Weanie

Weaning. 

At the same time as "sleep training"

At the same time as teething….molars no less. 

Am I crazy? Maybe. 

BUT, sometimes you have to do crazy things.

Tonight was Eli's last time nursing. 

I didn't cry. 

It was sad, and I stared at him the entire time, but I didn't cry.

Let's look on the happy side though- 

I get my boobs back. No more nursing bras, nursing pads, engorgement, thinking about how long I could be somewhere before I would need to leave because I was so full I might explode, no more accidental milk showers when I wait to long to feed him, no more leaving the room every few hours to sit in a dark room all by ourselves for half an hour, and I don't have to worry about everything I eat and drink and what time it will get to Eli. 

The other good news is that, if all goes according to plan, we'll be able to go on vacation and I won't even need to bring a pump. HOOOORAY!

The bad news…well, the bad news is that my boobs may be mine, but they certainly don't look like mine. Yikes. I mean, I knew it was coming, but man. I ACTUALLY did a double take getting out of the shower the other day. We'll see how this ends up. 

All that, and I am still sad to be done. It was amazing how in tune it kept us. 

I made what he needed. 

He needed what I made.

I felt a bit like a super hero. 

When nothing else worked- nursing would.

It's his favorite thing. 

Was.

It WAS his favorite thing.

Oh goodness, I better stop now before I DO cry.

I'll leave with a photo from tonight before bedtime. 

I think he forgives me. 

I. Slept. All. Night.

It's been almost 2 years in the coming…but I got to sleep all night WITHOUT WAKING UP

I didn't wake up to pee from a baby sitting on my bladder

I didn't wake up because of pregnancy hormones giving me WEIRD dreams

I didn't wake up to nurse a baby.

Eli slept all night, and SO DID WE! 

I celebrated with a closed door shower, a quick at-home pedi, wine (ok, ok, 80% grape juice and 20% wine), chocolate ice-cream, and an episode of Call the Midwife. 

 As one should. 

This sounds all happy, happy, happy. 

Let me assure you, the process to get there was NOT.

We needed to have Eli night-weaned by the time we leave for vacation. So, we got a plan, marked it all out on our calendar, and put the "No Cry Sleep Solution" plan into action.

It SUUUUUUUUCKED.

"No cry", um, yeah right. 

The idea is that it is a gentler way to help your child sleep through the night (an alternative to the Ferber method or Cry It Out method)

Let's just say, Eli's voice is still raspy from all the screaming he did. 

Week 1: hard-core schedule during the day (eating, napping), bedtime routine

Week 2: keep the schedule and add in more food during the day, keep bedtime routine

Week 3: No cry sleep solution at night (aka: no one sleeps for a week)

Week 4: Eli sleeps through the night- but stops napping

HOPEFULLY week 5 brings naps back into the picture…because mama needs a break.