With Jonas I tried again, this time breastfeeding wasn't as painful and I was beginning to know more as a Mother and less willing to listen to good-intentioned advice from people that knew even less than me. But again, breastfeeding just wasn't easy and at that time in my life, attempting to sell a home and moving two young children off of an island and back to California, breastfeeding wasn't the priority I wish it would have been.
Fast forward a few more years and along comes Oliver Crash, my breastfeeding champion! After Oliver's birth which was incredibly hard both physically and emotionally I began to question my choices as a Mother a little bit more which led me to the great big world of "crunchy" mamas. Breastfeeding is truly a community effort at times and the love, care and understanding I got from other Mothers is what made me love breastfeeding. I breastfed Oliver through my pregnancy with Tulip and when she was born I tandem nursed them for over a year. I decided to wean Oliver at the age of 3, a hard decision but one that I felt right about. I will forever be grateful for the nourishment and bond I was able to give him.
Little Miss Tulip Bea was born to nurse and our journey has been smooth and primarily easy so far! For those of you that wonder or didn't know; breastfeeding is like most things in life, lots of good and some bad. There will be tears, sleepless nights, bite marks on your nipples and a small hand down your shirt most of the time. But, there will also be sleepy-milky smiles, endless snuggles, the ability to comfort and calm, the power to nourish.
I have been a formula-feeding Mom and I have been a breastfeeding Mom, neither of those define you as a Mother but I can guarantee that one of those will change you. <3
These pictures are courtesy of Lisa Hoang at Simply Baby Photography in Kailua, Hawaii.
I took these last year when Tulip was maybe 9 months and Oliver was 2 1/2. The Hawaii government was looking for pictures of local looking Moms to use in a new pamphlet for breast pumps. While I didn't get picked, maybe the green hair? It was still such an honor to be considered and I will forever have these beautiful pictures to remember such an amazing time.
Amber necklace from Half Moon Mothering. :)
