Pitter never drank a drop of formula. It was breastmilk all the way.
He ate nothing with added sugar until he was at least a year old; no YoBaby yogurt cups for him! Only plain yogurt mixed with fruit for the Pure One!
He didn’t watch television until he was at least 2 years old (despite my desperate attempts to get him interested in a Baby Einstein video just once! or twice! while I was writing my thesis or contemplating a shower back in the day).
He listened to classical music.
I almost never let him cry for more than a five minute stretch of time.
Ah, the first child.
Patter watches Super Why with his older brother and LOVES IT. He has little interest in Mozart when his brother is busy drumming to U2 in the living room every night. He eats YoBaby peach yogurt with gusto. He cries in his crib for 15 minute stretches while I shower or attend to another bleeding child or poopy diaper situation.
I’m saving the worst for last: He has had formula.
Yes. I must remove my Exclusive Breastfeeder Badge immediately from my person. What has led to this most disastrous of conditions? I am leaving all the boys for an extended 4-full-day long Girl’s Weekend Getaway. (I cannot wait even though my head is about to pop off with all the planning!)
Many months ago I did the math: I would need to pump enough milk for approximately TWENTY bottles were I to continue Patter’s exclusive breastfeeding lifestyle.
I actually thought I could do it.
I could not.
I have about ten bottles worth of milk waiting in the freezer, but Patter will have to suck it up (punny!) and drink formula to fill in the gaps. In preparation, I’ve had the ladies at daycare give him formula for one bottle a day while he’s there for the last two weeks and it hasn’t gone too well.
I can feel guilty about it, or I can overrun the narrative of motherly anxiety and decide that the child will NOT starve. He won’t.
It will all be fine. Right?
6 Comments
July 15, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I can’t believe you wrote a thesis while taking care of a child!
Your weekend getaway sounds great – have fun!!
July 15, 2009 at 1:56 pm
All will be well. Evie was all breastmilk until I got sick and the meds they gave me were not okay for nursing. I tried to pump and discard, but I couldn’t keep up my flow, so she had to go to formula. Wasn’t a huge hit at first, but she got the hang of it, and Patter will too.
July 16, 2009 at 6:31 am
I do understand your dilemma – but I think all will be well with your littlest one, don’t worry!
July 16, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I just don’t think I can read you anymore. I mean, it’s like you don’t even love him! That poor, poor child! You value this trip over his health? It makes me sick!
JUST KIDDING! He’s gonna have some formula? Big deal! Give yourself a break and enjoy every second of your trip!
July 17, 2009 at 9:07 am
Mymsie: hit “thesis” in the category cloud to see how well the thesis-writing-with-infant worked out. (here’s a hint: not well at all)
July 17, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I don’t think I want to live in a world void of YoBaby.
Eh, formula ain’t so bad. If he really doesn’t want it, tell your hubby to put a tiny little drop of pure vanilla in the bottle. I’m sure he’ll be fine, though.
Enjoy your getaway!