And onto the next diary

I have strayed somewhat from the title of the blog. The Infinite Passion for Chocolate (IPC for short) is far from conquered, barely even restrained but I have taken up the challenge of a half-marathon to counteract it to some extent. I also chose a (double chocolate chip) cookie over a chocolate bar for my sweet fix today so, y'know, progress.

The sleep-training was successful. After my trip away, she still slept through the night apart from on rare occasions now which I put down to teething or the weather or something and secretly pray that it's not the start of a new pattern. So far, the prayers have been successful. Not bad for a non-believer.

Her morning routine has changed in the last few days too. She used to be standing in the cot and crying in her attention-required cry when I went to get her in the mornings (and I would always feel a little guilty at letting the cry escalate to her "no, come now!" cry rather than going in at the first sound of the "hey, I'm awake, where are you" cry). In the last few mornings, she's been calling, rather than crying for me so I hear "mama mama mama" and when I go in, she's lying in the cot waiting for me, sometimes face down. Odd child.

However, the point of my return here was none of this. I come to report on what may be the beginning of the end of breast-feeding for Z and me. Last night, she didn't ask for it before bed-time (this is the second time, only, that she hasn't had it when I've been there) so I didn't offer. Ok, she did wake up a bit upset at around 11.30pm and I ended up giving her a feed when she asked for it (but she didn't ask immediately on being cuddled) but then, this morning, she hadn't called for me by the time I was getting up so I began getting up and was dressed when I went in to her. She didn't ask for a breast-feed and I didn't offer. Is it the beginning of the end?

I don't think it will be as easy as all that, though. For example, on weekend mornings and the days I don't work, I don't think I will be able to resist the extra lie-in that those breast-feeds buy us. And I am not 100% committed to stopping yet so if/when she asks for some this evening, she'll get it!