Ethan turns a year old on the 11th. I look back & realize that this past year has been the fastest year of my life! He has made life so much more meaningful! It's hard to imagine my life before him.

He is eating a lot more table foods. He is nursing about 5 times a day, but he has also been waking up a lot at night & he wants to nurse all night long. Just a couple of nights ago, I decided I was going to put a stop to it. I will not nurse him at night, anymore. I can't function on a couple of hours of sleep, anymore. He use to sleep through the night so wonderfully. From age 3 months to about 10 months, he slept through from 11 PM to 7 or 8 AM. It was great. So, I know that he can do without "nummies" all night.

We had to take him to the doctor a couple of days ago. His big toe on his right foot was really red & swollen. His pediatrician said that he has an in-grown toenail & the skin around it is infected. She put him on an antibiotic & she said when the infection is gone, we have to take him to a toe doctor & he will numb it & cut it back. Since Ethan is having trouble with in-grown toenails so early, I hope that this isn't going to be an on-going thing.

He weighs about 23 pounds & is 31 inches long. He is so tall. He is getting in to everything. He walks around furniture & he actually climbs up on things, now. He's not walking by himself yet, but I know he could if he wanted to. He's just too afraid. Oh well, he'll do it when he's ready. I'm in no hurry.

I started him on cow's milk. He liked it to begin with, but now he seems to spit more out then he drinks. I don't pump anymore, because he likes it in his cereal . The pump that I have, I borrowed from WIC. I have had it since he was a couple of weeks old. I have to return it when he turns one. So, I need to get him use to drinking cow's milk from his cup (instead of breastmilk.)

He has changed so much in the past couple of months. Some days, he doesn't even seem like the same baby. He use to be on such a wonderful schedule. Now, you never know when he's going to nurse, take his nap, go to bed at night. It has taken a toll on ol' Mom. I liked the routine so much better! He sure is growing up!! He's not a baby anymore. He's a little man. At least when I nurse him, I can take those few minutes to relax & enjoy the closeness that we have. No matter how old he gets, I'll always have the memories of that.

Until next month, happy nursing!

Read my last months journal.

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