How quickly things change...

I'm having a hard time admitting that my baby girl is growing up lately.  I'm getting clothes ready to sell at a consignment sale and in the pile of sale clothes are all her newborn fleece sleepers.  Oh, so snuggly and oh, so tiny!  I'm holding a few of them back.  Why?  Because I can't get rid of them just yet.  Packing away baby items like the swing and bouncer have been equally as hard.  The things that represent her being a newborn....  The swing sat in the basement unused for a couple weeks before Bryan brought it to my attention that we should just put it away.  "Yes, I know," was my response.  And I put it away...  but not willingly.

And then my sweet baby girl gave me a really big signal this week that she is growing up.  The poor thing got sick about a week ago with the hand, foot, and mouth virus.  She had a high fever for a couple days and sores in the back of her throat.  She's also in the process of getting her bottom two teeth.  Probably because of all that, she suddenly decided she did not want to nurse anymore.  I had already cut back to only nursing her twice a day due to my teaching schedule this year, but I still had every intention of breast feeding her (if even part-time) until she turned one. 

When I was pregnant with Jack, I decided right away that I would be breastfeeding him.  I really didn't know much about it, but I knew it was the best choice for us.  I never imagined in a million years the emotional attachment it would bring.  I remember how hard it was (on me) to wean him, especially that last time that I nursed him.  And I never once had any issues with him not wanting to nurse, so that never occurred to me as a possibility.  So, needless to say, Maddie's sudden nursing strike that turned into weaning, has put this mama on an emotional roller coaster.  I didn't intend for her to be done so soon or suddenly, but I guess we don't always get to be in control....