Bye-Bye, Binkie

We have officially been paci-free for a week.

And what a week it's been! It's been a little rough.

I use that word loosely. Very loosely.

Anyway, last Sunday night the Paci Fairy came and took both of the girls' pacis away to give to the new babies at the hospital. Then she very generously left them each a special toy and a note congratulating them on their rise to "big girl" status--you know, since they unwillingly gave up their beloved pacis.

And then the real fun began.

Josie had one bad night (like, really bad). But she has steadily gotten better and no longer wakes up every other night fussing for her paci! I'm sure she doesn't even remember it anymore. Complete success! The bottle, on the other hand, she is missing. Girlfriend won't drink milk anymore without it. She's going strong after two weeks without the bottle! In a moment of temporary insanity, I asked our pediatrician if I should reintroduce the bottle so our little Skinny Minnie could get some more calories. Her answer was a resounding no. At least one of us was in our right mind.

Holly, on the other hand, is having a tougher time. She was doing great the first night or two, but then she started showing all the signs of paci withdrawal: tantrums, sleeplessness, and general crankiness among other things. She told me a few days ago that the Paci Fairy was going to come back, give her the pacis, and take away her special toy. Sorry, but that's not how it works!

Last night Holly woke up around 3:15 a.m.--you know, just awake. She came into our room and I woke up to her standing next to the bed. Well, one thing led to another and before I knew it we were in the living room at 4:30 a.m. having a snack. I honestly don't know what happened. Then I made her a little bed at the foot of our bed and that is where she currently lies, fast asleep.

I, on the other hand, am awake with Josie. Bleary-eyed and not loving life. Anyone have any tips on how to get a two-year-old back to sleep without her beloved paci?

My New Hobby

During the past few months, I have come to terms with the fact that I have the soul of an eighty-year-old woman. Or that I am, in fact, and eighty-year-old woman in a twenty-five-year-old's body. Don't believe me? Here are a few examples, my friends.

1. I drive like an old woman. I have since the day I got my driver's license. Driving over the speed limit? Never. Avoiding freeways and busy streets at all costs, even if I'm going out of my way? Check. Police officers swerving around me in anger so they don't have to drive behind me anymore? Oh, yeah.

2. I did not learn to text until I was about twenty-two. A friend of mine from college had to sit down and teach me how to do it. I type all of my text messages like I type an English paper: correct grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. I can't help myself.

3. I have been dying for a pressure canner for a few years now, and Andrew finally caved in and bought me one for Christmas. I literally jumped up and down when I opened it! I canned my first batch of applesauce today. I don't think other young people aspire to such things.

Which leads me to my newest hobby: knitting. I just discovered it a month or two ago and picked it up again today and felt I needed to blog about it! I love knitting. It's crafty, but not too involved. I can do it while watching TV and it doesn't take up too much space. Don't get me wrong, I am still in the very beginning stages and haven't made a "real" project yet. As soon as I am brave enough, I am going to get some real yarn and knit something...real. I was talking to Andrew awhile back about knitting and he said, "Are you sure you like knitting? It just seems like an old lady thing to do." And what is the problem with that? It appears he has no idea who he married.

Christmas

We had such a fun Christmas this year! Emily and Josh came for a visit, we saw lots of family, and oh yeah...we all got sick. Coughs, congestion, fevers all around. Bummer. But we managed to have a great time anyway!

On Christmas Eve there were new jammies all around. Holly and Josie opened them before Andrew's aunt and uncle's annual Christmas Eve party. They wore them to the party, of course, and were the cutest kids there! Oh wait, they were the only kids there. Whatever. If only I hadn't been sick and had gotten a picture of them in their cute new jammies...

Christmas morning. They were far too busy to look at the camera.

Josie does not do well when she's sick. She fusses day and night and needs to make her misery known. She wasn't into opening presents at all and, in fact, went back to bed before I even made our eggnog french toast. She had probably been up for 45 minutes, and slept for another few hours.

Holly got some dress-up clothes and was thrilled with the "princesses."

Playing in their new house that Santa brought. Again, they were far too busy to actually look at the camera... Holly asks to play in her house every day. They love it!

We truly had a wonderful Christmas and loved seeing our families. We especially loved celebrating our Savior's birth and remembering all that He has done for us.