She's Weaned

Harper is officially weaned. We were shooting for one year, but I think 11 months and 6 days isn't too shabby! I love how in tune we are to each other. As my milk gradually lessened, she gradually backed off. I wouldn't say that she demanded less, because now she's taking an 8 oz bottle of formula at night. I was simply running out of milk. I know, they say you can't run out of milk...but I have. When she was first born I fed her every 3 hours around the clock. As time went on, she needed less, and my body responded. We were doing 3 nursings a day for a while, but she eventually became uninterested in the mid-day feeding. A few weeks ago she wasn't getting enough from me at night so I would nurse her and finish with a bottle. Of course that feeding went away altogether leaving the morning nursing time. The other day, she was tired of trying. My milk has diminished. I think it may be due to the fact that I'm drinking more water because I'm working out at the crossfit gym, but maybe I'm not drinking enough water for both crossfit and nursing.

But I really think it's due to the fact that my little baby is growing up, and God has designed us both to know when it's time. I am in awe at the complexity with which God made us. And I will say, nothing makes you realize how intricately He created us as nursing. When you're pregnant, your body changes and starts preparing food for your baby. First there's the colostrum which has a very specific function as the first food your baby has outside of the womb. Then a couple weeks later the body changes it to milk when it's needed. And the fact that when you begin nursing, it's a thinner milk to satiate baby's hunger, then in the same nursing session it becomes fattier milk that contains more nutrients...I mean it's just fascinating.

Sorry to those of you who have been grossed out by this post, if you even kept reading. Having said all of this, I'm kind of glad it's over. I feel like Harper and I are both emotionally ready to move on, and it is good.