First Full Week

Gavin has now been weaned for a full week now.  This wasn't intentional.  In fact, I've always nursed for at least a year.  But Gavin and I have really struggled with nursing for a few months now.  It started over Christmas break.  He was cutting teeth #5 and #6.  His teeth were so sharp they kept cutting my skin (but only my left side).  Cutting it so much that it would bleed.  And the pain was excruciating.  So, I went to pumping my left side.  But this had it's own difficulties, like finding an outlet if I wasn't at home, having to leave church in order to pump, etc.  I would pump for a few days while the skin healed.  Then I could nurse again for another week.  And then I would have to pump for another week.  This went back and forth for two months.  I finally had it when it took 10 days for my skin to heal and then only one day for it to be cut again.  I realized this was not working out.  And sadly decided it was time to wean Gavin.  This has been a whole new experience for me.  I had never bought formula before--had no idea how much to feed him or even how to make a bottle.  I know that's pretty pathetic to admit, but I had never prepared a bottle before.  I didn't even own a bottle.  Luckily, Gavin has been agreeable about taking a bottle and switching over to formula.  I'm not use to being "free" from Gavin--being able to run errands and not having to think about nursing.  Or yesterday, it finally dawned on me that I can eat certain foods now that I'm not nursing.  I'm still the one that feeds Gavin (gives him a bottle).  I still like to cuddle him and don't really want to give that up yet to anyone.  Robert has fed him a couple of times but I usually am not willing to share that responsibility.