Our First Trip To The Dentist

I put off taking Will to the dentist like the slacker-type Mom that I am sometimes. I blew it off when the doctor told me, at his three-year appointment, that it was time for him to start going. I figured I had the whole year to schedule a visit. It's not like his teeth bothered him or seemed abnormal or anything.

Right before he turned four, I looked into pediatric dentists. I was afraid I'd be asked at his four-year doctor's visit if I'd taken him yet. (I figured there's probably some secret Parental Assessment page in his medical file - after all, I'd have a page like that if I were a pediatrician. I was fairly sure nothing had been recorded thusfar in the Crazy or Negligent column, and I didn't want to raise any red flags now.)

Even after I picked a dentist, I still neglected to call and actually schedule an appointment until after his 4th birthday, and the first appointment that worked for everyone was this Wednesday.

So we trekked into Caldwell Pediatric Dentistry (http://www.caldwellpediatricdentistry.com/)Wednesday morning, and found it to be a very nice, kid-friendly place. There was a little miscommunication about whether Sophie was supposed to see the dentist (she wasn't, according to me), but I assuaged my guilt by letting them see her too. (That way, see, if you AVERAGE their ages, they saw the dentist at age 3.)

Will was a fantastic patient. He sat in the chair and did everything they asked perfectly. I was very proud of him and almost teared up when I thought about what an independent little man he is turning into.

Sophie did not want to sit in the chair, but she let them clean her teeth with a toothbrush while she sat in my lap. She did not want the dentist to look at her teeth and clamped her lips together firmly. (I'm not sure if this works with all kids, but I've discovered if you turn her upside down, she opens her mouth, similar to the way a doll closes its eyes if you lay it down. This provided the dentist with a quick glimpse of her chompers.) I figure this visit was more or less a practice run, so no worries.

I was pleased with the visit. I thought it was basically going to be a PR campaign to make them like the dentist, but they really did clean the kids' teeth, especially Will's. They flossed and even took X-rays on Will. Everyone was very sweet and patient, especially Christen, our hygienist.

The dentist and hygienist reported that neither child had cavities and all of their teeth looked fine.

Nightie Nites

The other night, as we were driving home from church, a commercial came on the radio for Nightie Nites (http://nightienites.com/) Plus Size Lingerie (Tagline: Curves are beautiful at Nightie Nites). It sounds like a pretty tasteful store and nothing about the commercial was objectionable. There was silence from the back seat. I should've known to be suspicious. During the next commercial, the following conversation began:

Will: Mom, why don't we EVER go to Nightie Nites?

Mom: Well, why would we?

Will: I want to go there.

Mom: Why?

Will: I want to see what they have there.

Mom: Honey, all they have there are ladies pajamas.

Will: THEY DON'T HAVE TOYS?!?

Mom: No.

Will: Why don't you go there, since you're a lady?

Mom: Well, their "pajamas" won't fit me. They're made for ladies who are just a little bigger than me.

Will: Oh.

The end, or so I thought. Then today, as we are eating lunch...

Will: Mom, if you got just a LITTLE bigger, then would you go to Nightie Nites?

Mom: Maybe.

Will: Mom, why do you have to be BIG and BEAUTIFUL to go to Nightie Nites?

I wondered which of my qualifications he was worried about. But I just laughed and changed the subject.

Please Remove The Pin From The Voodoo Doll

OK, whoever out there put the hex on me and Sophie after my post gloating about her potty training, your talents are extraordinary. Now please lift the spell.

After Sophie's first remarkable week or two, she has now been, for several weeks:

1) using the potty consistently when she is taken, and

2) NEVER telling us she needs to go unless she has already had an accident

And since I'm not exactly always Mrs. On Top Of Everything, this means lots of accidents, typically about one each day.

This puts us in the uncomfortable position of being:

1) way too far along to go back to diapers

2) not quite "finished", and

3) owners of lots of smelly laundry

So please, please remove the pin from the little brunette voodoo doll's abdomen.

