Feeding Elliott

Anyone notice that I did a "Wordless Wednesday" post on a Thursday??? Yep, that would be my sleep deprivation coming out -- I've lost track of the days :)

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Seeing that newborns have very small stomachs and need to eat often, a large portion of my day right now is spent feeding Elliott. I'm thankful that Elliott is nursing really well. But he wants to eat about every 1-2 hours during the day. It is sometimes challenging to have to stop and sit to feed him that often when X and Wes are still running around like crazy needing things from me. I'm not proud of my "couch parenting" lately (aka - me sitting nursing Elliott and yelling at the boys to stop whatever they are trying to break at that current moment) and it is completely not effective, but I'm outnumbered right now!

Xavier and Wes have both taken an interest and an age appropriate curiosity to seeing me nurse Elliott. Xavier is able to verbalize more and he's been cracking me up with some of the things he says and does. He knows that Elliott is too little for food and can only drink "mommy milk". (I've tried to stress this in hopes that the boys won't attempt to put a random pretzel or cheezit into E's mouth!) So he likes to play the game where he says "Mom, can Elliott eat ________ " and I say "No, Elliott is too little for ________" We go round and round on this. Sometimes if Elliott's crying he says "Mommy, open your tummy and feed Elliott".

The past few days he's decided he needs to feed Elliott as well. He will ask to hold Elliott and then lift up his shirt and make a clicking sound. Then he says "hold on Elly, I'll feed you on the other side too" and repeats the process. I've tried very hard not to laugh and just indulge him on this because in his 3 year old mind this is serious business and he's really helping out. I couldn't help but snap a photo of him "feeding" Elliott the other day.

Wesley, while not able to articulate as well, knows whats going on as well. He was unloading the dishwasher with me the other day and found some breast pump parts. He put one up to his chest and started making a "shh shh shh" sound while holding it there. I about died laughing!

I realize not everyone may agree with my open approach to the whole thing, but I want my kids to see breastfeeding as a perfectly acceptable and appropriate way to feed a baby. And you can't do that by hiding it from them.

You think maybe I can get X to take over the night time feedings so I can get some more sleep ?? HA!!