The Saga of the Binky Weaning

I've had enough! I decided this last weekend that Levi was out of luck because I am totally done with the whole binky drama. I'm done, just done. Levi, however, was not pleased with my decision and has decided that I am a terrible mother. Ah well, such is life. Let me give you a rundown of our marvelous weekend.

Friday night: Crying. Crying. Screaming. Cursing his mother. More crying. Moved Ella-marie to our bed so that she could go to sleep. Crying. More screaming. Pitiful whimpers. Feeling like a terrible mom, but won't give in. Falls asleep 1 hour 15 minutes after being put in bed. Still hiccuping from all of the crying. Woke up twice crying and cried for 20 minutes each time. Not such a bad start for the first night...

Saturday morning nap: Screamed for 1 1/2 hours. Tore bed apart, took off all clothing until foiled by snap buttons. Never slept. Finally gave up and got him up (and got him dressed).

Saturday afternoon nap: Repeat of morning nap, only a little less crying and a smidge of sleeping. Probably about 20 minutes asleep before crying again.

Saturday night: Only crying and cursing for 30 minutes. Still put Ella-marie in our bed. Finally fell asleep with all of his clothes on and his blankets in his bed. Counted as a success. Didn't wake up in the middle of the night at all.

Sunday morning nap: Repeat of Saturday morning nap. No sleeping.

Sunday afternoon nap: Cried for 20 minutes and slept. Only slept for 1 hour because he got woken up by his brothers. (whom I wanted to wring their necks)

Sunday night: Didn't cry when put down. Instead decided to become room president and started bossing Ella-marie around and talking to her. Talked for 45 minutes and then slept. In fact, there were five people "chatting" for that time period. Hmmm, seems suspicious. Slept all night.

Monday morning nap: I wish!

Monday afternoon nap: YES! Only cried for 5 minutes and then slept for 2 1/2 hours.

Monday night: Children were threatened within an inch of their lives to not talk so that Levi could go right to sleep. Yahoo!!! IT WORKED!!! Fell asleep within minutes without crying at all. This may be the best evening of my life!! Once again Mom is the victor and the binky is gone!

We're still alive!

Don't worry, we're all still alive! I just have been too busy to do anything about the pictures on our camera...but I've been called to repentance. And so Grandma, here you go...

My absolute favorite picture from Christmas is of Joseph and Mary and the silly donkey with antlers. They just look so cute! (and innocent!)
Here is the ragtag bunch that came and visited baby Jesus on Christmas. But they're happy, and that makes me happy too. And we also have enough people for all of the parts now. Ahhh, that's why we have so many kids!

Corbin

Miles

Princess Ballerina Ella-marie

Hunter ( I know the gloves are a bit too big, but it was the best I could do!)

Levi (cute as ever!)

And this is the Finch Express. It is very magical and can go to anywhere you want it to go. I think this day they decided to go back to Aunt Emily's house because they weren't done having fun yet.

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Santa Claus came to the library this week and my children were ecstatic! They got to make antlers, eat lunch and visit with Santa. They had a lot of fun! Hunter is showing off his marvelous antlers that he made. Levi loved Santa!

Ella-marie was the first (and bravest) girl to sit on Santa's lap.

Corbin and Miles were very jealous that they didn't get to see Santa. I told them that they were out of luck, and it didn't matter because Santa was done with the "F"s anyway because he goes alphabetically down the list.

Yum Yum Cookies!

I was feeling up to making some chocolate dipped pretzels today, and I had two very helpful helpers. Ella-marie and Hunter were in charge of the sprinkles. As you can tell. Ella-marie did a great job sprinkling (well, loading) the pretzels. Hunter had a bit of a harder time because apparently the spoon had a magnetic pull to his mouth and no matter how many times I told him not to put his spoon in his mouth, it always ended up there. But he still put some sprinkles on the pretzels. I know which ones NOT to eat. I'm not sure if I'm going to tell anyone else.

Mommy's helpers hard at work.
The look may be innocent, but the evidence is written all over that guilty face.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Success is Sweet!

Hunter has now officially gone poop in the potty three times!! I know no one really wanted to know that, but it's big news! He stayed dry and clean ALL DAY yesterday! I deserve a cookie! Wahoo!! I'm so excited to have finally reached this point in the potty training. Hunter is a man with a mission now and will do anything for a cookie. It sure will be nice to really only have one baby in diapers.

I think I'll move to Australia...

I have had the most interesting/disconcerting/embarrassing day today than I've had in a very long time. I don't have anyone to talk to and tell about it, so I'm telling my blog. It started off innocently enough...Spencer called me from work to tell me that it was a little icy outside and that the steps were a tad icy. Nothing to worry myself over, or so I thought. I went out early to warm the car up and SWWOOOOSSSHHHHHH!!!!! Down the stairs I flew! Luckily I have enough padding where it counts so that it wasn't debilitating. As I stood up on the landing and looked up at the house (hoping that no one was watching)...there were quite a few faces staring at me with their eyes (and mouths) wide open. I waved gracefully and then gingerly went down the rest of the stairs to start the car. I warned the kids that it was slick and that they would need to be careful, but as we all know, children don't listen. It's a known fact. Miles was first out the door and swooshed straight down the stairs, and thought it was so much fun that he did it two more times until he reached the driveway. Corbin thought he was to cool to hang on to the railing, and so swooshh, there he went. Hunter swooshed the first step and then grabbed the railing and held on for dear life. He wouldn't have moved for all the tea in China. Ella-marie just stood at the top watching. I got Levi, Corbin and Miles in the car, went back for Hunter. Thankfully he made it in one piece that time, and then went back for Ella-marie. I think she was a little too brave because she was holding my hand, and swooosh, there she went. In retrospect, I think it must have been very funny to be a fly on the wall for this episode. We'll have bruise inspection tomorrow and see who has the most fabulous bruises. Hmmm, I wonder if Spencer slipped too, and just didn't tell me?

And life just gets more exciting...We had to go to the courthouse to get our license plates renewed. No problem, unless court is in session. Have you ever tried to finagle a double stroller through a metal detector?? No? Well, I am not suggesting it. They finally felt sorry for me and let me go through the exit with the stroller, and then put just myself through the metal detector. So many people just watched us...not assisting, not opening doors, nothing...just watching me struggle. It was a good time.

And then I was feeling so darn good that we went to the mall to use a coupon at Bath&BodyWorks. Once again with the double stroller. I really just must be a sucker for punishment. I was trying to maneuver the stroller around a display when I backed into another display of gift cards. KABOOOOOMMMMM!!!! Millions of gift cards ALL over the floor. Why do I do these things to myself? And wouldn't you know, a random guy (a little scary looking and smelly) came over and helped me pick them up, but he also tried to pick me up as well. Asked if he could give me his phone number and if I would call him and go out with him sometime. While my little ones were sitting there staring at him! Needless to say, I said no, but thanks for helping. I think we made it out of there in one piece (mostly). I'm not sure we'll be going back there anytime soon.

As I was laying next to a sleeping child this afternoon, looking at the clock and telling myself that I should get up and do something, I thought "Surely things will go better now, what else could go wrong?" And then I realized that I have a dentist appointment this afternoon. Really? Are you serious?

I should have pulled up the covers and stayed in bed.