Wean-ed, Sleep-ing

Gratitude and peace fill me when I think of how far we've come. We really did it. I breastfed my baby for 13mo through major back surgery. Then I weaned her and got her to sleep in her crib again after upsetting the routine for months. Phew!

What a sad, strange kind of relief. My baby is a toddler who will never need me the way she did when she was a newborn. Taking care of Riley helped me through one the worst times in my life and keeping her close was a necessity, but now that's done. She drinks cow's milk from her sippy, cuddles Mommy in stolen moments between busy play and sleeps in her own bed.

I'm so proud of the independent little girl she's becoming, but I still miss my baby. I have loved every moment of our time together breastfeeding and I am loving every wonderful enlightening moment of toddlerhood.

As far as weaning and independent sleeping the only advice I have is commit to or wait until you're ready.