beginning of the end

last night nissa went to bed without nursing. it wasn't without trying, but when she was more interested in giggling than the task at hand, i packed up, sung her a lullaby and put her down. she hasn't nursed for long the last few nights, but i chalked that up to having a cold (and it's so hard for her, holding her breath). i'll keep offering a few more nights, i think. though the prospect of getting myself back to myself is kinda exciting. i had a taste of it over the weekend, and it was nice.

in reality, the prospect of our nursing relationship coming to a close couldn't come at a better time. . . nissa has been super lovey lately! always wanting to be picked up, giving hugs, giving kisses even! all those months of showering affection on a kid that squirmed away was worth it. don't get me wrong, she still squirms away more often than not when you initiate the kisses, but it's always nice to get some unsolicited kisses too. her most adorable moments come in the evenings when we're on the couch watching TV and she'll walk up to adam and kiss him right on the lips. and the affection does not stop with family! stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes are getting hugs galore. gibson gets the occasional kiss attempt, but he usually takes over with his own kisses. appealing pictures in books are getting regular kisses for sure. it's too cute for words. perhaps i should define kissing, nissa-style: pushing her mouth against something while humming. used to be a lips-pulled-in, mouth open approach, but now her mouth is usually closed or mostly closed. it's really funny to watch.

here she is in action, on christmas: