1377 days.

3 years, 9 months and 7 days….

So, I weaned my 15 month old about 10 days ago, it’s pretty safe to say we’re done with breastfeeding. This has been somewhat of an extended journey for me. Since I was pregnant with Loenne, then breastfed her for 13.5 months, [...]]]> Notes on Motherhood-

1377 days.

3 years, 9 months and 7 days….

So, I weaned my 15 month old about 10 days ago, it’s pretty safe to say we’re done with breastfeeding. This has been somewhat of an extended journey for me. Since I was pregnant with Loenne, then breastfed her for 13.5 months, stopping when I found out I was pregnant with Evan. . then nursed Evan for these past 15 months since and there you get 1377 days. That is a long time, not the longest, certainly.. . um.. Am I Mom Enough??   A long time nonetheless.

And so here I am, suddenly the sole proprietor of my body. Ach! Who am I? It’s strange to not have to think about breastfeeding when I get dressed in the morning. Can you say, Nursing Bra Burning Party??

My last midwife had told that the best time to wean was between 12 and 15 months- I had that stuck in my head, and it had to happen eventually. But it wasn’t easy to wean Evan, on a personal level. She is so sweet and cozy, and we had whittled our nursing schedule down to just bedtime and part of me was like, we could just do this forever, probably… and denying her the bedtime milk made her upset! :(  I am still kind of sad about it, although she has now stopped having a mini cry as my husband rips her from my arms to put her to bed at night. (dramatization) That certainly made me feel like a terrible mother who had made a terrible decision. But I know it’s right for her, and us. As Raffi says, everything grows.

So there is that part of me that is sad, and the other part of me that is like “LET’S GO TO VEGASSS!!” It’s a really strange sensation to think that it’s even possible. I haven’t taken anything stronger than a Tylenol in 1377 days, so there’s another part of me that’s like “LET’S GET SIIIICK!” Not really.  I think I’m done with all that pregnancy jazz. I’ve put in my time, paid my dues, we’re happy with our family. Tie the tubes! It will take a while to become familiar with this lack of uncertainty, in this one but important part of our lives.

There is so much contraversy over breastfeeding right at this very moment! Due to that TIME magazine cover of the woman breastfeeding her 3 year old, and the corresponding article about attachment parenting.  It’s hard to not have an opinion. I am definitely pro breastfeeding, but that’s because it worked for us.  I was really lucky that it came so easily to me and the girls, and that my body was extremely efficient at creating copious amounts of super fatty milk- if you saw my babes when they were little, you know I’m not making this up!  However, I am not a breastfeeding extremist- I am not so sure about extended nursing into the three or four year old range.  I kind of feel like it is less about child’s need for comfort and attachment as it is an easy way out… because in the end- breastfeeding is a tool! Dudes, as if it isn’t!! There is nothing better for a crying baby or a middle of the night wake up- put a boob in their mouth and voila- instant sleepy calm. It’s so easy, which is awesome. It definitely made for happy babies in our case, of course a baby is happy when they get what they want. But really, it’s a bit of a manipulative strangle hold at three, for both child AND mother, no? And I can only say this because I have a three year old, and I can’t imagine breastfeeding her.  I feel like she’s too smart for that. And I would rather comfort her by cuddling and talking about stuff than just  indulging her or lulling her into a sleepy coma.

But whatever, really, although I have an opinion- to each his own.  I think every Mom should just do her best, in the way that works for her and her family. I know I feel guilty about something irrational a thousand times a day, and I am sure I am not alone in that.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!  For all the Mom’s out there, whatever you get up to- hope your day is satisfying and sweet.

For the past month or two I’ve been obsessed with making the perfect homemade granola bars. My local bulk store loves me.  I’ve been experimenting with different ingredients, and I think we’ve got a winner. The basics tend to remain the same, but it’s the liquid binding agents that change the whole thing. Different recipes I’ve tried have used [...]]]>

For the past month or two I’ve been obsessed with making the perfect homemade granola bars. My local bulk store loves me.  I’ve been experimenting with different ingredients, and I think we’ve got a winner. The basics tend to remain the same, but it’s the liquid binding agents that change the whole thing. Different recipes I’ve tried have used combinations of peanut butter, eggs, corn syrup, honey, butter, brown sugar. . . Granola #2, the winner, uses a can of sweetened condensed milk and butter. Simple! Here’s the recipe.

3 cups of rolled oats
5 cups of a combination of the following- ( I use a giant measuring cup and keep layering  until I have 5 cups)

chopped walnuts
chopped pecans
almond slivers
shredded coconut
sunflower seeds
raisins
dried cranberries
chopped dried apricots
chocolate chips
white chocolate chips
butterscotch chips
wheat germ
flax seeds
bran buds

half cup of butter, melted
one can of sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons of cinnamon

Combine all the dry ingredients and mix. Whisk the condensed milk and cinnamon into the melted butter. Add to dry ingredients and mix well.

Press mixture into a cookie sheet lined with foil. Compact well, a fork works the best.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, flip granola out of pan and remove foil. Cut or break into pieces.

AMAAAAAAAZINGGGGG!