Lydia "Reads"

Lydia's "reading" a book she made at preschool. It's a variation on the classic, Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? Her name was inserted at the beginning, she traced the words, and she glued on the animals.

Happy Birthday Holly Dolly

The birthday season continues: first Jesus, then Ben, then Lydia, then Abigail, all within 2 months. We should have planned this better! Oh wait, then Lydia tells me it's Holly Dolly's birthday, and we have to make a pinata for her! 

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Princess-Hat-Pinata

 We put on Dolly's prettiest dress and took pictures for her baby book. She's turning '6.'

We filled it with Littlest Pet Shop toys.

Oh, the things we do for our kids...and their dolls.

Bye Bye Pacifier

Pacifiers are not forever. Pacifiers are for babies. A pacifier has been attached to Abigail since birth.

Beloved pacifier has been there for Abigail to comfort and soothe through the tough times and the good. Wait, the good? Yes, now pacifier is being abused and used when not needed. Age two is approaching, and it is time to cut the cord, or pacifier string, or it may come to the pacifier itself! 

I read that if you poke a tiny hole in the pacifier, then sucking it won't be as satisfying, and eventually the baby will drop it, the so-called sabotage method. I tried this one month ago. Abigail didn't seem to notice. So I went a little further and cut a nice long slit in the pacifier with a knife. Abigail still sucked on it as if nothing was different. Time to take drastic measures. Six days ago I did this... (while Abigail was not looking)

pacifier post guillotine

Agh! Once I did it I felt so guilty. This sight still makes me uneasy. This certainly did not go unnoticed by dear Abigail. The look on her face made me feel like I killed her best friend! All I could say was "Pacifier broken. :(  I'm sorry." 

Needless to say, that Monday was a little rough, but I stood firm in my resolve to rid Abigail of her unnecessary germy habit. At night she kicked and cried out for 'nuk' and 'p'ier,' but eventually she slept. The following few days were a little grumpy and filled with empty grabs to where her pacifier used to hang, as well as with ghost sucks. Today, those phantom movements are gone and I am going out on a limb to declare that we are pacifier free! I can hardly believe it. 

Who needs a pacifier? Look, not me!

I'm soo big!

First Time Bowler

 On New Year's Eve, we met some college friends in Chicagoland for dinner and bowling. Lydia picked out a pink ball. It was only seven pounds, but she still could barely carry it without dropping it. We'll have to wait to teach her granny style bowling till next year...in 2014 ;)

Here she got a SPARE!

With the ramp and bumper assists, she scored 104!