A First Sentence Story

This story has been in my drafts for a couple months. With Zeke turning two today I thought it's as good a day as any to post it. I feel so privileged and blessed to be a Mama to this little guy.

Zeke's first sentence "no nurse" deserves a story. I hesitate because a few might be shocked to find I still nurse Zeke at nearly two. It's a topic I've given a lot of thought to in the last couple years.

In New Zealand there's been a recent shift back to breastfeeding as more and more research is uncovering health-benefits for baby as well as Mum. These health benefits make sense to me but there is more to it. God seems to always have great purpose behind the things he does, some that we can see and some that we can't. It's meaningful and significant to me that an infant needs to be fed every 2-3hours, even through the night. This feeding is done by the mother, giving of herself, her time, her energy, her love. You can't be much closer than being held in the arms, embraced and fed both physically and emotionally. While holding and nursing your baby it's only natural to look into their eyes and speak words of adoration and love. Life is nurtured through love. If you don't mind following me on my train of thought....why is there so much brokenness? Many people seem unable to love nowadays - like they don't know how to let someone into their heart, be close to and give of themselves for another. Could it be that one of the reasons is they lacked this fundamental closeness and love as a baby? Learning what it feels like to be deeply loved and held and known. What a loving God to create such a nurturing and loving environment for a helpless baby to be born into. And what does this teach us about ourselves as God's little ones? God as our Father has stamped his image on both the male and the female so we can see both masculine and feminine attributes of his character embodied here on earth.

 And now for the story. When Tazara was born Zeke grew especially attached to the one on one time he gets with Mama through nursing before bed and when he wakes up. When Andrew or I greet him in the morning he stands up in his crib and with a serious expression says "nurse!" If you side track him with changing or other he gets increasingly more urgent sounding. He plays happily and entertains himself throughout the day but when he's especially tired or upset or just wants some attention he'll ask to nurse. I often have to tell him that it's not time to nurse but that I'll read him a book or do something else with him. In the last couple weeks, especially around the five o'clock hour, which can be particularly trying for all of us, he'll often find a book (after giving up on being held or played with), sit himself on his stool, and say to himself "no nurse." Every so often I hear him in the next room reinforcing to himself that it's not time to nurse. It's a little pathetic really and it makes me want to scoop him up in a hug but it's also just so precious and cute! Andrew says he'll have to capture it on video to flaunt at Zeke's 21st.

Have you ever thought about how dependent a human baby is? Many animals are quick to walk but our babes come to us so defenseless and needy. Doesn't God know that mothers are busy and tired? Yes. But perhaps that's why nursing is something only the mother can do. My own Mum was busy with 10 kids, home schooling and gardening and yet she seemed to welcome the break every three hours to sit down, put feet up and dote on the new little person entrusted to her.

It's hard to believe our son is turning two! Zeke's growing into a confident and tender little man. He's getting really good at climbing and jumping. He's learning how to play with Tazara without injuring her. He likes to make her laugh. He loves reading books. He's got lots more exciting and challenging growing, changing and learning ahead. He's got a Papa and Mama that are proud of him and love him to pieces. A sister that adores him. And lots of family and friends to cheer him on.