Jodie is now 20 months old.

This month has brought very few changes in our nursing relationship. She still nurses approximately four to five times a day. There are also times where I swear all she is doing is checking to make sure that it is there. :)

She is able to verbalize her wanting milk and I am enjoying that. She will climb up on my lap (usually when I sit down at the computer) and ask, "Milk?" How can I say no? When she is all done she sits up and says, "Done! Bye-bye milk." She does this as she helps me pull my blouse back down.

The one thing that I find surprising about extended nursing? The amount of support that I do receive. I have heard from other moms who have chosen to continue nursing past the first year how they have to put up with condemnation and ridicule and find themselves defending their nursing their child past infancy. I have not encountered or that...or maybe I am just not paying attention. Friends and family have yet to say anything negative about our extended breastfeeding. Last month at a pedi visit I received so much support and encouragement for my continuing to nurse Jodie. In fact, he attributes her excellent health to my nursing her. She has never had an ear infection and has not had any need for antibiotics until last month when the whole family (all six of us) came down with strep throat. Last week I was at my own doctor for a particularly resistant respiratory infection. As he was writing scripts for me, I reminded him that I am still nursing. Without even batting an eye he pulled out his reference book to make sure the necessary meds would be okay for a nursing child. Next week my husband and I are chaperoning a group of teenagers on a ski trip for the holiday weekend. My three older children will be staying with friends but I just was not comfortable with leaving Jodie for four days because she still does nurse but no longer drinks from a bottle. I told the youth pastor and he told me not to worry and to bring her along.

I don't think that I am so lucky not to encounter some negativity or to be surrounded by such progressive minded people...in a perfect world maybe...no, I think what it is is I am confident when I tell someone that I am still nursing my toddler. I don't make a big deal about it but if they ask, I will tell them proudly and with confidence, "Yes, I am nursing Jodie." and leave it at that.

If you are one of those moms who, unfortunately, does encounter negativity or criticism, I am sorry. I do want to encourage you in your choice to provide the very best for your child, no matter what their age is. What a lucky child you have to have such a great mommy!

Happily nursing,

Jodie and Laura †

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Read last month's journal.