Growing Up

Last week was a BIG week for both of our children.  On Tuesday, Carly attempted her swimming test at our YMCA.  It was after her lesson and wasn't really in our plan.  She had finished her lesson and a boy who will turn 6 in a few months had made plans to take the test after class.  This boy actually sat out for the 5 minutes of class so that he would be rested for the test.  I thought it would be good for Carly to watch him take the test and cheer him on during it.  I also knew she could complete the swim and floating portion of the test if she put her mind to it.  She watched him take the test and get his yellow swim necklace and immediately wanted to try it.  Unfortunately, she was not successful.  She turned for the wall with 2 feet left in the swim (swimming a foot towards the wall, so really falling just a foot short).  We made plans for her to test again on Thursday.  Well, she passed with flying colors after her lesson and now has a yellow necklace.  This necklace allows her to swim without me in the water where she can touch (so not very deep) and allows her to go on the 2 large water slides.  Unfortunately, she isn't quite tall enough to climb to the top of the slides.  So the reality, it gives her nothing except for a HUGE sense of pride.

Thursday was also a big day for David.  He moved up from the nursery at the gym to the toddler room. This move is due to the amount of walking he is doing now.  Apparently, he was walking all around the nursery and checking on all of the other babies and beginning to climb.  Due to space David was actually moved to the 2 year old room this day.  When I picked him up he was sitting around a rectangular table while the other kids were coloring.  He wasn't coloring, but was watching them closely.  When I came to the door and called his name, he looked up at me, banged the table, and went back to watching these other children.  I actually needed to walk into the room and get him.  (Typically he moves as quickly as he can in my direction.)

Last Thursday was filled with 2 big milestones for our growing children.

And We Are Done!

David Jr and I have ended our breastfeeding relationship.  Last Monday (July 1) he nursed for his very last night... at his afternoon nap.  We were starting the weaning process, but then an eye doctor's appointment ran long and David Jr was more pushy than I wanted before his afternoon nap... so I thought this is the end.  Dave and I pushed through with this idea and on Tuesday evening I broke down and enjoyed cheese on my sandwich and salad at dinner.  Later in the evening I enjoyed a WONDERFUL peanut butter cup (a year in the making).

The past week has been tough.  I've been slightly uncomfortable.  David has been fussier at nap and bed times.  There are many times when I thought, "I wish I hadn't eaten cheese and could just nurse these tears away."  I am glad that I did go ahead and eat a few un-forbidden foods to help me not change my course on weaning him.

I am sure we still have a few bumps in the road in this process, but David is weaned and going down decently now for his nap and bed times.  I went 12 months without dairy and around 11 months without egg, peanut butter, and crab and am really enjoying reintroducing my body to some of my favorite foods.