Did You Know?... Zachary

It was not too easy for me to come up with something you may not already know about Baby Zach.  Many of you have been following his story since the day he was born, or even before!  And I try to be very diligent about updating his every accomplishment--something I wish I had done with all five of my little Blessings.

But perhaps you don't know, maybe because at this age it's a bit "taboo"-- that Zachary still nurses!  Yes, even at 17 months, Zachy shows no intention of weaning.  And at this point, neither does Mommy.  Now don't you worry... I'm not posting pictures in this update!

All my older children were weaned shortly after they turned one.  David nursed the longest, until he was 15 1/2 months old.  So why, might you ask, don't we kick the habit?  Well, why not?  Perhaps I continue to nurse him because it is the best way I can find to soothe him, to let me hold and baby him just a little longer despite his emerging independence.  Maybe it's so he doesn't get a little brother too soon!  Perhaps it's because he may be our last baby (though no promises here.)  Maybe I feel guilty because I had to wean Samuel before the two of us were ready.  And maybe it's to make up for our lost "together" time when Zachy was in the ICU recovering from his surgeries.  Perhaps it's just to say HE COULD, for so, so many babies with a heart condition are never able to breastfeed.  Maybe it's because I know that my milk is just plain good for him, and he needs all the "goodness" he can get, especially now that he's a choosy eater.  Maybe it makes me feel that I am providing for him, when so much else in his life is beyond my control.

Whatever the reason, the day is coming--coming soon--that he will wean, and I will have to accept the realization that my sweet Baby Zachary is growing up.

Comments

  1. MiriamMay 14, 2010 at 7:34 AM

    I don't know many other extended nursers (locally), and often wonder how many women I know DO nurse for extended amount of time...but DON'T talk about it because it is TABOO! :-) I nursed both mine until 2.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 14, 2010 at 12:49 PM

    Gabi was my longest "boob baby," nursing until 16mos (when I got pg with Addy). Then Addy being a micropreemie only nursed a time or two in NICU. I pumped for 5mos, til I got pg with Rafe. He's now 10mos and still going strong. He has refused a binki since birth, soooo something tells me he will be breaking Gabi's record. Nohting wrong with extended BFing!

    I have been pregnant or nursing a baby for 4 years and 2 months. When the time comes for Rafe to wean, idk how I'll stop eating so much food!! lol

    Mandi Serrioz

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Carter'sMay 14, 2010 at 12:57 PM

    You hold on to the baby-ness of that cutie as long as you want to! It's great that Zachy was able to nurse, because like you said, so many of the heart babies aren't able. With Derrick I pumped for about a month and that was all I could handle. He's my first little one and I had no idea how to nurse! They didn't help me out with that in the hospital because everyone was so concerned with exactly how much he was eating at a time and we ended up going home before I was ever "taught." I tried once when we got home and D looked up at me like, "Lady, I don't know what you're thinking, but I'd like my bottle now!" That did me in! Ha!

    Enjoy that special time with your little guy, and who cares about how it may be taboo! He's your BABY!

    ReplyDelete

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