Kicking the Sippy Habit

Dotty is a sippy cup addict...and not just any sippy cup...a particular kind of sippy cup...the kind that has a top very similar to a bottle. The Nuby "Transitional" Sippy Cup.

It all started when she was being weened from her actual baby bottle. Ruth Ann started that project while Tony and I were on a trip and we (of course) continued the weening process when we got back. However since I am a sucker (and enjoyed sleeping at least an hour or two hours at night) I bought every kind of sippy cup that was available until we found one Dotty would take.

The one Dotty liked was a sippy cup in which the top was VERY similar to a bottle top. At that point I didn't care. She was drinking and I was sleeping...at least a little.

Dotty is so addicted to that sippy cup though she couldn't sleep without it...and if she woke up at night she had to have it. (Dotty never took a pacifier but that sippy was even worse!)

So when Dotty turned 3 Tony and I decided to kick the sippy habit. (Somewhere along the way we forgot this particular sippy was supposed to be "transitional"...must have been in the fine print.)

I had the first night...and it was bad. Actually it started at school.

When I picked Dot up from school she wanted her sippy (because she usually got on then) but I told her we didn't have one...the screaming, crying, and wailing began. Twenty minutes later (during which I got pleading looks from both Dotty and Memaw) I got her in her car seat...without a sippy.

That night though when it was time for bed Dotty spent an hour and a half screaming, crying, wailing, thrashing around, and almost making herself sick. She told me she didn't like me, she wanted a new mommy, she wanted her daddy...some things I just can't repeat...but you get the idea.

Finally after watching Wow Wow Wubzy until midnight she crashed with just a few more tears at 12:20am. I woke her up at 7:30am...not a peep all night.

The following day she asked for the sippy a little but not as much as I expected. I took her to her daddy to spend the weekend with him. I threatened Tony to not give her a sippy (although I was about 90% sure he wouldn't but Dotty has a way of breaking her daddy down...the main reason I made Tony PROMISE not to give Dot a sippy was because I feared if we caved now she would be taking that cup with her to college) and so far I hear things are going well.

I am not the best mother and heaven knows I do not always do things right but here is a good piece of advice...

Ween your child of bottles, pacifiers, and bottle-like sippy cups early and make sure they sleep in their own bed and through the night early on too. You want to do the weening process as soon as possible preferable when they are just crying because that is bad enough. It is even worse when they can make full sentences and throw a guilt trip at you!

I wish I had a camera...

Lots of times in life things happen where I say "I wish I had a camera" so I could capture the moment or better yet record it on my Flip.

Yesterday even though there were lots of cameras and my Flip was filming, there were still moments that I just hope I remember forever.

It started when Dotty and I pulled into the Chuck E. Cheese (CEC for short) parking lot. Dotty was getting out of her car seat and as I was gathering up our stuff she asked..."Is today just MY birthday party?" (Presley's birthday being the day before Dotty's was a hard thing for Dotty to understand).

When I told Dotty that this party was just for her the smile she had and the little clapping she did just melted my heart (although I did think it was a little selfish on her part...but hey...give her a break...she is 3).

This she asked "Will all the presents be for me?"
"Yes" I said.
Dotty asked "Presley won't get to open up any?"

Okay at this point we were teetering on the edge between cuteness and brattiness so I nipped it in the bud.

I told Dotty that today was her special day. That everyone has a special day. That we also need to enjoy when others get presents or get to celebrate and we also need to thank those who come to our special day. I told her Presley and the other kids would be getting goody bags to open at the end of the party.

Dotty's smile slowly faded and because I know my child so well I told her I had also made a goody bag for her just like the other kids....big smile returned.

Lots of other great things happened that night. Dotty playing air hockey was just great. Her victory dance is something Ocho Cinco would be jealous of and I am sure she would get a 15 yard penalty for it.

But one of the best things of all was when Dotty was opening gifts.

I had been asking Dotty all night if she needed to potty knowing that with all the fun she would not want to take a potty break. She kept telling me no so we kept right on going.

Half way through opening presents Dotty stops mid paper rib and says "I tee teed in my panties."

