My Cutie pie

Some sweet baby Aaron pictures in his crib. He is happy and cheerful in these pictures, but he likes to be held and cuddled and played with so much that he gives me the saddest pout face when i lay him down for his naps. It's just pitiful how he looks at me - like I've totally betrayed him some how by having him sleep. ha! Silly boy!
He is doing so well. This thanksgiving weekend he moved forward a bit doing the army crawl. He even surprised me this evening by doing his pointer finger/thumb pincer grasp when picking up cheerios off his highchair tray! He may have very good fine motor skills like Nicholas. He strikes me as a combination of a lot of Nicholas and Celia's strengths. His gross motor (celia's strength) and fine motor (Nicholas' strength) are great. He is babbling 'mamamama' and some other sounds. His eating is an area that he needs time in. He loves to nurse and always has. He could do just as well without solid food. He likes pears, bananas and sometimes some baby cereal. He hates sweet potatoes (actually shudders) and avocados and he loved peas one day and hated them the next. N&C loved solid food right away, so this is a surprise to me. At least I know mother's milk is what he needs 99% of right now and I plan on nursing him past 12 months if he wants to continue.
I sort of grieved not being able to nurse Nicholas and Celia. I felt I missed out on that close mother-baby bonding time with them. I pumped for almost 12 months so they didn't need any formula, but it just wasn't the same. This time with Aaron I set it in my mind that I would nurse him. It was an adjustment. Nursing a baby is not 'easy' at first. It takes time for the mother and baby to learn from each other. I'd say it was 6-7 weeks before it was not a lot of work to nurse him. It took a lot of practice from us both. But, boy, is it worth it in the long run. I definitely don't want anyone out there to feel guilty if it doesn't work out for you or your baby. But, it's something I cherish with Aaron. I never mind nursing him and I'll miss it when it is over someday.
I've nursed him in restaurants (at the table), stores, waiting rooms, Dr's offices, my car, on thomas the train (ha ha), during a wedding (while the bride walked down the aisle and I was standing up), in church, at the aquarium.... I always nurse discreetly - often people think I'm holding him and he is sleeping. I'm not a flasher! :) But, its a natural thing and there is nothing to be ashamed of a mother nursing her baby. Benefits to him are enormous and the benefits to me (prevention of breast cancer) are also wonderful. I just love it!

Here is some info on 101 reasons to breastfeed your child, that is interesting. :)