Our youngest son turned one at the beginning of May and I knew I wanted to start weening from breastfeeding after his birthday. I was extremely fortunate to exclusively breastfeed him and our older son, however I knew it was time to start decreasing our sessions. We began “weening” at 12 months and were completely done at 13.5 months. It was a very gradual process which was not only good for him, but also for my body. I thought I would share some reflections from this past year. You can check out more breastfeeding posts here: Breastfeeding Lessons, Breastfeeding & Pumping Baby 2, Pumping & Traveling, Flying & Pumping.

• Talk to other moms and find ones who are open, honest, and supportive. It’s nice to be seen and validated.
• Whatever you are going through, another mom has already been through it or is also going through it.
• Do what feels right for you and your family.
• Embrace the season, it quickly passes.
• Breastfeeding can definitely feel isolating.
• Weening can be a very natural and gradual process if you plan for it.
• Celebrate any amount of time you chose to nurse…it’s a huge accomplishment!
• There are many logistics involved with breastfeeding and you don’t really get a “break” even if you are away from baby.
• Take care of your body and health.
• Enjoy that time with your baby- it is so special!

As always, sending light and love.

Blessings,

Jac

Our youngest son recently turned a year, which is hard to believe! I have shared what to expect with wellness visits throughout the first year which you can check out here. I wanted to share months 9-12 to round up the first year of check-ups and expectations. If your doctor doesn’t give you a schedule or handout of appointment information, I would suggest asking!

Wellness Check #8: 12 Months

This check up is very similar to prior visits in regards to a developmental questionnaire and physical exam. Many times you will fill out the questionnaire prior to the visit so the doctor already knows topics to discuss. For this appointment, my son first had his measurements taken which is then printed to me on growth charts (also available in his portal). He then had his blood taken by the nurse to run some standard blood work (finger prick). The doctor did a complete physical exam and discussed development as well as any areas of concern. The main topics were eating, nursing (transitioning to cows), safety, speech development, sleep and what to expect by the next visit.

I am given a handout that is sectioned with each discussion topic as a general reference and my doctor will make personal notes with anything we discussed or she recommended on it. It also has a “next visit” section so I know what to be looking for in the upcoming months. Routine vaccinations are also given at 12 months if you choose to follow the recommended schedule.

I would love to know anything that surprised you with wellness checks within the first year!

As always, sending light and love.

Blessings,

Jac

With summer quickly approaching, I have begun thinking about activities and things to to do with the boys while our oldest is out of his Mother’s Day Out program. I am so thankful to be home with them and create memories together during this time. I thought I would share some things we plan to do and different activities we will take advantage of. I would love to know any your plans with kids!

1.Story Time

This is a free weekly activity that we love to go to! Our library also has additional monthly activities that are given to families, so your library is a great place to get connected!

2.Lessons/Camps

Our older son is at an age where he enjoys activities and things to do. His is going to take swim lessons all summer along with a couple weeks of art class. I try to be mindful with any commitments because I also want to have the flexibility to travel and see our family/friends.

3.Splash Pads/Pools

Depending on where you live there typically are splash pads and pools you can take advantage of during the summer months which are always fun for kids!

4.Movies

Many theaters run specials for kids during the summer which are a really good deal. Our city also hosts a “movie in the park” (free) which we prefer since we can take the whole family.

5.Parks

We love going to the park, however with the summer heat we have to go first thing in the morning. It is fun to make a morning out of a family walk + play time.

6.Muesuems/Kid Places

Many cities have children’s museums that are fun to go to and are typically a reasonable price or have an annual price option. There are also fun places to take advantage of such as trampoline parks, indoor play places, bowling, skating, etc. If you have younger children, definitely check to see if there are any “toddler time” days or options!

7.Breakfast/Lunch Dates

Our boys love playing at the indoor Chick-fil-A playground so we have made a weekly breakfast date tradition out of it. We go early enough where it isn’t crowded and our older son will play for a good 2 hours. It is also a fun and easy way to hang out with other friends!

8.Special Outings

There are many fun places to visit during the summer such as the zoo, water parks, amusement parks, etc. We have a couple places on our calendar, however want to be mindful of our boy’s ages and what they can handle/enjoy.

9. Adventure Walks

I love walking with the boys, however recently we have been joining our neighbors on adventure walks. My friend creates a list of items for the kids to find, and they have an absolute blast. It is an easy way to change up a normal walk.

10.Backyard Activities

We like to make the backyard a fun area during the summer. We borrow our neighbor’s blow up water slide/pool for a couple weeks, stock up on things for the water table as well as our things for our activity bucket.

I would love to know what you enjoy during the summer break!

As always, sending light and love.

Blessings,

Jac