Bye Bye Binkie Night #3

For all the drama of trying to get to sleep on night #2, Max actually slept through the night until about 6am. Now, only bus drivers and daddies are awake at 6am so I went in to lay down with him and he passed right back out, until 8. Usually I would just put his binkie back in and he would go back to sleep, no problem. Obviously, that is not an option. I am realizing now that we may just be replacing one thing, the binkie, with another, the comfort of mommy and daddy, but I am willing to risk it for a couple more days.

For night #3 we played hard after dinner, pizza, at Maxs request. We went for a mile long hike through the trails in Snoqualmie Ridge. It was great! The three of us together, running and walking and pointing out the native plants and birds. Max really enjoyed it. He was Lightening McQueen on the trail. Driving his way along. We saw blooming Trillium and native Bleeding Hearts, Wild Ginger and native Elderberry. We made it home around 8:30pm. Love, love, love daylight savings time. We had a quick bath to wash off all the mud from a couple of spills. Then stories and finally asleep by 9:45pm. This morning he slept straight through until 7am. Slightly more respectable.

Today however, at naptime, he asked and asked for a binkie. We talked about him being a big boy and not needing one anymore, but he kept asking anyway. No one every tells you how hard being a parent can be sometimes. Terry and I both wanted to crack the other night and just go get him another binkie. But we didn't. This is the right thing we are doing. Yes, it is hard for all of us, but things that are important, usually are. We are all learning from this and I know the time will come when he won't even ask anymore and everything will be fine. I just want it to be sooner then later.

Tonight I go back to work and Terry is on his own. I know they will have fun together tonight and I expect Max won't be in bed before 10 but, he will be pooped and ready for sleep. Unless he and daddy are laying in bed together making each other giggle silly, which usually happens, until mommy the killjoy puts a stop to it. I sure do love those boys!

Bye Bye Binkie Night #2

Well, things did not go as well as we had hoped last night or should I say this morning. Around 3:30 am, Max woke up crying and asking for his binkie. I went in to lay down with him and he was not about to go back to sleep. So at 4am, I put him back in the crib and went back to bed. At 4:45am, he cried out again. So I went in to soothe him. I stayed with him until he finally fell asleep at around 5:30am. He was back at it again at 7:45am, so I went in and we snuggled back to sleep until 8:30.

We had a pretty mellow day. We played at a new park on a choo choo and made it home for lunch and an early nap, or so I thought. He usually naps around 1pm. Today he fiddled around until finally falling asleep around 2pm.  I know he is struggling and slowly, maybe developing the coping techniques he needs to get over his binkie fixation. After his nap we met daddy at the fly park. I have been trying to keep him busy. Maybe that isn't the best strategy but I figure if he is exhausted he will hopefully just pass out at bedtime. We even stayed up later tonight, mowing the yard, playing in the sandbox and having a late bath. Finally teeth brushing, stories and what we thought was bed.

Not tonight. The inconsolable crying began. He started out by laying down with daddy, then they called me upstairs. We all lay together. Trying to console Max. Telling him what a big boy he is, how we are so proud of him. As he continued to cry, I started to cry to. I know we are making the right decision but hearing him is truly painful and makes me doubt everything. He finally passed out around 10pm. I am hoping that he sleeps through the night. I really need it. We have one more night together as a family to deal with this until I have to go back to work and Terry is on his own. I was hoping for a smooth transition, maybe tonight is the night. Maybe not. I don't know.

Bye Bye Binkie

Well, we finally did it. Tonight is the first night without a binkie.

After several months of reading about "The Binky Box," a story Gramma sent us and making a binkie box, to no avail. We decided to take slightly more drastic measures. Cold Turkey was not an option. Especially for a two and a half year old. Sure, it worked for me over 10 years ago when I quite smoking, but this was something completely different. He showed absolutely no signs of wanting to stop. He really enjoyed the book, we read it at least once a week after the initial barrage and he had fun making the box but he wasn't having any of it.

A friend suggested we try a "binkie exchange" at a toy store. A "binkie exchange" works like this:

First, you talk up the idea of getting a new toy and "paying" for it with the binkies for a few days.

Second, you actually go to the store and meander around looking for the best toy around.

