Has breastfeeding effected my marriage?

So I've heard a lot of to-do lately about breastfeeding effecting a marriage negatively. Now, I have nursed all 3 of my kids. Still nursing my two youngest in fact. And I like to think I have a pretty strong marriage...

My husband and I have been together for 9 years. The very happiest years of my life for sure. So as I hear people suggesting that breastfeeding could be effecting us negatively I decided to take a step back and evaluate.

We have, like I mentioned, 3 beautiful children. I always new I'd breastfeed. I think if your REALLY going to do it, you have an idea going in that it's what you want. In fact I believe I heard at one of my LLL meetings that by the age of 16 a girl has a clear positive or negative view of nursing. I don't know where I got my view from since NO ONE in my family breastfed. I just knew it was best. And of course, I wanted to be the best Mom ever to my kids. So breastfeeding it was!

I remember Husam being very supportive when it came to nursing Nadia.. In his religion, breastfeeding is mandatory for at least 2 years. So he never batted an eye at all the boobin' co-sleeping, and baby wearing that was going on in our house.

True, for the past 4 and a half years there has been a child between us in our bed lol. But he's never complained to me. And we've obviously found a way to have more kids! lol Two fold! So I decided to ask him if he felt our marriage was being negatively effected by my breastfeeding. His answer? "Are you out of your mind? No way!" He went on to explain that watching me nurture and do what is without a doubt BEST for our kids, he's only fell in love with me more. I think we can both acknowledge our relationship is different than it was- say .. 6 years ago. But I think kids change that regardless. And I don't think it's a bad thing.

We both recognize this time is about raising our family in the best way we can. Sure, there are sacrifices. But we plan on being together for the rest of our lives! So these young years, when I'm needed SO much by them, are really a blink of an eye. And what husband wouldn't understand that? What marriage would really break under something so beautiful and wonderful??

So has breastfeeding destroyed our marriage? Put it on the rocks?? No way. Has it changed it?? Sure.. No more than having kids has though. And only for now. There will be a time when our kids grow up, move out of our home, and we will again be left with each other. Loving one and other much more than we did to begin with.

What about you? How do YOU feel breastfeeding has effected your marriage?

My baby...

Graduated Preschool today! I cried. I cried on the first day and again today on the last day. (Okay I cried the whole first week, but we don't have to tell anyone shh!) It didn't help that they were playing "You raise me up" over the loud speakers while we were waiting for pick up. I know I know, those of you who don't have kids are saying, "It's just preschool!!!" And I guess I could see that.. But for us, it's a BIG DEAL! It was the kickoff of what we hope to be an excellent school career for her! She loves school SO much and she's so upset that she won't be going all summer. And she is concerned how she'll practice her letters !! I assured her we'd work on them together here at home. I can't believe my BABY is going to Kindergarten. It's bittersweet really. It seems like not long ago, I was a nervous new Mom walking her up the walkway to our old apartment. I wanted to be the best Mom to her. I'd dress her up, and play with her, and take every moment enjoying her. Yet still. It went too fast. Where has my little baby gone? She's now a beautiful young girl. Dare I say gorgeous? With her contagious smile... Her long lashes, and beautiful hazel-ish eyes. She has a fantastic sense of humor, and is the sweetest little thing. My Baby Nadia. Momma loves you. To the moon, and back again. Your my entire life. You made me a mother. I love you. I'm proud of you. Your my world

xoxo Momma

Have you ever had one of *those* days?

So Samirah is getting a tooth .. WTH?! Nadia didn't get a tooth until over a year old.. Sami.. 8 months. Samirah JUST turned five months two days ago! I can't understand it! Anyways, she's been having a tough time with it. Skipping naps, lots of fussing, nursing ALL ...Night... LONG! I'm completely exhausted, but mostly, I feel bad for her...

Now laugh as I try to put together some coherent thoughts on such little sleep..

Sami? What's new with Sam? Lots of talking. Is this a good thing? or a bad thing? I haven't decided yet.

Nadia.. Almost out of school... She's upset, I'm excited. Looking forward to more time with her..

me? Tired. blah..
I have full intentions on writing a super fabulous blog about breastfeeding or natural birth.. or SOMETHING. Something amazing, and interesting and informative. I'll get there. One of these days when I've had more than 3 hours of sleep. I promise!

Today. Pray for my dear friend Courtney.

