Here I was living in this town which I thought was no different then San Diego (minus the cool weather and gorgeous beaches). With one child entering kindergarten, and recently finding out I was pregnant, I searched for new opportunities for my son and I to enjoy. The Central Valley Playgroup came in to my life. What a great concept! MNO's, playdates, weekly walks, and tons of great friends. How much better can it get? I made some of the greatest friends in that group.
So living in the section of Fresno I did, I noticed two things. One was many high tech and expensive strollers such as the Phil and Teds, BOB, Stoke, and Quiny. Here I was with a Graco. Second thing I noticed was parents carrying their children on their backs, sides, or front with the help of pouches and slings. Events like the Baby Fest with a baby wearing fashion show were "normal".
With my first two children I tried my best to breastfeed. With circumstances I could not control, my oldest was nursed for only a short time before put on SOY milk. My son, was nursed for 5 weeks but I apparently didn't make enough milk and he too, was put on SOY. But that year was a nightmare filled with severe reflux, constipation, and lots of crying. I think that is where AP kicked in with me (without me even knowing it). He hated car seats and he hated strollers. He slept no where for the first few months but our arms or a bouncy. But in our arms is where he felt the most content. He slept on my husband's chest at night, or between us in bed.
So now enters the third . . . and looking back AP kicked in and I never noticed. She was a natural nurser, I loved to hold her as much as possible. Crying is nothing I liked to hear. Though she did not sleep with us, I felt the urge to hold her and cuddle with her non-stop. We had a stroller, which yes . . we used. But she was such a mommy's girl. At about 10 months old a fellow mom in our playgroup introduced me to the concept of slings and pouches. Instantly I was attached. Life was a pure breeze! My youngest was on my back or side for anything and everything. The pouch was wonderful while cleaning house, cooking, going for walks, volunteering in my older children's classrooms, and just doing my day to day things. She was close by to me at all times and the best part was that I could nurse her and no one even knew.
Speaking of nursing, I nursed her for 22 months. Yes . . 22. For many people they say "WOW! That is long!!". For AP, they say "Great job!" . . .and have even gone longer then 22 months. 22 months was a pure struggle. I nursed her when she was hungry and never used a schedule. Sometimes it was every hour . . sometimes she went 2-3 hours without nursing. But we never used a schedule. (I also never used a feeding schedule with the older two.) There were nights I rocked her at night while nursing, crying because I was so worn out. But looking back . . it was well worth it. I tried to get her on a bottle at different points (with breast milk) but she wanted nothing to do with it. I'm the only thing she wanted.
Now at 7 years old, I still find myself picking her up and holding her when we go places. People will say "She's 7 . . make her walk". But I have to look back and know that she is only this little once. Just because she is 7 is no reason to make her walk. Someday she will be too big for me to hold and carry. I don't look forward to those days at all. If I can hold her, cuddle her, and give her piggy back rides . . . .I will. And until it's no longer possible, I will enjoy every minute of it!
Today out of the 3 she carries the happiest personality. She is the one who loves to cuddle the most. She and I have such a strong bond. I have strong bonds with the older two . .. .. but this younger one is so different and I attribute it to AP. The nursing, the baby wearing . . . it was all wonderful. If I had a 4th I would try to out-do myself and nurse longer, baby wear from the start, and enjoy every moment even more. Sad to see I no longer have babies in the house, but love the time I had as they were young. And til I can't ... .. ..I will carry my 7 yr old every chance I have!
