveled away for even a night while nursing a toddler?

Hello Madonna!
I'm glad you joined my group, and I hope you can find helpful advice here!

As far as your vacation goes, are you concerned about taking her with you, or leaving her with someone else? I'm leaning towards the later..

I'm sure she'll be fine if she's left with a babysitter. If she's drank breast milk out of a sippy cup before, she'll do it again. Especially if she's hungry! It'll probably be stressful for who ever is watching her, but she'll live and it'll probably be a good learning experience for her. Maybe, before you leave on your trip, plan a few shorter babysitter dates with her, so she can get used to the idea that sometimes mama and papa leave for a while. That might be a better transition. Good luck, and I hope you'll be able to enjoy your fabulous vacation! Let me know if you have any more questions, and I'll do my best to give some two cents.

OK;;;;... MY NAME IS JACKIE AND I HAVE A  13 MONTH OLD SON, JEREMY
HE EATS EVERYTHING AND LOVES IT, BUT YES I AM PROUD TO SAY WILL STILL NURSE. I WORK FULLTIME (OUTSIDE THE HOME). IT HAS BEEN HARD. I WAS VERY SAD WHEN I WENT BACK TO WORK WHEN HE WAS ONLY 6 WEEKS, AND I WAS SO SCARED THAT HE WOULD NOT WANT TO NURSE ONCE HE GOT SOME OF THE BOTTLE, BUT HE WE ARE 13 MONTHS LATER.
I NEVER GAVE HIM A PACIFIER, AND HE TRIED A BOTTLE ONLY A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE GETTING THE BOTTLE WITH PAPPA WHEN I WENT TO WORK. WE HAVE SURVIVED WITH NOT HAVING TO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WATCH HIM, WITH ME AND MY HUSBAND WORKING DIFFERENT SHIFTS, THOUGH, IT HAS BEEN TOUGH ON US, YOU GOTTA DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
ANYWAY, I HAVE SHARED SLEEP SINCE HE WAS BORN, I STILL NURSE HIM ABOUT 6 TIMES I THINK? INCLUDING 1 OR 2 AT NIGHT. HE HAS BEEN WEAING HIMSELF LITTLE BY LITTLE, BUT I KNOW HE STILL NEEDS IT. BUT IT IS DIFFICULT THOUGH , A LOT OF PRAYING AND PATIENCE, BUT I AM SOO GRATEFUL I STUCK IT OUT. HE IS A HAPPY, LOVING, BABY 
T

Hello Jackie! Thanks for joining this group, and I hope it proves itself useful for you in the future! I is a pleasure to get to know you!!

Quoting jeremysmom330:

OK;;;;... MY NAME IS JACKIE AND I HAVE A 13 MONTH OLD SON, JEREMY
HE EATS EVERYTHING AND LOVES IT, BUT YES I AM PROUD TO SAY WILL STILL NURSE. I WORK FULLTIME (OUTSIDE THE HOME). IT HAS BEEN HARD. I WAS VERY SAD WHEN I WENT BACK TO WORK WHEN HE WAS ONLY 6 WEEKS, AND I WAS SO SCARED THAT HE WOULD NOT WANT TO NURSE ONCE HE GOT SOME OF THE BOTTLE, BUT HE WE ARE 13 MONTHS LATER.
I NEVER GAVE HIM A PACIFIER, AND HE TRIED A BOTTLE ONLY A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE GETTING THE BOTTLE WITH PAPPA WHEN I WENT TO WORK. WE HAVE SURVIVED WITH NOT HAVING TO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WATCH HIM, WITH ME AND MY HUSBAND WORKING DIFFERENT SHIFTS, THOUGH, IT HAS BEEN TOUGH ON US, YOU GOTTA DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
ANYWAY, I HAVE SHARED SLEEP SINCE HE WAS BORN, I STILL NURSE HIM ABOUT 6 TIMES I THINK? INCLUDING 1 OR 2 AT NIGHT. HE HAS BEEN WEAING HIMSELF LITTLE BY LITTLE, BUT I KNOW HE STILL NEEDS IT. BUT IT IS DIFFICULT THOUGH , A LOT OF PRAYING AND PATIENCE, BUT I AM SOO GRATEFUL I STUCK IT OUT. HE IS A HAPPY, LOVING, BABY
T

Hi!

I just joined and thought I would introduce myself.

I am Jada, 27, SAHM, married to DH for almost 4 years (next month!) and proud mama to Aiden Lyn. She is still BF'd on demand, and will be until shes done, whenever that may be. She just turned 30 months. :)

We also cosleep, toddler-wear, and are all around pretty AP. If you wanna know anything else, please feel free to ask! :)

Great group! I look forward to meeting more Extended Nursers!

My turn!

I'm Natalie. I'm a 27 year old SAHMommy to Brandon, (7) and Olivia (19 months).

I nursed Brandon for 44 months and plan to nurse Olivia for as long as she wants! She still nurses on-demand, which is all the time, LOL!  Like Jada, I am an AP mom, I homeschool, babywear... I DON'T do CIO or spanking! I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!