Homemade Snowflake Window Clings

I thought I would try and make a craft with my 3-year old, so I got the idea to make snowflake window clings.

Here is what you need

• 1 cookie sheet
• Large piece of paper
• Waxed paper
• 1 large marker
• Silver fabric (puffy) paint

First use the marker and draw snowflake shapes on the piece of paper. It's best to keep them small and compact

Then put the paper on a cookie sheet for stability and put the waxed paper on top so you can see the pictures through.

Then using your glitter puffy paint, trace the pictures.

Let them dry for at least 12 hours or until completely dry. Then carefully peel the shapes from the waxed paper and you have homemade window clings!

Those are two of mine and here is the one my 3-year old made

Benefits of Extended Breastfeeding

Extended breastfeeding is considered anything past one year. Obviously, I've hit that mark and surpassed it with both of my boys. I'm sure outside of a few in my BaltimoreMommies.com and La Leche League social circles, people think I'm nuts for continuing past a year.

Well, the World Health Organizations recommends that children be breastfed until they are THREE. Yeah, that isn't a joke... They recommend three.

Babies' brains almost triple in size from birth to two years. Breastmilk provides a good supply of DHA, which will help my child's brain develop better. He's already a smarty-pants ;) Breastmilk also contains IGA, which helps keeps kids from getting sick by coating their intestinal lining. Yeah, I know... my kids have been sick for almost a month. Milk Dud got a milk version of the thing his older brother had. I blame my breastmilk ;) Breastfeeding helps their teeth align properly and helps with obesity when kids get older. It also provides significant amounts of nutrients to their diet.

Guess what, it benefits me, too. A study showed that for every year a woman breastfeeds, she reduces her breast cancer risk by 4.6%. It also reduces your risk of ovarian, uterine and endometrial cancers. My risk of osteoporosis is reduced as well. Type 2 diabetes risks are lower, so maybe I will even out the fact that I'm at increased risk for it due to my gestational diabetes.

So, don't ask me why I am still nursing. I just am :)

Almost past where I got last time

I nursed my oldest son until he was just about 17-months old. I only weaned him because I was pregnant again and nursing made my nausea worse. Milk Dud will be 17-months in 9 days. Although he has cut down to 4-6 times a day, he shows no signs of weaning. I've offered him a cup of milk, and he often doesn't want it and responds "NOOOOO... Mommy milk!"

I love nursing, but part of me really would like to have my body back. I've been pregnant, nursing or both for the past 4 years. I would really like to get to take medicine without having to look it up in Lact Med. We have all been sick in this house for almost a month, and I have had to limit my cough syrup consumption to bedtime so that I don't hurt my milk supply too much.

I love the bond it has given me with my boys. There is nothing like it. I would really like some cheerleading for the child-led weaning, though.