Family Home Evening

We took a fun walk for a belated family home evening. We ended up at Baskin Robbins and enjoyed 3 of the 31 flavors. Derek got something Chocolate. I got birthday cake, thinking it was cake batter. Not my fav. The girls both got bubble gum. Pink! Pink! Pink! It was a blast.
BTW, dad you will be glad to know the pedestrian/bike bridge for the interurban trail is finally open so you won't lose the trail around 44th anymore :)

I Am A Child of God

Yesterday we sand "I Am a Child of God" for the closing hymn in sacrament meeting. Libby decided to make her musical debut. She outsang the entire congregation. It was amazing. After a week where I didn't think she was learning anything (like how to live without a binkie) it was amazing to hear her sing the most important truth I could teach her. She is learning!

Libby's Stats

We had Libby's 3 year old check up this morning. It was nice to report that she is potty trained, no longer sleeps with a binkie, and is so bright and fun. It was not all that nice to hear that she needs to come back in two months for a weight check. But, I was pretty sure that would be the story.

Weight: 27 lbs. 5%
Height: 34 1/2" (just below) 3%
Blood Pressure: 82/50

She is a healthy girl, she just needs to eat a little more, especially proteins.
We can live with that diagnosis!

Binkie bye bye update

It has been a long week. For the second week in a row I taught 13 classes. So it would have been rough even if we weren't dealing with binkie withdrawal. She actually had the hardest time in the afternoons when she wanted a nap. The most helpful thing at night was telling her a story. She loves the Murphy stories that my mom made up for us when we were kids. Last night she was out long before Murphy even realized that it isn't nice to leave a mess for the green fairy every day. She hasn't forgotten about the binkies but she is going to make it through. And so are we. But, we partly did this for the rash on her cheek, and the rash is back, even without the binkie. Bummer!

Big Girls have Barbies

Then: Now:

Saturday was Libby's actual birthday. We have been talking about how 3 year old big girls don't have binkies. This was motived by the fact that her binkies have been causing "binkie funk" to grow on her cheek, that she has been wanting them more and more often, and our dentist and doctor have been urging me to make the break for awhile. My mother-in-law also told me of the miraculous Maren who was totally convinced that 3 year olds should not have binkies and gave hers up with no trouble.

So on Friday we went to Toys R Us and Libby picked a Barbie. When we got home we had a talk about how Big Girls have Barbies and Babies have Binkies. She really wanted to play with that Barbie, so I said ok--go get your binkies. She actually helped me hold the scissors and cut the binkies. Then she put them in the garbage can and helped me take out the garbage. No problem...until bed time.

It was, I am not going to lie here, ugly. She begged to give up her Barbie and have her binkies back, she cried, she moaned, she was pretty miserable. I was a rock of parental strength. I hugged her, kissed her and left her to figure out how to go to sleep without a binkie. Then I came back and comforted, told stories, and left her again, and again. Finally about 12:30 am I fell asleep. Eventually she did too. I am proud for her. It was the first time outside of a car that she has fallen alseep without a binkie (and I could count those times in a car on one hand). Last night was better. I hope tonight will be even better. (She is still asking for them occasionally.) I think naps are done for sure now though. Tough stuff!

Future Bikers

Libby and Sarah have been loving climbing on the bikes in the garage. Then our good friend Jen came over with her bike, helmet and gloves! They were so into it! Derek even walked Libby on a short ride. Guess we should have gotten her a bike for her birthday.

Guess who likes Libby's Present Best?