Oh how I love to make milkshakes!

Today my boy is 694 days old. I have been breatfeeding for 692 days. Soon, soon I will get the courage to write about the 2 day difference but for now I will concentrate on what is good, what is lovely and what is wonderful. I make the most amazing milkshakes. I have only had 100% good reviews. My little boy has thrived on the blessing that is breastfeeding. It makes me sad to think that I don't have 692 days left to breastfeed him and we are way past the mid way point but so glad to know that I have made it this far.

Setting out I had planned on breastfeeding for one year. That seemed like a good amount of time. Then I had a baby. After some talking to breastfeeding specialists, research and my own gut instinct I knew that for MY child the best thing would be to breastfeed him for 2 full years. We are 37 days away from my goal.

My precious little boy getting my milk which was hand expressed before going into theatre 20/05/2011

I have seen the benefits every day. He was born at 34 weeks 3 days yet was released from hospital with me at 4 days old. He reached his birth weight in 10 days and weighed over 9kg at 6 months old when I introduced solids. My decision to introduce solids was based on a lot of research too, as well as my gut instinct, but it came down to the fact that solids replace some of the milk and this wasn't what I wanted for MY child. He eats olives, devours sour things and helps himself to any of the other foods in the fridge. He has had one mild ear and chest infection in 2 years and continues to dodge nasty bugs all the time. His milestones have been advanced even though he has had very little sleep in those 2 years. He is happy, he is content, he is a blessing. I realise I can't credit it all to 2 years of nursing, but breastfeeding my child has formed part of my parenting. He never took any type of comforter other than the breast. We fed more or less on demand (every 2 hours until 14 weeks old) from the get go and he hasn't spent more than a few hours away from me in his life. I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to parent in this way and I do realise this. I know that it will take him a little longer than other children to separate from me but when he does he will be an emotionally stable, confident child who has no doubts he is loved and prioritised.

My gut instinct told me from that first cry he needed to be on my chest. Unfortunately this was not possible for us but he has made up for it! He knows that I want to be the one to comfort him, that he is not alone in this scary world. My type A personality had to turn away from schedules and routines and instead adapt to the needs of my baby. He has learnt now that milk is only for bed time and we feed only when I put him down at night. We are far from having breastmilk as a source of nourishment but it is now about the comfort and the signal for sleep. He is busy cutting his last set of molars and when that is complete I will look at dropping that feed too. We'll see how he goes as it isn't only about me. It makes me sad that this chapter is coming to an end but I know we won't be any less close or spend any less time together. I look forward to the new experiences that graduating from this stage brings. It makes me very happy to know that I will get to do it again one day. Not yet but sometime in the future.

My decision to practise this type of parenting and extend my breastfeeding past the typical year point has been met with some criticism by family members and friends, not to mention the community at large. I am not the typical "attachment parent", nor do I wish to stereotype myself as one, and I think it comes as a surprise to some people which is good. I don't breastfeed in public anymore (not necessary anymore) and sometimes I did say no to him when it isn't convenient for me to feed. We shouldn't make decisions based on stereotypes. I don't make my decisions based on what my next door neighbour is doing but on what worked for me, my child and what felt good AND THAT is what it comes down to. In parenting I won't ever do ANYTHING I don't feel comfortable with. I do a whole lot of talking, reading, consulting my "village" and praying about it if I am not completely sure.

I am so grateful for my milkshake makers. Even though 692 days down the road they look like wilted tulips they still make the best milkshakes!