Tough choices ahead

One question every pregnant woman is asked is if she is going to breastfeed her baby. I've been fortunate to be able to breastfeed all three of my boys. Colten self-weaned at 5 months, Carson at 11 months, but Cooper is still going strong on nursing. I've been so lucky to have made it to one year nursing him, and he's a great nurser. He doesn't pull annoyingly at my shirts, doesn't have a name or word for nursing, doesn't nurse sporadically. He's really a great nurser. The only annoying thing is that he is still up at least two times a night.
So now that I've hit the major milestone of nursing for a year, everyone is asking me when I'll wean Cooper. It's a tough choice to make and it's one I haven't HAD to make with my other boys. Some changes are certainly going to happen to the nursing schedule when I return to work. I'm not going to be pumping bottles for Cooper any more which will be a huge relief for me because I now have more time to actually do my job and not stress about milk supply for the sitter. Another change is that the third week in September I will be at outdoor school for three nights, and while able to bring Cooper along last year, he isn't going to come up to camp this year. That is three nights of no nursing! I might sleep better at camp than at home!
I'm not sure when I'll completely wean Cooper. A part of me wants to wean him soon so I can lose the last ten pounds hanging on from being pregnant. I want to fit into my clothes again and not have to wear nursing bras and tops all the time. I know my husband would like to see me own my body again. But.....
I really enjoy the time I get to spend with Cooper. He's my last baby and a part of me wants to get every minute of snuggle time I can get with him. Once I stop nursing there is no other chance of nursing again. That part of my motherhood experience will be over. Forever. Don't know if I'm ready to force Cooper to quit.
What am I really hoping for? I'm hoping that once I go back to school Cooper will start to lose interest in nursing so much and will wean himself. It is sad, but easier if Cooper sets the pace.

One year later

Cooper Alan,
You are one year old today. You started out at 8 pounds, 6 ounces and have grown to 21 pounds, 4 ounces. You were a small 20 inches long, and are now 30.5 inches long. You've changed so much in the last year and it has gone so fast.

Cooper almost a year ago

Cooper last week

In the last month you have grown even more. New skills this month: waving good-bye, playing peek-a-boo and hide and seek, climbing stairs, and walking pushing things. You are *almost* walking without holding on or pushing something. You just need a little more time for some confidence. You really enjoy being outside and getting into dirt, rocks, or bark. You've only got four little teeth, but you will try and eat anything put in front of you. You aren't talking at all yet, which is surprising. You do have two older brothers to interpret and talk for you, but I'm eagerly waiting for you to utter even a simple "Mama" or "Dada" or even the dreaded "No". That is a word you know very well and despise hearing. You do manage to communicate with everyone around you through giggles, grunts, and the ear-slitting scream.

One thing that hasn't changed much in a year is your sleeping habits. You still are waking up several times a night for nursing and snuggles with mommy. It amazes me how much you've changed in the last year, and I can't wait to see the boy you'll become in the next 12 months.

My mom made the perfect cake for Cooper. He didn't know what to make of the candle so Colten and Olivia helped him blow it out.

One of the best things about a summer birthday: eat outside for easy clean up! Cooper sure did love the chocolate cake!