No Breastfeeding in 2012

It's not so much a resolution as a statement. It's a statement that I'm completely and utterly conflicted about, but resolute none-the-less. I will miss our breastfeeding relationship. It was wonderful to stop everything and have a little one-on-one cuddle time with my favorite little person. But like everything, this too must come to an end. I'm very proud of our 20+ months of nursing. I entered this arrangement thinking it would last no longer than a year. A few months ago, I decided we'd be done before her second birthday. The last few weeks, our breastfeeding relationship kind of wrapped up on it's own.

If you read about weaning, it's always suggested to avoid weaning at stressful times, including the holidays. I was planning on starting to really wean her after the holidays had commenced. We were already down to just two sessions a day (before nap and before bed), but the hectic schedule of the holidays made my toddler too busy to remember to nurse, and I wasn't about to remind her. I kept our before bed ritual as best I could until this week. Before I knew it, three days had passed without her nursing at all due to evening plans that kept her out past her normal bedtime and falling asleep in the car. We were home all day yesterday, and she asked to be nursed a couple of times, but was easily distracted and despite following all our other nightly rituals, didn't have any problems going to sleep without it.

I'm sure if I wanted to continue nursing, I would still produce milk, but I feel that perhaps this easy weaning was an answer to my prayers for the last 8 months. I was so afraid of a tearful, painful weaning. While it is bittersweet, she doesn't seem to upset by it at all. And I can't tell you how excited I am to go out and purchase bras that don't have escape hatches and actually fit (although I'm willing to bet that the girls are not quite done shrinking yet).

2011 was a wonderful year for my family and I hope 2012 will bring new growth to our little family as we hope to start trying for baby #2 this summer. I wish you all a blessed new year and that you find joy in your families, as I have in mine.

Quick Last Minute Gift

Has this ever happened to you?

You forgot to get a hostess gift for a party you are attending later this evening. You'd rather stab a fork through your hand than go out again in that last minute Christmas shopping hell, so you grab that bottle of Pinot you were hoping to enjoy yourself. But how do you make it look like you put a little effort into the gift instead of grabbing it at a liquor store on your way to the party?

Enter: the super easy to make wine bag. It says you're thoughtful and crafty, but what your hostess doesn't have to know is that it took you less than 10 minutes to make!

First, you'll need some festive fabric, about 13 inches by 11 inches. If you have a pair of pinking shears, use these to cut your fabric, it will make your life a million times easier*. Fold the fabric in half hot-dog way (so it becomes 13x5.5"), wrong side out. Sew along the long side and one of the short sides.

Now here's the fancy part: on the sewn short end, pinch your corner and sew a triangle into the corner like this:

Repeat with the other corner. This creates a more rounded bottom to your bag. Just make sure that your seam lays in the same direction on both corners, so it doesn't look like this:

Now, flip your bag right side out, insert your bottle of wine, and tie closed with a pretty ribbon. Voila!

*If you don't have pinking shears, make your fabric 1/2 inch longer (13.5x11), fold down the top edge 1/4" twice, and sew this seam down.