Third, your parents freak out when you pick a dump truck, digger combination, that is $75.

Fourth, you are asked multiple times if you are sure you want to give up your binkies for this particular toy.

Fifth, you ignore them and play with the Thomas the Tank Engine train table and trains.

Sixth, daddy spots some awesome airplanes and helicopters. Who knew!!

Seventh, you are asked again if this is what you want to spend your binkies on.

Eighth, you walk proudly up to the cashier and hand over your binkies, one by one. Three all together.

Ninth, you walk out of the store a very happy boy!

We made the day very busy, starting at the toy store. As we were leaving, both Terry and I felt horrible. Max could not have been happier. Which just made us feel worse. Was he ready for this? Did he really understand what had just happened? We would have to wait and find out. We had other errands to run and Max never let the helicopter out of his sight. He held it almost the whole morning. We may have pushed a little to hard because he didn't get to have a nap until 3. Way past the usual time. He didn't ask for a binkie then, but fell asleep with me holding his new helicopter.

After nap we played hard at the park and had dinner and a bath. Terry and I both worried about what the night would bring. It was kind of a late night to. In bed by 9, laid down with daddy for some snuggle time. Max told daddy, "no need binkie, Maxie big boy." They called down for me around 9:30 and we tag teamed. I laid down with Max until he finally fell asleep at around 10:30. He did ask me for a binkie, twice. I reminded him that we got some great new toys today and he could have one of them if he wanted but we had no more binkies. It broke my heart.

So that was night #1. Our friend said it took her 3 year old son 3 nights of crying before he finally gave up the ghost. I am pretty excited there wasn't any crying because I don't think either one of us, Terry or I, could have handled it without breaking down ourselves.

We would like to thank, White Horse Toys, a local, independent toy store in Issaquah for their help today. The woman behind the counter was reassuring and very good with Max. Even asking him if he was sure this is what he wanted.

I am a little sad, Terry too. It is like Max is really growing up and now we just can't stop it from happening. We will see what tomorrow night brings. Wish us luck!

Pizza Boy

Some of you may remember that Max's favorite food is Pizza. Or as Max calls it, "gaga." Not sure how that correlates, but it sure is cute. 

Here he is eating pizza like a big boy!

 Big piece.

 "Mmmm, Yummy."

It is really the only food that he will actually feed himself. Wether it is cut up or he eats it like a big boy. He doesn't even seem to mind the sauce on his face when it eats it this way. Now, if only every night could be pizza night!

Happy Easter

The city of Snoqualmie hosts a huge Easter egg hunt each year and last year was our first. Max had such a good time that we decided to do it again this year.  This year, I think he understood a little bit more about what it was he was there for and really enjoyed himself that much more.

Scoping out the best spot for the hunt.

Waiting for the Easter Bunny.

Looking...looking...here he comes...

...the Easter bunny! He officially starts the hunt.

On the hunt.

Another one.

Look daddy, "Lot, lot of eggs!"

Max and mommy checking out the fire engine that brought the Easter bunny to the hunt. They let the kids have a turn sitting inside the fire engine.

After the egg hunt we headed to old, downtown Snoqualmie for a trick or treat style egg hunt. Any of the businesses with a "treat" put out a balloon and the kids get more eggs. Some have candies, others are just little goodies like little rubber duckies, basically just junk. Max loved it!

Here are a couple of photos of Max as we walked around town. His new favorite thing is walking with his hands in his pockets. He looks like a little, old man. It is so cute!

 Headed to the train station to check out the engines. They are running again.

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you all had as good a day as we did!



Nature Boy

Max and I went for a walk, during a break in the rain, and he insisted on wearing his binoculars. You will notice something interesting about his technique. He uses them backwards. This causes certain problems, like objects being closer then they appear. That was the first problem on our walk. He walked right into the neighbors car before I could stop him. He fell back on his bum, kind of stunned and then burst into tears.

Not the best start to a walk, but we mustered and kept on going. The pictures that follow are of my nature boy. Sorry about the size, I only brought my phone, not the camera.

 We walked down our street to the private bridge over Kimball Creek.

 "Water, mama!"

 "Where's it going?"

 Getting a closer look.

Does it get any cuter?