Friday, July 11, 2008

By The Books

I confess that I never read any "mommy books" or "how to books" that weren't a college requirement for my teaching credential.

*breathe, girls breathe*

I didn't take any kind of "birthing" classes either. NOT. A. SINGLE. ONE!!!

gasp.

Not because I didn't care, not because I didn't have the time... I just decided that I didn't want to know all the things that "could go, might go" wrong. Having listened to the doctors for the first 33 weeks of my first pregnancy, never thinking Kyle would be born... nor believing that his brothers would be possible... I could imagine enough trouble without the books including any other possible scenarios.

It worked for me... but I'm not about to tell another mom to do it "like that."

I was reading a mother's blog today on needing to ween her baby... and I thought I'd share my story of how I did it... because it worked SO WELL.

The boys are all about 14 months apart in age and I nursed all of them for about a year. Weening the first three was more matter of being in the third trimester of the next pregnancy than anything I did or didn't do. But then Caden had his first birthday and I remember thinking, "This is my last baby, and every "last" for him... will really be "the last for us."

I remember telling Tony about my mental check list: binkies... diapers... strollers... car seats.

He asked, "what about nursing?"

ummm... yeah, there's that too. ** What's HE thinking??**

Flash forward a few weeks...

We got invited by our friends to go to Hawaii for a week... with no kids.

Tony made all the arrangements, including having my sister agree to weening the baby while we were gone...

YEP... I kid you not.

I left all 4 babies... with my amazing sister... who spoiled the bajeebers out of them (with her 7 - year old twins as her helpers) for an entire week. I only agreed to it because Tony REALLY wanted/needed the time, and I figured it was finally time. Caden has always been a pretty easy kid... and didn't give her too much trouble (so she said... probably because I was having major guilt issues).

So... that's how my baby got weened... sorta

(Until, we got home... and I thought I was going to POP... and so he had a little smackeral of some, some. And darn Tony's hide... he just had to go and tell my sister... who was not too happy with me "after she'd gone and done all that work weening him for me.")

Family... I tell ya.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What HE was thinking... was that I wanted to give you that diamond ring I gave you when we got to the hotel room... alone... for the first time in 5 years!!!

humph...

Kristen said...

Well, that is one way to ween a baby. I've actually never heard of someone doing that before. But good for you, I am sure that you needed a break!

Now, if you don't mind that I ask, why did they tell you for 33 weeks you weren't going to have baby 1? You were so close to delivery then?

And I also didn't/don't read books. Mostly, because no stinking time. Plus, I would rather just ask a few people what worked for them, instead of reading 300 pages on some man's theory! :)

Anonymous said...

Wow - That is one way to do it! You know, your sis could get herself a great business going. She could rent herself or other women out to take care of weaning! She would probably make a bundle!

Anonymous said...

What a great story. Thanks for sharing!

Amanda said...

Just before my first was born we went to a 'Parentcraft Class'. Which was supposed to prepare you for birth and life with a new born. We went for a tour of the Labour ward during these classes, but the only thing that this tour did for me was to scare me s******s!! Needless to say we didn't go back to any other classes with my other pregnancies!

Saina said...

I knew your boys were close in age... my two are 14 months apart as well. But just 2 - for right now. I love reading your blog, it gives me hope that we'll get through these toddler years just fine!

I, too, nursed Braiden far into the pregnancy. He ended up weaning himself around a year. We'll see what Noah ends up doing... I like your way of doing it though, and my sister would probably take the boys for me too! :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow, now that's what family is for!

My first two weaned themselves before turning a year old.

My youngest was weaned because of a trip to Hawaii. My brother was getting married in Maui, and only us adults went. The "baby" was over 3 years old by then!

Kat said...

Wow! I want a sis like that! ;)

My boys all weened themselves. They just kinda got sick of me I think. hehe

Rachel's Journal Pages said...

Thanks for your comment on my post, loved reading about your babies (well, not so much now...) and how you weaned them.
Mine were all about 11 months old when I decided I'd had enough of the feeding and they could do without it - then I think I went out on a 'trip' somewhere for hours... just cause I could, without having to be home at a specific time to 'feed' someone.... :)

Anonymous said...

That's the best weaning story I've ever heard!! Is your sister willing to do this for other gals too? lol!! I'm thinkin she could make some serious moolah doing it. If people are willing to pay for someone else to potty-train their kids then why not to wean them?? =0)

The Joys of having Boys said...

Wow, that is one way to do it.

andria said...

I would love to wean my 14 month old, but she will have no part in it. I've tried cold turkey but it was too painful for me. Was it painful for you or did you pump to get you through it?

Becky @ BoysRuleMyLife said...

Great story! That sounds about like the best way to do it... minus the painful part! :) But, I do think a diamon ring would be worth it! heehee! :)