A rookie mistake

Well, you would think after 5+ years of parenting, I would know better. I do know better. Here is the story. I took Julianna, looking OH SO CUTE, into the living room today to take her picture. As I was walking out of the kitchen, I looked back over my shoulder to make sure that Jameson was ok. He was sitting on the floor with a giant box of goldfish. He had his hand so far in the box that you couldn't see his arm. My thought was, oh good. He is entertained for a minute. So I go take Juli's picture.



So, in the meantime, my friend came to get her little girl that I am watching. I am talking to her for a second and I glance into the kitchen. Here is what I saw:



Yikes! Why did I think it would be ok to leave him with the entire box of goldfish? WHY? Jackson thought it was the funniest thing he had seen in a long time. Penny was pretty excited too.

So my next thought as a parent was, should I try to keep them? Sure, they are fine off the floor right? I mean it is my house, and I did just sweep. And it was an entire box ($7.99) of crackers. It is ok right? NO! It is not ok. I can't in good conscience give my kids goldfish off the floor. I sure did think about it though.

A Miracle on Raven Green St

Well whaddya know - my kid ate a vegetable. Not just any vegetable, no no. It was broccoli. Yes, you read that right, BROCCOLI. This is the same kid that just yesterday freaked out about eating a hamburger. Who doesn't like hamburgers?

Here is how it went down. I was making Jameson some broccoli for dinner. Jackson walked in and asked to taste some. He actually asked. I didn't have to hold him down and throw it down his throat. I didn't have to threatened his life. I didn't have to shame him into eating it by saying that his baby brother is eating it. He just ate it. And he liked it. He liked it. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Of course tonight, he may spend the whole night on the toilet, with his little body in shock. But he ate it.

I have a difficult decision to make.

My sweet little Jameson is almost 14 months. Up until we went on vacation, he nursed five times a day. Well, for the last few weeks, he has dropped down to two. Then since Sunday he has only nursed when I have offered. Today it was only once. If I offer 10 times a day, he will, but I have to offer.

So here is my dilemma - do I stop offering or do I continue? There is a part of me that wants it to be done. I have been pregnant and/or nursing for 4 years. I am ready for a break. Then the other part of me thinks NO WAY! He is still a baby. My LAST baby. How can I stop? The thought of not having that time with him makes me so very sad.

Actually I think I may have just answered my own question. I am going to keep offering. I think he is just so distracted by all the things going on, he forgets that breastmilk is available. I want to give him at least the amount of time I gave Julianna, if not more. So for now I am going to keep going. Besides the AAP recommends until 2, and that was (is?) my original goal. So... thank you blog. Thank you for allowing me to clear my head enough to make a decision that is right for me and my boy!