fare thee well

R.I.P. MAM pacifiers

9.2007 - 9.2011

Well, it's official. We are paci free. It's a little bittersweet to tell you the truth. A part of her will be changed forever. While I know that I didn't have to wait FOUR years, I also feel confident knowing that a) they provided her comfort and companionship and b) she was ready to part with them. Somehow, the stars aligned and the process was barely a blip on our screen. She amazes me daily.

Not that I think this is a plan that anyone else would follow, it worked for us. 6 months ago, the dentist gently suggested that I enforce a sleeping-only rule with the paci's. Well, it was good in theory, except that the only time she slept was at night, and there were still many transition times that she used them for. Nevertheless, I started planting the seed that when she turned four, it was a good time to say goodbye to the paci's. Sometimes I mentioned that this 'rule' came from the dentist, but I didn't emphasize it. I wanted her to feel empowered, and I also had fear that she would start to hate the dentist. :)

So we had a good 6 months to work the hype. I occasionally mentioned that it might be hard, but that she was learning and mastering other things that were hard, and how I would be right there with her. I was terrified - not gonna lie. She was a tried-and-true paci addict. It got to be the only way to keep her from talking (!!!!) so I was always secretly grateful for 3 minutes of quiet.

On the eve of her 4th birthday, we talked about it, and how I was so excited for her turning four, and how she has so many things to look forward to this this year (riding her bike, learning new letters in school, doing gymnastics & ballet, etc), and how they might be hard, but that I believed in her. I hadn't come up with a 'plan' yet, for how I was going to remove them. She was never thrilled with the idea of a Paci Fairy taking her beloved jewel tones to anyone else. So I just came out and asked her what she wanted to do.

And brilliance of all brilliance - she had what I think is a stroke of genius. She said she wanted to put them on a necklace. A necklace! Right?!?!! How cool is that?!? I knew it would work. I would poke a hole through the tip, and they basically wouldn't work after that. So we did, and she loved it. She helped me string them. It worked.


Now that they were inoperable, we had to get through the nefarious bedtime. The first night actually went rather well. I kept her busy that day on purpose. The only real tough moment was in the car, after dinner, and we had a long drive back from Arlington. She really missed those paci's, really cried out for them, rued the day we had ever put them on a necklace and I felt awful being stuck in the driver's seat while she cried huge crocodile tears. But I held her hand, and we made it through the drive, and that night she went to bed without even mentioning it. I know it's crazy that this is such a big deal to evoke such an elaborate write up, but I am just so proud of her, and even proud of myself for following her lead. I think she genuinely was old enough to appreciate the significance (either that, or I just waited longer than I needed to, ha!)

Anyway, the next two nights were just as painless. During the day, she was so proud to announce to anyone who would listen that she got rid of the paci's. At night we just spent a few more minutes winding down. The Paci Fairy did still come, but she wrote a note instead (an idea I got from Pinterest, natch), and left behind a "Baby Alive" doll.


She still talks ALL. THE. TIME. and I don't have a mute button anymore, but we are very happy to spend a few extra minutes snuggling instead. :)

You go, girl!

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I'm such a blogging slack these days. In case you're wondering why, you should check out my new photography blog!!! :)

www.erikahoffphotography.com/blog/

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www.erikahoffphotography.com

potty training: check! toddler bed conversion: check!

It's been a banner month here at Two Popsicles. First, Emma potty trained herself (practically!). We've had a potty out for months. On days when we weren't going out, I'd let her run around sans diaper and ask her if she wanted to go, and if she did, she could get a treat. It worked about 50% of the time. Naturally, there was lots of praise and peepee dances when she did. It was very exciting to know that she was making the connection. After that, she'd tell me that she wanted to go peepee, but it was usually after the fact, which was ok. Everything I'd heard said to let it be their choice and to not force it so I just didn't make a big deal out of it.

Well, something clicked about 2 weeks ago and all of a sudden, she just decided that she didn't want to wear diapers anymore. We were using pull ups almost exclusively at that point, so the mechanics of diaper changing was just like that of changing underwear. I bought her princess underwear one day, and after that, it was all she wanted to wear (in fact, I had to go back and get a 2nd pack in case Snow White happened to be in the washing machine!). I got nervous about what I would do if we went out, but it went swimmingly. I suppose some people think think this is a credit to parenthood, but from my perspective, this was all her. I mean, I know that kids eventually get potty trained, so it's not like it was a test for me as her mom. But she truly did this on her own. She just decided that she would rather wear the underwear, and she tells me every single time she has to go. We've had 1 accident in 10 days so far. No accidents for #2. Amazing to me. I know we'll have slipups along the way, but it's probably been one of the easier transitions we've made so far (the whole bottle/sippy cup thing was way harder!). She even goes diaper free at naptime! The only diaper she wears is at night, and she's woken up dry 8 out of the last 10 mornings so if it weren't for my unwillingness to change sheets in the middle of the night, we'd be totally diaper free. :) It's definitely a new dynamic though. I'm not entirely sure that kids out of diapers are easier than kids in diapers. I have to be prepared differently now (change of clothes at all times - including socks) and I have a potty in the back of my car. I have to scope out the bathroom upon arrival in every new venue. But we'll get the hang of that too. At least now I'll have some company when we go to the bathroom together, lol! :)

Speaking of transitions, TODAY was another big day!! Emma's always been a great sleeper, but lately naps were becoming a chore. I had taken off the front rail of her crib a few months ago and she had absolutely no interest in that. So it was a little surprise to me that she said three times this week to "make my bed little again". I wasn't entirely sure if she knew what that meant, but today at naptime I spontaneously took off the front rail and she hopped right in, as if it were an overdue lover's reunion. I threw in the princess pillowcase that cousin Morgan passed down to her this week, read a few books, told a few stories (our usual ritual), kissed her goodnight and walked out. I waited. And waited. I was expecting the thud, and the footsteps and the little buck-toothed grin at the door when she turned the handle. 1 minute went by. I couldn't believe it. Another minute went by. Surely by now I would have heard stirring. I waited another 5 minutes and all I heard was the clanking of her paci's together. After 10 minutes I bravely opened the door and O. M. G. My child is asleep, in her bed, alone, with no rail. Is it supposed to be this easy?!?! Granted, it's only day 1, but here's the proof:



Now....lest I get all cocky on you, I'm already WELL aware that the final transition will be the hardest. It will be the true test of my fortitude: The Paci. Girlfriend doesn't leave home without it, and for such an active child, it's one of the few things that physiologically slows her down. It goes in the mouth, and the eyes roll back and her whole body goes limp. That's how powerful it is. I have not made up my mind about when this iron standoff will take place. I'm certainly not ready yet. Sure, it's annoying to have to round up all 25 glow-in-the-dark silicone nubs before bedtime, and in the car, and when she goes for a bike ride, or to the playground, etc etc. But it soothes her, and that soothes me. I can't be lucky 3 times in a row to have her miraculously give it up on her own, but maybe a gradual phase out some time in the fall (coinciding with her first visit to the dentist). We'll see....for now I'm just relishing (and slightly mourning) how much my little big girl is growing up.

new header!

I mean honestly, it was time. We haven't lived in San Diego for over 6 months now - a detail I prefer not to think about right now!)

A huge shout out to my designer friend Sara for making us look spiffy! :)