Read This:

So I realize I am, once again, late on a trend. My mom raves to me about this book and how I can borrow it when she's done. I say Mom, I can get it at the library.  Don't worry about it. She insists that I will have to wait forever at the library. I argue that I never have to wait because I request the Large Print version of things. That's the scam. (I realize all of this belies absolutely nothing cool about me ) Well... I put myself on the list at the library for this book I had never heard of. I am number 82 on the regular list and 24 on the large print. Ana Banana wins.  She finishes it and brings it to me Saturday morning. Apparently I have 3 days to read it before passing it on to my sister. Upon discussion they decided to give it to me first because I am a "fast reader." I have always been plagued by such sad superlatives. In Second Grade, I received the "Expressive Reader Award". What? These were character awards people! I went to a Christian school! People were getting things like "charitable" "generous" "most like the Apostle Paul" and I get "reads well out loud." Regardless, great book - go buy it or support your public library and get in line. 

Breaking Free

On Thursday I confronted something I had been dreading for years: PASSY DETOX. For Sophia? Yes. Isn't she over three? Yes again. Go ahead, judge me. I judged myself . Our Dentist, a friend, showed me on Thursday the passy-shaped hole in Sophia's bite and I knew it was now - or never. 

We had been talking about it forever...Sophia had asked for everything from a piano to a dog and a cat for her "no more passy" present. We had talked about having a party. We planned to give her passies to the neighbors baby. But as we drove home from her first dentist appointment we were both silent and very somber. It wasn't about gimicks. It couldn't be. I was sad for my girl as I watched her clutch her most precious possessions for the last time. I knew I was watching a first bit of innocence slip away: the realization that sometimes things that we really love are not good for us. 

And I was terrified of what lay ahead. This child had sucked on a pacifier to put herself to sleep since her first weeks of life. They helped her transition, relax, calm down in the midst of screaming  - and likewise her using the thing helped me in all the same ways. 

Sophia gave them up to me in the car on that ride home in exchange for some M&M's (correct the bite or rot the teeth?) She has not asked for them since. She accepted this step in maturity with grit and valor. The nights have been a little rough as she learns to settle herself down differently but hey who's not up at least twice a night anyways? Another week and hopefully she will be in full recovery.

Above is a pictorial tribute to Sophia's pacifier through the years. It was hard to find pictures of her with in the past two years because I always made her take it out when cameras were around. My only regret in this whole process is the shame I felt about it. Looking back I do not think either of us would have survived the Two's without it. I affirm all sorts of comfort attachments. All adults seem to have is food and alcohol which can create worse problems than a bad bite. Maybe we should all still carry our lovies and blankies around...

 You know I am exhausted and slightly crazy when I got emotional the first night she went to sleep on her own. All those nights of shoving it into her newborn mouth, the late night trips to the store to buy replacements, the shameful hiding of it whenever we were out in public...this is farewell to a lifestyle of dependency and secrecy for all of us. Here's to new beginnings and freedom from strongholds...:)

What's Happening In Your Living Room?

   Because chances are, this is what's happening in ours...

REWIND: Busch Gardens ChristmasTown

Busch Gardens unveiled a Christmas Spectacular this year: CHRISTMAS TOWN! We went on December 20 with Los Abuelos. It was so fun and so cold. There is a reason Busch Gardens is not open in the winter. Riding that Tram in 30 degrees is brutal. But Das Festhaus had been transformed into a German Christmas Fest  - the costumes reminded me of scenes in "White Christmas."

Olivia is a good sport and always has been. She could barely move because she was so bundled up. 

Sophia/Lecia/Darcy/Angela was filled with wonder and awe.

Parading through the Old Country

And of course: Elmo. My girls are ambivalent about Santa Claus. But Elmo will always reign supreme. Sophia honestly believes he is one of her closest friends and therefore always has a difficult time understanding why she has to wait in line to see him. She kept rushing forward, cutting other people. I am physically restraining her while we wait for a 30+ woman to hug and pose with Elmo. This was a baffling moment for me. I'm all about keeping the childlike wonder but come on...

Through Sophia's eyes...

Sophia took my camera and took about 60 pictures a couple of weeks ago. I just found them and thought it was hysterical and a bit depressing because, my friends, this is what it looks like all day long. This is how we live - like animals. 

Hmm...potty seat on carpet, next to stuffed animals and random cupcake liner...

Olivia is captured in the chaos - check out the scene behind her.

Window sill was Sophia's favorite new concept a few weeks ago.

This is the material we hang over Sophia's blinds desperately trying to get her to sleep in.

We have to use the material because she has broken her blinds during some of her more recent "quiet times."

This just looks sad and alarming.

Baby Sisters Unite!

Olivia is facinated by Baby Lydia! Finally someone smaller than her! Finally someone to play with when she is excluded by Sophia and Judah's closet-playing, and communal baths. Too bad we can never say both of their names in the same sentence.

Birthday Celebrity Guests

Sophia's birthday happened to fall on Wednesday this year - the day she normally goes to 

Moms Morning Out...so we spiced things up with some celebrity guests...

Check Sophia and Parker's excitement level - they are regular Froggie Class Attendees...

Now watch Celebrity Guest Judah's expressions. It should have been his birthday...

Olivia was another Celebrity Guest. She loved being there. The Birthday Girl was a tad territorial though and kept asking for her to leave...

Sophia, older, wiser, more discerning...

REWIND: Sophia's 3rd Birthday

After last year's Jumping Joey's Birthday Party Success I had been planning to return to the Storefront O' Inflatables for this year's festivities. Then the Swine hit and I didn't want to be the sketchy parent luring children into an infested indoor playground. Yes, it was more about the fear of my perception than the fear of actual sickness. So, last minute we decided to take Sophia ice skating at the outdoor rink in Hampton. It was just a family event but great fun and she actually skated...

Another homemade cake by me and Betty Crocker

First Movie Since Batman and Other Christmas Rehash

Travis:  Neen, if I ever have the opportunity to be a mercenary on another planet, don't let me go. 

Noted.

We had a great Christmas, a great New Years, and a still-slightly-confusing Three Kings Day. Christmas with a 3 year old and a 1 year old is slightly humorous. I spent Christmas Eve looking at our little tree with our little pile of presents asking myself "Did I get enough?" (Thank you American upbringing). I spent Christmas morning wondering "Why did I get them anything?" as Sophia spent the morning sharpening a pencil she got in her stocking and Olivia ate chex mix. I did fight the feelings of parental failure when Sophia asked where Diego's stocking was. I just hadn't factored Diego's wish list into our budget this year.

Travis gave me two nights at the Sanderling Resort in Duck for December 27-29th. This gift ranks up there with best Christmas surprises ever -  it might have even, but barely, surpassed my American Girl doll in 1989, the first year they had come out after my mom declared they were only for rich girls and I would never have one.

 The Abuelos graciously watched the girls and we were able to go away and I returned a mother restored. While there we were able to go to the movies and made a shocking discovery. Sweet Olivia, all this time we have been wondering when will she start speaking English, she has been speaking the language of the Nav'i...She is still very small and non-blue but I'm going to keep my eye on her...