The big two had a dentist appointment yesterday. I was D-R-E-A-D-I-N-G it. Last time we went, six months ago, it was their first visit to the dentist, and it didn’t go very smoothly. Ivy did fine….she sat on my lap and let them brush her teeth at least. Henry barely let them look in his mouth. I think he finally got his teeth cleaned, but that was it, and he was upset the whole time. There was a similar situation when we went to the doctor for his checkup and the salon for his last haircut. During those visits, he kicked and yelled and put up a huge fight. So, of course, that’s what I was expecting at the dentist yesterday.

However, what happened is this: Henry climbed into the big chair, laid back, watched Max and Ruby on the ceiling, and let the hygienist and dentist do everything they needed to do. Everything. He laughed when they squirted water in his mouth and then sucked it out, opened up wide when they cleaned and examined his teeth. Ivy sat on my lap for the first teeth-brushing, then climbed into the big chair to watch Max and Ruby, too.

They both got x-rays done (without any problems whatsoever), and they both got the fluoride gel stuff put on. They both got to pick out balloons and little pumpkins to take home.

Meanwhile, Essie sat in her stroller and brushed the monkey’s teeth…and her own.

Have I mentioned that I love everybody at Growing Smiles in Lawrence? Even the first time we went, they were all very nice and patient. It’s the perfect place for kids.

Oh, but that visit brought on a new “adventure”. Ivy has been using a binky for bedtime and naptime. I know what you’re probably thinking, but the older they get, the more attached they are and the less, as a parent, I wanted to deal with it. It’s just hard. But at the dentist, they told me that there was a space between her top and bottom teeth from the pacifier use, and if she continued to use it, it may not correct itself and she’ll need orthodontics. When Henry quit his binky habit, it was just after our nephew Ned was born. We told him that Ned needed the binkies because he was a baby, and since Henry wasn’t a baby anymore, he didn’t need them. We put them in an envelope, Henry drew a picture for Ned, and we mailed them off. It wasn’t easy, but the hard part only lasted a few days, and then it was done. Henry and Ivy have very different personalities, but our niece Claire was born almost two weeks ago, so we asked Ivy at dinner last night if she’d send her binkies to her. She eventually agreed. At bedtime, though, she cried and cried. She kept saying “My don’t wanna take a nap wif my mouf”. I’m not sure what it means, but she’s said it several times since. Maybe she doesn’t want to sleep with just her mouth? Maybe she wants to have something in it? Who knows, but it was funny.

She worked hard on a picture of kitties and a puppy for Claire. Robin, if Claire gets a package from Ivy in a couple of days, you know what it is.

She did try to steal Essie’s binky once….I knew something was up when I heard Ivy stop crying and Baby start crying. But after that, she eventually went to sleep…wif her mouf.

This morning, I told her I was proud of her being such a big girl and again….”Oooohhh! My don’t wanna take a nap wif my mouf!”. I told her it was time for breakfast so we didn’t have to worry about that just yet.

Right now, she’s supposed to be napping. She hasn’t asked for it again….just everything else. I have a feeling that we have a few hard days ahead of us, but as long as she doesn’t keep trying to steal her baby sister’s pacifiers, we should be fine. There may be lots of tears, but we’ll get through it!