"Oh no"...followed by a little smothered laughing was done by most in attendance.

Memaw asked "Dotty do you need me to take you to the potty?"

Dotty answered "No Memaw. I told you I JUST DID tee tee." This was said slowly and loudly in case Memaw had missed it the first time.

Loud laughter was heard throughout the building.

Happy 3rd Birthday!!!

Today Dotty is 3 years old!

Thanks to all who have made the past 3 years so enjoyable and especially to all of you who have been so much help. It really does take a village (and sometimes the help from people who live in villages far away) to raise a child.

Dotty is a lucky girl to have so many people love her.

Tony and I are lucky to have such a wonderful, sweet, beautiful, loving, smart (okay...okay...proud Momma here)...girl.

I have no idea what the next year, 3 years, 13 years, or 30 years will be like but I can't wait to find out.

I remember this day 3 years ago. I was scared to death, in a lot of pain, and was so excited to meet my baby (we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl). Today I am not as scared, definitely not in that kind of pain, but I am still excited to see what my baby will grow up to be...what her life will be like...what new and exciting things she will see and do.

So again...Happy Birthday Dotty...and many more!

Last Day as a 2 year old...

Today is Dotty's last day to be a 2 year old. My how the time has gone by fast. It seems like just yesterday we were having her 2nd birthday party and now a year has already past.

It seems like just last week she was a tiny baby I was holding in my arms. So soft and sweet and new.

This past year has not been easy due to the "terrible twos" and for other reasons but in a way this year has taught me to treasure time with Dotty. I don't get to see her every day and there are moments in her life I miss due to work or whatever. But because of the past year's "life lessons" I have learned to enjoy the time I do have with Dotty.

I have learned to stop and have dinner in "Dotty's kitchen". To listen to her making up stories with her dolls. To sing with her. To laugh with her. To let her cry. To watch her dance.

I think so often I get busy just "living" that I forget to really enjoy my life. Of course laundry has to get washed and groceries have to be bought and baths and bedtimes must be done...but raising Dotty is not a chore. Raising Dotty is a joy...and I want to enjoy every part of it.

I hope Dotty enjoys her last day as a 2 year old. I know 2 years ago I didn't particularly enjoy Sept 7th. But I endured contractions and pains and just being down right uncomfortable...for one reason. Happy Birthday Presley! My best gift to both girls was not making them share their birthdays with each other!!!

Birthday Blues...

Little ones have a hard time with "time". Dotty cannot understand how long 30 minutes will take. She does not know what a day, a week, a month, or a year really is. She is still very naive when it comes to "time".

She is learning though. She tries out the words. She has been a kick lately where everything happened "last year" to her. It does not matter if it happened last week, yesterday, or five minutes ago...to her it was "last year".

Dotty's birthday is coming up and she is excited. Of course she wants to open gifts and have cake but she is also just excited about the whole idea of a birthday. She knows it is special and that it is something wonderful.

She is having a hard time though because she feels like her birthday will never come. The main reason for this distress is that everyone else seems to be having birthdays.

Payton's was August 25th, Will's was August 30th, Presley had a party last night but her actual birthday is not until September 7th.

So in Dotty's mind...and as she said "it will never be MY birthday".

I tried to show her on a calendar. I tried to explain it as best I could but nothing really helps.

The sad thing is...I want to push off Dotty's birthdays for as long as possible because while she wants the cake, the presents, and the fun that comes with a birthday I want my little girl to stay little. And with each birthday I know that my little girl is growing up. With each candle that is added to her birthday cake I am reminded once again of my favorite saying...the days are long but the years are short.

Last Day of "Summer"

Tomorrow Dotty will start a new "school year" at her school. She will have a new teacher, a new classroom, and new classmates.

Even though Dotty goes to her school year round tomorrow is still a big day.

Dotty may not really understand it but I do.

And part of me is sad. My little girl is growing up.

Just Whispering...

The other day Dotty had a couple of friends over. The girls played well but I did hear some fussing and then Dotty came into the living room. I told her "I don't want you to be tattle telling".

Dotty said, "I am not. I am just going to whisper."

Then she told me that one of the little girls took her toy...she whispered it of course.