I ask everyone to pray for my dear friend Courtney, and her husband Jason. They've just had to say goodbye to their 3rd son Wyatt River. This world is unfair. And brutal. Completely Brutal. I ask, if you pray, to pray for them and their entire family.

Kids say the darndest things!

And here is a conversation between Nadia and I.

Nadia: Mom...

Me: Yes ya?

Nadia: I think you should reconsider having 3 kids...

Me: Why would you say that?

Nadia: Well... 3 kids is a lot to handle. It may be best to pick just one.. Probably me, Since I was first..

Me: Well wouldn't you be sad if you didn't have Sami and Samirah to play with?

Nadia: Well... I guess.. But one would be easier than 3 of us....

Me: Well. I couldn't pick just one of you....

Sami:::: DINOSAUR!!!!!!!!!

Guess I should update huh?

So I've enlisted the help of some pictures to update everyone on where I've been.. Hmmm. With the nice weather around we spend a lot of time at the park and on playdates! After an entire winter of being trapped inside, we were all anxious to get outside and enjoy the SUNSHINE! We even do a picnic lunch out on our deck most days. The kids love this.

There are Nadia and Sami's crafting projects! They love to do them. And I've found "The Christmas Tree Shops" has some very cute crafts that are really reasonable prices! Nadia's also been working on her reading and writing. She's doing beautifully, I'm so proud of her. Her determination to learn is amazing. She certainly got this from her father LOL. After consulting with Nadia's pediatrician they felt Nadia would do best in Kindergarten. (She misses the cutoff date) And she suggested we fight the school to get her early entrance. They had tested Nadia and found cognitively, she functioned at the level of a 6 year old. So putting her back in pre-k really became something that wasn't an option for her. The school pretended to entertain us, but really I think they had no intentions of even entertaining the idea. At any rate, we got our answer "no" and moved along to private schools. I spent much of the end of April looking for a school that would suit her. We found one not far from our home that we liked. So she's enrolled and ready to go to Kindergarten! Woo! And she gets to wear a cute little uniform! So what beats that!?

Ahh MOTHERS DAY! How fantastic was that? The kids ALL slept until 8. Which really is amazing because none of them have EVER done that in their entire lives! Let alone all 3 of them at once! It was a great treat.. Hubby got a serger for me from them which I was SUPER excited about!! (A serger is a type of sewing machine!) Nadia made me that beautiful pot you see above with the lovely flowers. It brought tears, I am not going to lie. lol. The poem was precious and my kids and husband made me feel very special and appreciated. It was a wonderful day!

Mrs Meerkitty! She's doing GREAT! 4 and a half months now! I can't believe it. She's so beautiful and I'm so head over heels in love with her! She is a fantastic little baby and ever so cute. I love being her Mom and I feel so lucky to hold that title! She's a great little nurser and growing wonderfully! I'm still nursing Sami too. The tandem Nursing is going fine. It can be tiresome on certain days, but I have always committed to doing what's best for them, and not for me! So I continue. And I wouldn't have it any other way. If I ever feel weary, all I need to do is look at their precious little faces, and that's all the encouragement I need to continue on with what I'm doing!

I had my hair cut! As you can see!!! It was WAY too long (Even thougH I love my long hair!) I really needed to part with it. Just too hard to maintain with so many children to take care of LOL. I went to my cousin's salon (pink comb salon) www.pinkcombsalon.com in Nutley NJ. And as you can see- She did an AWESOME job, evening out my color and giving me a bit of a style! IT's fantastic! I will definitely be going back to her in the future. Not that I didn't know my cousin was awesome, but my Mom is also a hair stylist so she is the only person who's ever really cut my hair. But she lives in Florida now so it really was about time to find someone else!

We are leaving on our first vacation of the year shortly. We're going to Ocean City Maryland for a week! Anyone familiar with the area? Any good tips of where I should hit up? The kids and my husband are SO looking forward to this!!! Which makes me excited as well. I really need to start on my list of things to pack for everyone since I'm the sole person in charge of this! It's a bit overwhelming. Esp to have to pack for an entire week! Our other vacation is in November. to Disney- The kids and I are SUPER excited for that one! Disney was my favorite place growing up! I used to go 1 or 2 times every year until I was 18!! And I hold such good memories from my trips there!

That's about all that's going on here. I will try and update more regularly!

Happy Easter

Love, The Shahin's