Extra Credit

by Emily McDowell

right here

after two years and one month and 15 days, the breastfeeding days with chloe are over. we went much longer than i had ever thought we would, and i'm so proud of my girl for being more or less quite an angel about weening. she handled it much better than i expected. from the first moment i met her, that truly miraculous moment when she latched and my mind went from "huh? how do i know if she's getting any milk?" to "ah, so that's how it feels," to those nights when she was a newborn and needed to be fed every few hours, to later when she didn't really need it but wanted it more for comfort than for anything else -- all this has made up one of the most intimate experiences in my life.

in other news, tonight in bed in the dark, she said "yahng yahng" (itchy). "right here." and she pointed at her chin. so i blew on her chin and then kissed it. "yahng yahng," again she said, pointing at her cheek. i blew on it and kissed it gently, too. "yahng yahng," she repeated a third time, pointing at her forehead, and then later, at her neck, her eyelid, etc., and as i blew on each part and kissed it, i knew i was indulging her, that this was very certainly dragging on and prolonging her sleep, but i did it anyway and couldn't help laughing at that ridiculous litto bear. and then, having received a kiss on her lips she said, "okay! shieh shieh." and that was the end.