ChiKat

I have two brothers. My youngest is safe in the cornfields of the Midwest studying cryptography. My other brother just completed Marine Security School and he is off to South America to provide security for an embassy there.

Honestly, I'm having more trouble with this than when he was in Iraq. At least Iraq was just nine months. This is three countries in three years. He is thrilled because he wants to see the world. But it's such a long time for him to be away! He probably won't be home for Christmas or the usual birthdays. I'm going to miss him so much.

On the bright side, we're already planning a vacation to visit him. I've never been to South America, but I'd love to see Machu Picchu. The Galapagos Islands sound pretty amazing, too. I have no idea how my son will do. It will involve a very long plane ride, followed by new foods and high altitudes. But he's an adventurous little boy, so I'm optimistic.

I started work again and it has been going well. It's good to get away for a few hours and focus on writing. Plus, the luxury of knowing that my boy is with my mom is so awesome.

My son has started eating solid foods, which means that he is nursing less. This is a huge freedom for me. Now, when he starts crying uncontrollably, green beans can calm him down almost as much as I can. I'm no longer tethered to him. Which makes me feel a teeny bit sad. That's female hormones for you. I spent six months complaining about nursing, and now that it is slowing down, I'm complaining about *not nursing*. Even I get exasperated with the way my brain works sometimes.

I find it interesting that in the 1970's, it was a luxury to be able to give your baby formula. Now, it's a luxury to be able to stay home and nurse, or buy the expensive pump so you can go back to work and still provide breast milk.

People often say nursing is so much cheaper, but that is only if you don't value the time it takes the mother to be available to the baby. I feel so lucky that I'm able to be home with my son, that I can nurse him when he needs to be nursed. That I can play the day away with him.

But it's good to get away those few hours each week. I just have to make sure that when I'm in a meeting, and someone gets upset, I don't start singing "Baby Beluga".