{"id":838,"date":"2024-03-18T11:10:34","date_gmt":"2024-03-18T11:10:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kendramartin.org\/?p=838"},"modified":"2024-03-18T11:10:40","modified_gmt":"2024-03-18T11:10:40","slug":"savoring-well-this-season-while-they-anticipate-the-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendramartin.org\/savoring-well-this-season-while-they-anticipate-the-next\/","title":{"rendered":"Savoring Well this Season while They Anticipate the Next"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I have always enjoyed the breastfeeding stage of motherhood – the snuggled baby who watches you with his eyes and grips you tight with his little hands while he receives nourishment.  And with my Winston baby, it\u2019s been an extra-special time.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it\u2019s because it is dawning on me that I really will not be in this season forever.  I will not always have a baby to cuddle.  My body will not continue to always be able to conceive, carry, deliver, and feed a little one.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am actually aging and changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With my firstborn, everything was new and the breastfeeding experience was a learning process. I researched, discussed, and evaluated. I found what worked well for me and my baby. We learned together, my firstborn and I. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With my second-born, I had not only my second-born to snuggle but also my 17-month old to keep occupied. I worked at creating a routine that was not only good for myself and my nursing baby but also included my toddler. It included a lot of book-reading while nursing. We did it as a trio – my second-born, first-born and I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With my third-born infant, I now had a 3-year-old and 1 1\/2 year old who sat on either side of me during most of the nursing sessions each with a book that they wanted read aloud. It felt like I might be in this stage forever. It was not so long ago that I had also nursed the two that are now snuggled to my side. Sometimes, they would go off and play together while I nursed their younger brother; but most times, it was a routine we did as a quartet – my preschooler, toddler, baby, and I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, with my fourth-born, there are times when I have a child at my side; but most often my older trio of boys are off playing\/working\/exploring together. They are leaving my side more often and finding that the world is their playground of new experiences. I will not be in this stage forever with littles to snuggle. So I snuggle Winston a little tighter; and wonder if I should work harder at being able to breast feed him past the standard one-year that my body has been able to do with my past boys.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I find myself wishing that I could freeze this time and just keep him here a little longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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