When I was struggling to breastfeed at the very beginning, I told myself I would aim for 6 months, and wean by then. I know some breastfeeding is better than none, and I felt like 6 months was an attainable goal. I didn’t particularly LIKE breastfeeding at first… I looked at friends like Beth and thought “wow I’m nothing like her. I’ll just be one of those moms who weans at 6 months.”

Then as the 6 month mark drew closer, I realized that breastfeeding wasn’t such a pain anymore (literally!). In fact, I was beginning to like it. And I found that I wasn’t wanting to stop as much as I did earlier. Since the AAP recommends breastfeeding for a full year, I decided to go ahead and adjust my goal – breastfeed for a year and then wean Savannah. We started solids, I breastfed much less frequently, but I still fed her whenever she asked for it.

Last August, the one year mark came, and then passed by. And I’m still breastfeeding. I don’t feel the need to make a new goal – I feel that I have given her a great start in life already. I feel comfortable with weaning whenever we want to. But you know what? I don’t really want to right now. I treasure those times with her – snuggling close together right after she wakes up from a nap, calming her when she’s fussy, being able to provide this extra boost of nourishment and comfort all in one. I love looking into her beautiful eyes and seeing them look back at me. It’s become a joy to me. And to be honest, all the things that annoyed me before about breastfeeding – they don’t seem to annoy me anymore.

I don’t know how long we’ll continue, but I don’t want to rush something because it’s “time” or because society is telling me that breastfeeding a toddler is weird. And though I’m not sure I’ll continue to breastfeed her after I’m pregnant and we have another baby, if that’s what happens then that’s cool too. And you know what? I love it.

Wow. So didn’t think I’d be saying this a year ago.