(what my sweet, baby elle looked like a year ago.)
Elle has been gradually weaning herself. She reacted badly to cow's and goat's milk. So I've been giving her rice and coconut milk regularly since she was....11 months, I think. Somewhere around her first birthday, anyways!
We were in a long phase where Elle would nurse first thing in the morning and then right before she went to sleep.
Last week she cut out the morning feeding. Today I sat down with her, after she was all ready for bed to nurse her. Keep in mind, we're talking about speed-eating. 5-7 minutes tops.
Tonight she latched on, sucked a bit (not long enough for me to let down), then looked up at me, right in my eyes, came almost all the way off and BIT ME! Then she sat up, pushed herself up and took up running, laughing and playing.
Just like that. We're done. I can't even tell you how I knew. But that is exactly what she said to me in her non-verbal language. It was the funniest thing. I've never had an experience quite like that. I've never had a child tell me they were done breast feeding, for good. It was my decision to wean with the other two.
Elle is in such an independent stage right now. She wants to do everything herself. She wants to feed herself, dress herself, make her own choices about what she plays, who she plays with, when she will received hugs and kisses, etc. It's so hilarious because she just doesn't have the mastery over her body yet to dress or feed herself very well! I've wondered if I should introduce the potty......
Anyways, so yeah! Elle is weaned.
**UPDATE**
She hasn't tried to nurse at ALL. She just wants rice or coconut milk! She was for real. Bittersweet for me, but I've served my purpose!
