Is There a Difference?

Ok, 0ur 2 1/2 yr old still uses a Pacifier/Binki. But before you judge us, he has only been taking it at naps and bedtime since he was 18mo. His doctor said that was totally fine. I know our dentist and everything we read states that prolonged Binki use messes up children's teeth. That said, we finally decided to ween Oliver off his Binki, & prior to his little brother's arrival.

Jon and I debated the different approaches we should use. I wanted Oliver to gather & trash them himself, and Jon wanted Oliver to trade them in for toys at Toy's R Us. So I prepped Oliver for several days talking about being a big boy and giving up his Binki. Then one day while I'm at work, I receive a call from Jon saying...

Guess where we are? Toy's R Us. Oliver just traded in both his binki's. He traded them for a dump truck and a set of Lincon Logs. The excitement over new toys apparently was short lived. Oliver cried the whole way home saying he wanted his binki's back!

Fine. Its done. Only thing was we had a babysitter scheduled to watch Oliver in 2 days, and now we had a child who no longer wanted to nap or sleep! A very restless child.

Broke our hearts hearing him cry...

Please Dadda, get my binki...look again...please look again!
Please Mamma, go to store and get my binki!!

After 2 days of whining for binkis, he finally stopped asking for them, but the withdrawal was not over.

His entire nap and bedtime routines no longer worked. He wouldn't sit still for storytime any more, which is my special time with him each day. He used to just climb into bed and roll over, and we would leave. Now he restlessly complained, and barked off a list of demands...


I need MILK.
I need to go POO!
Turn the fan on.
Turn on my Vaperizer!
Don't go Mommy, I need to TALK to YOU! He got very clingy with me, and I would sit on his bed and talk to him till he would let me leave. Then we can hear him Kicking the Wall for an hour!


Poor kid didn't know what he wanted. He just knew he needed SOMETHING.

Finally day 3 with no binki came. The big night with the babysitter. We warned her of the possible list of demands and stall tactics that may occur at bed time. She couldn't get him down till after 9pm. His usual bedtime is 7pm.

Day 4 was even worse! Almost 10 pm before he finally stopped crying and acting restless.

Day 5 it looked bad. He was now howling for MAMMA! Storytime still did not work, and he now wanted me (8 mo. pregnant) to awkwardly sit on his bed and sing & chat for hours. Jon finally drove off to the nearest late night store and came back with a binki.

Yes. Day 5 we gave in. He broke us. And our good little sleeper is back.

Ok...Serious Blog FAIL.

I was recently reminded by someone who may remain anonymous, that I haven't posted a new post in many many moons. I will try to do better in the future. We have just had a lot going on around here. In case you don't believe me, here is our Summer/Fall recap.

We got to meet someone new!

We said goodbye to a loved one.

We got to hang out with our favorite partners at the R-Ranch.


We celebrated America.


We took refreshing (dangerous) naps.


We learned we like Ranch dressing...a lot.

Jon started his summer project, backdoor steps to the backyard. I like how Oliver wears his helmet during construction. Safety First.

O.k. I was working hard, so please ignore the crazy hair.

We even made it to the California State Fair!

Oliver liked the bug exhibit.

We enjoyed running through the sprinklers! And yes this is happening in our FRONT yard.

We rocked a little.


We went camping again...and learned how much we LOVE dirt.


Why drink milk when you can start your morning with a cold one? (Before you go calling CPS, this can of Oly is unopened).


Um...dirt and jelly don't mix.


We had a few Monsters over for Oliver's 2nd Birthday Party...

and then we ate them.

Jon trying to figure out one of Oliver's new birthday puzzles.

Oliver loved his new Space Tent! Apparently Moms are not allowed inside, but Dads are o.k.

Oliver also loves his new Legos. Glad we made the investment.



Did you know that our little town has Tractor Museum?
We didn't either till a local told us.








Here is an old Packard truck. I think our Great Grandpa used to sell these.

We dressed up a little.


We finally renewed our Zoo membership.

Haircuts are rewarded at our house.

We learned that Play-Dough doesn't taste as good as it looks.

We not only picked our Pumpkins from a REAL pumpkin patch,
we also held kitties, bunnies, chicks, chased Chickens, petted cows
and went on a Tractor Ride.
No pictures of any of that stuff though, so you will have to just take our word.