Nursing John Past One

It was my dream to make it to two.

Then it was my dream to make it to two weeks.

In any event, here we are at 20 months with an avid nurser. Who would've thunk?

Nowadays, John Piggy Pie comes up to me and pulls on the already-stretched-out collar of my shirt. He pulls on me and he whines. 

I say, "No-No, John P. That is not how you ask for ninny."

Then he repeats after me.

"I" - "I"

"want" - "nuh"

"ninny" - "neeeeeeny"

"please" - "psss"

"Mama" - "Mama"

Then sometimes for good measure, he repeats (to the best of his ability) Mama is beautiful or I love Mama {whichever sentiment I'm most in need of at that particular moment}.  

This happens at least 15 times a day. 

Of course, he also nurses multiple times at night; it helps us all sleep. 

I often hear people - men & women - talking about how much breastfeeding creeps them out [just in general]. 

I even more often hear people - even those who have nursed their own - talking about how much breastfeeding into the toddler years creeps them out. 

I guess I can understand. {I've had to eat my words vowing NEVER to nurse John while he's standing up. Whoops.}

I just wish that people could understand that the nearly-two-year-old that I'm nursing is my baby.

When he falls and hits his head, I pick him up and (almost) instantly soothe him. 

When Mama comes home from work, I walk through the door, pick up my Boo and experience instant re-connection with him. 

When he goes a day without eating anything (anything except cookie-tookies, that is), I rest assured knowing that he's getting the nourishment he needs.

Of course, I get some strange looks. When we are out and John disappears under his ninny cover, some people do a double take. I can see the wheels turning: How old is that kid? And when we are at the softplay: How many times will this kid nurse in a 20-minute period.

I can honestly say that I don't care what people think about me for feeding my son. To date, breastfeeding is the only parenting hill that I'm buried on. It's that important to me.

I am so thankful that I can nurse my toddler. At this point, Josh and I don't believe that he'll ever wanna wean, BUT we are still planning to let him lead the way in the weaning department. So, yeah, we'll see what happens.

Oh, and we love him so.