So. I’ve been reluctant to write about this because it feels so fleeting and ephemeral and I’m terribly worried about jinxing myself. But the need to share has won out so here we are.

For about the past week or so I have been able to get Juju to nurse a little every day. There are lots of caveats to this. She’ll only nurse on the right (just once on the left). She needs a nipple shield. She does best with a couple of ounces from a bottle first so she’s not too hungry. She will only nurse skin-to-skin. Etc.

Here’s the best part, though. I finally got her to latch by dribbling melted ice cream from a syringe onto my nip.ples. Yep! C gave Juju a taste of ice cream off of her finger and Juju practically sucked her finger off. That gave me the idea. Darned if it didn’t work! Now I only need to use the syringe maybe half of the time, and only to put a teeny drop and she’s off and running. Not your typical method, for sure, but nothing about feeding this child has been easy or typical.

But still! This is amazing progress for us. The awe and power and love I feel for her when we share this is something I never thought I’d have with Juju. Even if it doesn’t last this has been such a gift for us.

I have lots of logistical questions for all of you nursers out there (which feels like everyone but me), but I’m going to save them for a while and just enjoy my beautiful sweet baby with her milky little face looking up at me and grinning because she finally gets it.