Breastfeeding thoughts

This week has been dubbed World Breastfeeding Week. It is not something new actually, and has been celebrated for 20 years now! I was doing some reading on the World Health Organization (WHO) website and learned that World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7 every year across 170 countries  and has been established to educate people about the benefits of breastfeeding as well as encourage more breastfeeding for the health of babies around the world. (Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_breastfeeding_week/en/index.html)
I have heard that WHO actually recommends breastfeeding until the age of two, if you can and are willing.  So in light of this week's celebration, I wanted to reflect on my own breastfeeding relationship with my daughter.
I am proud to share that I have been breastfeeding RaeRae for nearly 18 months now! I'm hoping we will make it until she is two years old. I did not expect that we would enjoying a positive nursing relationship this long and feel grateful for all the positive support and encouragement I have received from friends, family, and as well as "strangers" across FaceBook groups such as The Leaky Boob and Respect the Breast, and the cloth diapering community as well. I've also gotten great information on sites like KellyMom and other blogs.
When I think about breastfeeding, I think a lot of people are misinformed about the benefits and the work that goes into it. When RaeRae was born, she had a difficult latch. Her latch would regress and she would just be sucking on the nipple part, causing bloodiness and pain. On top of that, we had our first case of thrush at only 3 weeks postpartum. But with the help and support of a patient husband, supportive mom, and all those others I have mentioned here, we got through the hurdle and still are nursing strong. 
It's an amazing feeling to know that my own body is giving her all that she needs. She has been sick less than 5 times since she was born, and all of those times were just colds. I know that the longer I breastfeed, the longer she will get all the benefits from my milk and I will have less of a chance for breast cancer as well. I found this page that lists all the benefits from breastfeeding, as well as extended breastfeeding. Click here. 
It gives me joy to know my daughter finds comfort in breastfeeding--when she is hungry or has a boo-boo. She makes me chuckle when she puts her finger in my belly-button as if it is a switch to turn on the milk. I laugh more when she sits up from nursing on one side to ask for the other side, pointing and smiling as if she is saying "this one, mama" with giggles. 
To all the moms out there who make the decision to even try breastfeeding, you rock! Feel free to email me if you have any questions or just need some support. A lot of people supported me so I am willing to support whoever wants to try.