Extended Nursing

I know what you're thinking.

Really, when is she going to stop nursing that boy? He's almost a year old (on Thursday, July 2)...he eats whatever kind and type of food she puts in front of him (including kimchi). Why is she still nursing that boy?

Now, I know people judge moms on lots of different things. So, now it's time for you to pass judgment on me. I guess am one of "those" moms. You know, the kind who is going to nurse her child past his 1st birthday. I didn't start out like this. I was actually really terrified of nursing because EVERYBODY told me how hard it would be...that it would be the most painful thing I ever experienced (and those of you reading this know that pain and I do not get along)...that I would need a good lactation consultant...that I would not produce enough milk for him. I can tell you that we have definitely had our challenges this first year (namely sleeping issues), but nursing has been the least of our worries.

Emmanuel was born at 5:36AM...after they cleaned him up and handed him to me, he went straight for his food...and nursed for a long time. It didn't hurt. It wasn't hard. He latched on perfectly the first time. And that was it. The midwife said that I needed to make sure he ate "on demand" because he was so small when he was born...he had stopped growing in the womb and needed to gain weight and fast. So, that's what we did. On Demand. When we left the hospital, he had gained a significant amount of weight. On Demand Nursing was working to keep my baby healthy. But, it was so easy that I was worried that I was missing something. I went to a mom's group that was facilitated by a lactation consultant when he was 4 months old. She said that not only was Emmanuel getting enough milk...but that I actually produced A LOT of milk because he was getting full after only eating on one side (among other things). She said, "Great job!" and went on to someone else.

So, in the beginning we nursed everywhere...in the grocery store...at the park...in church...in restaurants...on the airplane...standing up...lying down...sitting up...it doesn't matter...we just nursed.

He has cut down his amount of nursing significantly...and can now go a long time without nursing, especially when he's playing all day. But, he still loves to nurse.

I must also add that my job has been wonderful by providing me with a place to pump and store milk...so we also have a freezer full of milk...just in case.

So, how long will this go on? Since he has had a few ear infections, I will probably try to nurse him for a little while longer. But, if he decides he doesn't want to nurse anymore...then, of course, we'll stop. There's no forcing this kid to eat!

I'm so thankful that Emmanuel is a good eater, and the fact that he nurses well is definitely a plus for me...but the one thing that I have learned this first year as somebody's mama is that you have to do what works best for your family. So, if that means feeding your baby formula or dressing your kid just in a onesie when he's out in public or giving your baby vitamins or letting your baby cry it out or letting your child wear a bunch of hand-me-downs or choosing not to feed your baby organic and whole wheat everything or God forbid if you had an epidural and didn't have a natural birth in the water with a doula that lasted 19 hours and 10 minutes...you have to do whatever works best for your family...for us, it looks like that is nursing Lil' E past a year and we are ok with that.

Happy early birthday, little nursing boy!

Our Adventures over the past month!

This last month has been quite busy for our little family.  I am so sorry that I haven't taken the time to update all of you about our adventures with Lil' E.  

Let's just say...he is quite adventurous, and he doesn't get it from his mama!  He loves to giggle and play games.  He makes up games with Eli all by himself...his favorite one is biting Eli's nose and then laughing his head off while he pulls away.  He really likes the water.  He LOVES being outside.  He LOVES going to the grocery store (especially Trader Joe's because they give you samples) and he likes screaming at people.  (Yes, he's loud...very loud--he might get that from his mama!)  He also LOVES to eat...these days he's eating blueberries, pinto beans, spinach quiche (I know, right)...it doesn't matter what it is, how spicy it is, how much garlic it has in it (again, mama's influence)....he loves to eat.  

Here he is below trying to escape! (Just an FYI--this blog is not in chronological order because of the way I uploaded the pictures...sorry!)

This is a picture from Mook's 8th grade graduation.  (Mook, his grandmother Ms. Mary, and Darnell)
Emmanuel loves this red vase/jar thingie that we have.  He likes to drop things into it, and he like rocking on it (he gets his rhythm from his mama).  But notice that he is approaching the outlets...this is where mama said, "no" like four times and received no response, then daddy said, "NO!" and Emmanuel cried.  My mom says that this kid has me wrapped around his finger...say it ain't so.  

Uncle Wil came to visit and help us out on our house.  Here is Emmanuel playing a "game."  

Okay, now they are posing for a real picture.  Wil says that Emmanuel is going to be running all over the place soon.  This kid does have boundless amounts of energy--not sure who he gets that from (lol!)