Douglas Fir

Sophie has Douglas Fir, The Talking Christmas Tree, in her room. He also sings. Some of you might assume that he sings Christmas standards. Sophie disagrees.

"My Christmas tree sings Tinker Bell All The Way!"

Mother Goose, Mary and Directives to Parents

One night recently we hung out in Will's room before bed. Sophie was on the top bunk "reading" a Mother Goose book.

Sophie sung like (I imagine) a late-nineteenth century slave woman, "One for my masser... one for my masser..."

(Apparently this is the only line she knows of Baa Baa Black Sheep.)

(...and I never thought of the racial implications of this nursery rhyme until that moment.)

In the meantime, Sophie moved on to another page to sing, "Mary had a little sheep... Mary had a little sheep..."

A few minutes later, Will whined a little when Andy and I teased him while helping him get ready for bed. "Oh Will," I told him, "We are just playing with you!"

"I am a person," he announced, "I am not a toy, I am a person and I do not want anyone playing with me!"

Will's Wedding Photos

Sophie's Wedding Photos

By the time we got to the reception, Sophie knew she had finished a job well done and could rest easy...

Vic and Charlotte's Wedding

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Vic and Charlotte's Rehearsal

Just thought I'd share a few shots from the wedding rehearsal. Wedding pictures are coming soon!

Will-Bear and Sophie-Bear

I hate long children's books. I have tried to make a pile to hide stealthily away, deep in the storage closet, but somehow the pile never makes it deep enough, fast enough, and the books get put away again in Will's room.

The Berenstain Bears are a particular thorn in my side. I like the ones that rhyme, but the non-rhyming ones are forever long. I also think the series portrays fathers in a particularly negative and somewhat disrespectful light.

So tonight, I was saddened to see "The Berenstain Bears Get The Gimmies" at the top of the reading pile. A few pages in, I realized I could amuse myself by substituting "Will-Bear" for "Brother" and "Sophie-Bear" for "Sister".

Will didn't like this at all, since the cubs act quite bratty in the book. In fact, he thought I was jeopardizing the opinion of someone of superior importance to him right now.

With alarm, he cried, "Mom, stop!!! SANTA CLAUS IS GOING TO HEAR YOU!"

Naptime

I completely spoil my kids at naptime. We read five books and then lounge around in bed together. Sometimes I fall asleep along with them. I always feel guilty during my nap and afterward, because naptime is the only time I have to get things done without the kids. Accomplishing financial (computer) tasks and work check-ins is particularly crucial during naptime.

The other day, I was feeling guilty while lying on the top bunk with Will snoring softly beside me while Sophie slept peacefully on the bottom bunk. As usual, there was not only a whole house to clean, but also lots of smaller jobs waiting for me.

In my semiconscious state, I started to realize that this nap was possibly the best use of my time available. Sometimes, moms need to recharge along with their kids. More importantly, for once I felt deeply the swift passing of time and wanted to soak up this hour, so close to these two little sweet souls that I love so deeply. That moment is the closest I've ever come to understanding the wistful way older parents tell us to enjoy these "little years".

So here's to living guilt-free in the moment... and sometimes sleeping in it that way too!

My Interpreter

I'm sure Will thinks he is being helpful.

Occasionally, Sophie stumps me and for the life of me I can't understand what she is trying to say. I usually understand everything but one or two vital words.

Sophie: I need to get my slurpee ballow! I need to get my slurpee ballow!

Mom: What, honey? You need to get what?

Sophie: I need to get my slurpee ballow!

Will (supremely confident, speaking to me as if I am either mentally slow or non-English speaking): MOM! She is saying She Needs To Get Her SLURPEE BALLOW!

Mom: What's a slurpee ballow? Do you know what that is?

Will (as if I am crazy, with "of course not!" intonation): No!

Great. Thanks, Sweetheart.