Weaning

Well I think it's really official that the weaning process has begun. Technically, the second I gave him solid food back at 6 months old, he was beginning the process of weaning, but I don't really count that. Now he's really weaning. This weekend we started giving him some whole milk just to see how he would do with it and he did great. So this week at daycare, he will take 6 oz of breastmilk (BM) and 3 oz of cow's milk (CM). I told the daycare to do his 3 oz of BM at 9am and the other 3 oz of BM at 3pm. Then we would try the 3 oz of CM at lunchtime with his meal while in the high chair. If he takes it, great. If not, then we'll go back to rocking in the chair with him. This weekend, we tried offering him milk with his meal and he did take it a few times, so I think he's starting to get used to it a little more. Persistence, right?

As far as pumping, I've determined I need about 45 ounces to finish these last 2 weeks (6 oz of BM a day this week and 3 oz of BM a day next week). I have around 45 ounces of BM in the freezer, so I'm actually ok to stop pumping now except I want to wean myself gradually just in case. So this week I'm going to stop pumping first thing in the morning, which is what I do on the weekends anyway. I'm also going down to pumping 1 time during the day. Next week I'll stop pumping altogether and I just can't wait!!!!

All of this is definitely bittersweet. I'm excited about the prospect of trying to conceive another little one (and also dreading all the fertility junk at the same time). I am 100% excited to rid myself of the pump, but it will also be nice to wear normal bras and not have to worry about wearing something I can nurse Noah in. I will certainly miss him, but I think he will do good without the BM, too. I do feel somewhat guilty and I know I shouldn't. I went a whole year and that was my goal all along. Some parts of me wishes I could go into the second year, but really it would be more to prove I can do it and it wouldn't be for the benefit of me or Noah. I have just been questioning my "parenting" a lot lately and wondering whether I'm doing a good job. I guess that never ends, right?