Human Milk Machine

That's what I feel like.  "MILT, MOMMY, MILT"  This is what my little Bean says to me when he wants to nurse.  It's been 2 years and 2 months of nursing this little guy.  Not to mention the other two that nursed for what seems like forever.  All in all, I've been nursing for 5 out of the 8 years my children have been alive.  GEEZ!  When I write it down, it seems like SUCH A LONG TIME!

My goal was to let my youngest self-wean himself.  BUT, it's taking FOREVER.  I know that there is no magical button inside their body that gets pushed at the age of 2 to stop nursing.  And I certainly didn't want to stop him myself, because, after all, he is the last baby we will have.  I'm conflicted with letting him continue or trying to stop him.  On the one hand, he definitely does not need it...it's a comfort thing now, but on the other hand, he's my last baby and I'm trying to hold on for dear life to the sweet, baby-like attributes of his childhood.

How can I say no to this little booger faced boy???

I want to savor every moment but I also want to go away for the weekend with the hubs.  We haven't taken an overnight vacation without the kids, ever.  It's been a LONG 8 years.  I feel like we deserve it.  It's not too selfish of us to want to take a break after 8 years, is it??

My problem for starting to wean him is, I just don't know how to start.  Seems silly, and not too hard of a problem to have, but I just don't know how to do it.  And, no, I haven't Google'd any sort of 'how-to' on the subject.  I probably won't.  I'm not a cry it out kind of mom, either.  I, personally, cave every time I try to do it.  Whether intentional or not.  We aren't those types of parents.  Don't get me wrong, for the parents who do this, my hat goes off to you!  I know it's a hard thing.  So good for  you for not caving in!  Also, to each his own.  Everyone has their own style of parenting that works best for their own family.  No judgement here.

So, to the matter at hand.  How did you stop nursing your baby?  Did you do it cold turkey?  Did you slowly decrease the number of times you nursed a day?  Bean nurses mostly at night, but also a little bit during the day.  I've noticed that if I'm a little late with lunch or snack, his first 'go to' is milt.  So, I've been trying to keep on schedule with that, and if I do find myself running behind and he asks for 'milt', then I immediately offer another food.  It seems to work 80% of the time.  If he's super tired, then the only thing that will quell his screaming and crying is nursing.

Any suggestions???