The Great Pacifier Debates

Sorry we haven't posted in awhile. We've been under a LOT of stress and it hasn't been much of a priority.

We are currently in pacifier hell. I found out from a speech pathologist at school that a child using a pacifier can alter the shape of their palate and the pacifier is considered an orthodontic device. This alteration of the palate is NOT a good thing and can cause something called tounge thrust which can mess up the formation of her baby and permanent teeth and her speech. So now we are trying to break her of this nasty habit with little success. Last Christmas we tried to get rid of it once and for all but had the angriest little child. Now we're trying to do this again and it just isn't working. The thing that is REALLY irritating is that for the first two weeks of her life she didn't even WANT a pacifier and was content to suck on her tounge. Now 2 1/2 years later we're still dealing with it. I don't ever want another child of mine to use a pacifier - it's just so horrible to try to get rid of it.

Libby's ever blossoming personality

Lately Libby has really developed into a little girl with quite the personality. She loves to draw with pens but isn't allowed to do it very often. At least not without supervision. One day I guess she got a hold of one without my knowledge. She pointed out this fact to me by pointing to a chair of hers. This is how the conversation went:

Libby: (pointing to the chair) Colored
Me: Did you color on the chair?
Libby: Yeah
Me: Libby, we don't color on chairs. That is not okay.
Libby: Earl colored.

For those of you who don't know, Earl is our dog. Right after she admitted to coloring she changed her story and said Earl did it! Too funny...

Since we've turned her bed into a "big girl bed" she has "fallen" out only twice. I say fallen loosely because one time she actually "jumped" out. We put her to bed and about 10 minutes later I heard "thump thud WWWAAAAA!!!!" We went into to find out what happened and Libby was on the floor screaming. After she calmed down we asked her what happened - (I should mention that she went to bed with a Tigger stuffed animal. If you don't know Tigger he LOVES to bounce!) Anyway, we asked Libby why she was on the floor and she said, "Tigger bounce bed." Yet again, she is deferring blame to someone else! The next day she wanted Tigger to nap with her so I made a point of telling Tigger that we don't bounce in beds and it isn't safe. Libby very seriously nodded along with me.

Floors and more

As promised here are pictures of our new floors. I think they've help cut down on the pet dander in the house, as I feel a lot better lately and Libby doesn't seem to have a runny nose.








I read this blog at a friend's site and laughed because we're going through similar temper tantrums with Lu. Except that we've been going through it off and on for months and not just days! Libby will act up and not seem to care much about what we say (mostly what I say because Dad's not here as much). The most embarrassing is when she acts up in public. I almost always see someone I know. It makes it much worse if it's a parent from school or something. I worry that I lose a little credibility when my kid is acting up. I've actually started to figure out when she will act up and the best way to handle it in each situation. Most of her acting out happens when I'm preoccupied with something else and can't play with her or talk to her. She acts out to get me to pay attention. I've tried time out at this time and it pacifies the situation for a brief time while I'm talking with her or actually putting her in the time out chair. Shortly after it's over, she's back to her usual. One day I decided to try to just walk away when she was getting under my skin and after doing that twice it stopped for the rest of the day. She knows how to irritate me and she knows how to get any kind of attention necessary. Kids are smart!

My cousin Katie took some wonderful pictures last weekend of Libby. I thought I'd share a few. She is really talented.

We Have A Big Girl

First let me say that our floors are about 99.9% finished. I will take some pictures as soon as we get the kitchen cleaned up a little bit more.

Last night Libby spent her first night in a "big girl" bed. We took the rail off her crib and turned it into a toddler bed. She was very proud of herself. It's kinda funny too because when she wakes up she still just sits in it and cries out for us instead of just getting out. She's fake sleeping in this picture!


We also are working on getting rid of the paci once and for all. I made her a special box to keep her pacis in and at bedtime if she chooses to leave her paci in the box she can have a little toy. Last night she chose a toy giraffe and was very proud of herself.

New Floors

We finally got disgusted enough with our carpet to rip it up and put down new laminate floors in our living room and kitchen. I tell you, they look great! Whenever I find our camera, I'll take some pictures. Right now we are living in disarray. The only room through this process that didn't become a maze of furniture, Libby's toys, and other odds and ends was our upstairs bathroom. That's right - the bathroom. While we've been working that has almost been like going into a nice relaxing spa. It's clean and quiet. ahhhh.... Except that to get there you have to navigate the stairs that are full of saws, crowbars, and other random objects.

In the meantime, Libby's been at my parents house enjoying the pool. Lucky girl!

One Minute Prayer

The following was in our church bulletin and I thought I'd share it with you.

"During World War II, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. This had an amazing effect, as bombing stopped. There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here. The United States of America and our citizens need prayer more than ever! If you want to participate: each evening at 8 pm (Central Time) stop what you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the U.S., our troops, our citizens, for peace in the world, for wisdom and courage for our leaders, the up-coming election, that the Bible will remain the basis for the law governing our land, and that Christianity will grow in the United States. If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along. Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have."

Anyway, it's just a thought if you are also wanting this war to end. At least that's how I see it.

On a different note. The following picture is a nightly occurrence at our house. Mike lays like this on the floor and Libby will lay on top of him either to play sleep or for a story.

When she saw the camera, she first choose to lay NEXT to Daddy.


Last week our sitter's kids taught her a few things. Rachel taught her Ring Around the Rosey which she loves. Emily and Hannah taught her to say "No bath". It's funny though because she LOVES to take baths so she'll say "No bath. BATH!" and laugh. No bath is said in this really soft fake whine of a voice. Too cute.