how easily I forgot

I had forgotten how pitifully hard it is to take the binky away.  With the third, we waited a year longer then we did with our second.  Part of that was laziness and another factor was the thumb.  Our second began to suck her thumb after we took the binky away at 18 months.  We wanted to try not to repeat that with our third.  But mostly, I dreaded taking away her sole source of comfort.

When a dear friend came to visit for the week, she suggested taking her to Build-a-Bear to make a bear and stuff the binkies inside.  I happily agreed because I felt like it took the pressure off me.  That Wednesday morning, she woke up and we collected all the binkies from all their various hiding spots.  After zipping them up in a bag for transport, I explained that she would make a bear for these binkies.  She didn't seem too concerned about the binkies but was so excited about the bear.  My hopes were that the idea of making her own bear would lessen the shock of getting rid of the mound of binkies we had collected.

When we arrived, I could tell my girl was a little hesitant.  My friend was wonderful and suggested that she take my girl in and accomplish the binky bear task with her while I busied myself at another store.  I left them at the door and quickly snapped a few pictures before I nervously dashed to a store.

Within 15 minutes, it was done!  All the binkies were inside her new bear which was firmly sewed up.  Other than being scared about the sound of the stuffing machine, she gladly helped stuff each one of her beloved binkies inside that honey-colored bear.  She was very excited about her new bear!

She proudly held her bear and showed me how she could feel the binkies inside.  I was so relieved that it went so smoothly.

When we arrived home, I knew sleeping would be a new problem.  She asked me many times that afternoon for her binkies and cried on and off for 2 hours during her usual naptime.  I was a mess and almost ran to the store to get some more binkies to end the hurt in my heart.  Any mother will tell you how sad it is to see your sweet child relearn how to fall asleep without the one item they have used since birth to soothe.  Thankfully, my sweet friend was there to calm me so that I could calm my girl.

After the naptime chaos, I knew Daddy would have to help with bedtime.  Thankfully, she was so tired from no nap and the stress of the day, her bedtime woes only lasted 30 minutes.

For the past 5 days, she has done remarkably well as long as we keep the routine exactly the same each time she sleeps.  But every time I get ready to put her in her crib, she sweetly asks, "do you have my binkies?"  I calmly respond, "no more binkies."  Each time she asks, she pulls at my heart and causes me a little sadness.  I suspect this sadness is more about the passage of another baby stage and less to do with the actual binkies.  

I am so grateful to my sweet friend who had the great idea and helped me carry out the binky removal plan.  If it was up to me I am sure she would still have a binky in kindergarten.  

her funny hat

This morning she timidly said that she didn't want to wear her favorite hat because her good friend had made fun of it last week.  My heart sunk because I cringe when the negative influence of others impedes on the hearts of my kids.  We sat together and decided that wouldn't be a good reason not to wear the hat she loves so much from her grandmother.  Instead, we discussed what she could say if others thought it was appropriate to make fun of her hat.  We talked about being different and that is what makes us all wonderful and special.  After a few encouraging words, she reached for her hat and the smile that beamed from her face was so bright.  

As I watched her walk off with her bright red Nordic hat on, I couldn't help but be so proud of her for choosing to be herself no matter what others think or say...and that is a big task for a kindergartner.

hair dresser

There they sit on the back patio with a sheet clothes-pinned around the younger one.  The big one is the hair dresser with a squirt bottle of water that she enjoys squirting far too much.  The younger one sits in a relaxed state as she surrenders to her hair dresser's suggestions about how her hair should look.  After all, she is getting ready for her wedding.  When I asked who she was marrying, she proudly stated, "Daddy!"

little folded bits of paper

Little folded bits of paper games charm her beyond words these days.

FAT Tuesday

Happy Fat Tuesday!

There's nothing like some homemade and little-kid-decorated cupcakes to mark the occasion!

Enjoy your Mardi Gras celebrations no matter how big or small they may be -- treat yourself to one last night of richer eating before Lent begins tomorrow.

Happy hearts

Wishing you lots of happiness today from our big boy!

Happiness is...

A box of valentines from your preschool buddies... 

A special treat at school...

A bottle of bubbles on a warm winter day...

A sleeping child in my lap on the long flight home...

A hot cup of coffee and ginger biscuits by the window...

Little notes from my middle girl about planning a date...

Playing at sunset with your sister...

A round of putt-putt...

Visiting with the pilot and checking out the cockpit of a "big" plane...