We go to the grocery store A LOT.  When Emmanuel was first born, I went to the g-store just to get out and walk around and peruse the sales.  Now, we have so much fun and all the cashiers know him by name!  It' great.  We discovered that he is finally tall enough to ride in this seat. He had the people in superfresh laughing so hard because he could barely see over the wheel. He was screaming out of excitement and beeping the horn.  It was great!  Trader Joe's has these mini-grocery store carts for kids...I guess we'll have to try those next week. 

Our friends from North Carolina, Davin and Won-Jung Hong, came to Baltimore with their two kids, Zoe (you might remember her from a video post earlier) and Daniel.  Emmanuel and I got to hang out with the Hongs and the Chens (Justin, Catherine, and Evie) at this nice Korean restaurant pretty close to our house. 

Here are Emmanuel and Evie--these two are hilarious!  Everytime they get together they just stare at each other.  It is the funniest thing!  I can't wait until they get older to show them all of their baby pics where they were staring at one another.  

Emmanuel really likes Won-Jung--she is a pretty amazing wife and mother.  I like her a lot, too.  He likes to touch noses.  and hair.  and ears.  another game courtesy of daddy.

Bauntie Michelle graduated from High School.  She will attend Temple University.  I had the privilege of attending her graduation, but didn't get any pictures with her there.  This is a picture of her at her graduation party.  She brought this shirt for Emmanuel from Sicily when she went in April.  It says something like, "Someone who loves me brought me this shirt from Sicily."  

And, of course, no blog post this long would be complete without a picture of Emmanuel's weekly playdate buddy, Bella.  

And my playdate buddy, Jamie.  I'm so blessed to have her here in Baltimore.  She is such a source of strength and support for me.  Emmanuel is very comfortable with Jamie.  She's a great wife and mother, too....and she's expecting her second baby already!  I know, right!  At this point if you are thinking...hmmm....I wonder when Carmen and Eli will have their second...I can answer that for you...not anytime soon :) 

Emmanuel is sporting the curls! 

This is at Priscilla's graduation from high school.  Priscilla will attend Mt. Holyoke.  This is a picture of she and her mom.  Emmanuel is wearing her school colors.  

The happy graduate! Priscilla had perfect attendance for her whole school career.  Amazing.

Darnell's graduation from high school.  He will attend Morgan State in the fall.  

Stanley, Eli, and Brian (who also graduated).  

Tavon better watch out--Lil' E is going to grab that phone! 

Got a great deal on this inflatable baby pool.  And, thanks Grammie Judy for the sun hat.  We couldn't keep it on long, but we tried. 

I just like this picture. 

Mona's basketball banquet.  She and her mom might as well be twins.  They love Emmanuel and bought him all the suits that you see in these pictures.  

Mona and Lil' E. 
Well, that's a wrap.  His 1st Birthday is next week, but we will probably wait a couple of weeks to have his party--due to all the traveling that people do for the 4th of July.  I've been working on this theme for a long time...I will reveal the theme and plans in a later post :)  My mom friends who have gone before me say that with boys I have a small window to plan these themed-parties...so I'm starting as soon as I can.  

Stay tuned for the party details, my friends. 

Thanks for reading.  

Our happy boy and his bubbles ;)

Here's Emmanuel "experiencing" bubbles for the first time! 

First Steps

These feet are made for walking...
And that's what they're gonna do...

One of these days
These feet are gonna walk all over you!

On May 26, 2009, Emmanuel took his first steps.

Eli was holding him, and he walked to me.

What an amazing blessing and gift that we could both be present when Emmanuel walked for the first time.

Although Eli and I have experienced great pain these last few months, I am overjoyed when I look back over Emmanuel's first year (he is 11 months today) and think about all of the time that his daddy got to spend with him. Eli is an incredible daddy to Emmanuel. I learn something new everyday by watching him invest his time and his life into our little boy. He is a far better dad than I am mom, and I am so thankful that God chose us to be partners as we raise Emmanuel together.

We are committed to walking through life together. Whether that's supporting one another's careers or cheering the other one on while they run a race or hanging out with one another's friends or being an encouragement when our world has been turned upside down...

...or Praying over our boy...
...we are doing it together.

And, I am so thankful that we were there together for Emmanuel's first steps.

And, might I add...he is such a happy kid! I am humbled by his enthusiasm and his energy (I don't know where he gets that from!)

His feet were made for walking...and that's is surely what he's gonna do!

Thanks for your prayers for our little family.