Boobs, biting and bottles

As of 8:56 last night Isaac is a bottle baby.

Breastfeeding is something that was a no-brainer for me. I would never have considered bottle feeding when the kids were born, nursing them was just what I was supposed to do... for 6 months. That was my cut off. They would get the benefit I thought was very important and then I'd get my body back. I stuck to my plan with Oliver weaning him completely just 6 days after the 6 month mark. There was also the added incentive that we wanted to start trying for another baby so I needed to get my system back in order.

With Isaac I knew right away that my self imposed 6 month cut off wouldn't happen. I was enjoying nursing and with no reason to stop (not trying for #3 I mean) I figured I'd just continue as long as it worked for us. Then he got teeth. The teeth changed his latch somehow and while he wasn't biting, I was getting raw and unbearably sore. I did my best to suffer through it while he figured it out. Then I got mastitis. At that point I'd had enough and I was glad that I had ordered formula on the last sealift. It took a while but he was finally happy to take bottles. Of course by then I was all healed and he was latching properly again so I went back to the idea of sticking with breastfeeding.

Then he got more teeth. A week ago he cut 4 teeth on the top and has been trying them out on anything he can get his mouth on. And here I am voluntarily giving him a chew toy made from my very sensitive body part. I let it go the first few times he bit me knowing he would soon figure it out. At 8:56 last night (I just happened to be looking at the clock) he gave me a huge chomp, broke the skin and actually drew blood. That was it. It's not working for me anymore and I'm done. It's much less convenient, it's more expensive but my nipples are precious to me and I'd like to keep them.

I'll miss nursing in many ways but mostly because it's yet another thing I'll never do again. I think that's one of the reasons I wanted to continue as long as I could. It's a way of holding on to baby time with a child that is rapidly growing out of his babyhood. And I'll miss moments like this:

Isaac is crying and fussing.
Oliver: What's wrong Isaac? Do you need boob? Mommy! Isaac wants boob.

So cute! Now O asks Isaac if he wants Cheerios. Time sure flies. On the other hand, I am happy to have my body back and not have my boobs dictate my schedule. I'm hoping that at some point in the near future I'll be able to fit back in to my pre-baby bras and I can finally burn my horrible, ill fitting nursing ones.

So I made it 8 days short of 8 months. Not bad I guess.