Roxy is 20 months today. Where does the time fly? I recently began weaning her from daytime nursing and I didn't nurse her at all yesterday or last night... or today! So, let's see, it's been approximately 40 hours since she's nursed. (My left boob is ready to explode. It is the size of a watermelon - I would relish in the beauty of it if it weren't for the pathetic size of my right one.) I have been very ready to wean Roxy in the last couple of weeks - almost comparing myself to a mother dog who growls and nips at her pups when she's ready. I have actually been cringing when she latches on. Her suction has become stronger and I can only take so much. It's almost like Chinese water torture. I thought weaning her would be more difficult then it has been. She tends to be a VERY stubborn determined little girl who absolutely will go Chernobyl in a nano-second if she doesn't get her way. She handled the recent talk about no more daytime nursing beautifully - only throwing a few tantrums that didn't last too long. I thought taking away her night time nursing would be pure Hell. Last night, each time she woke up, she threw little mini-fits - but nothing that I couldn't handle. She woke up the first time saying "Hot Dog!" over and over. In my dream-state, I thought she was saying "A duck." And I started saying back to her, "Roxy, there's no duck sweetie... go back to sl..." Sean cut me off and said, "She's not saying 'duck,' she's saying 'hot dog.' She wants a hot dog." That's when we both started laughing. I think, because she wasn't nursing she got hungry. I told her I was not going to get her a hot dog but that she could have a bottle of water and her binky. (Her binky is not something she has ever used as a pacifier... more as a chew toy.) She accepted and went back to sleep. The next time she woke up (about 2 hours later), she was just cranky, fussy and down-right mad that I wouldn't give her, what she calls, "B." I soothed her, rubbed her back and she again went back to sleep. The third time was around 4:00ish. She started getting super fussy and her immediate cries and choice-words were ones that could have woken the neighbors. So, I pulled out all the stops, sat up and said in a rather demanding voice, "Roxy, absolutely not. This is not acceptable. We have already talked about this. Mommy's boobies are off limits. They are owies now and they hurt. You may not have them. You can have your bottle or your binky but not mommy's booby! If you do not stop crying, I am going downstairs! I do not want to hear you cry." She got quiet, having listened to what I had to say and promptly laid back down and went to sleep. WOO HOOOO! I mean, I didn't enjoy having to resort to threats of leaving her but it worked. So, wish us luck tonight. So far, so good. She went down tonight without any complaints and didn't even ask for it. All she did when I asked if she was ready for bed was tap my boob and say "Owie." I nodded and said, "That's right, sweetie."

I love her so much.

It was different with Dillen. I weaned Dillen when she was 22 months. She was talking full sentences by that point and we communicated easily. She was ready and was glad to take ice cream over bed-time nursing. Oh, I remember that bribe like it was yesterday. It's interesting with Roxy because she comprehends everything and her verbal skills are still off the charts for her age level. Still, she doesn't communicate like Dillen did at this age. So, I just assumed she wouldn't understand why I was weaning her. It seems she does and it seems she has accepted.

A few recent pictures of our little Peanut: