Paci-Free, Finally!

Well, folks, after 2 years, 6 months and 5 days, Abby is finally pacifier-free! We had the Paci Fairy pay us a visit the same night when Santa was visiting most of the world and the Paci Fairy took Abby's pacis and replaced them with some fun presents (and a chocolate ice cream cone, which she specifically requested). She cried a little before bed, but slept all night that first night much to our surprise. Her naps have been off (i.e. shorter or non-existent) since then, but we figure that will work itself out. She is still asking for her paci but when we remind her about the Paci Fairy, who brought her pacis to babies who need them, she seems ok with it. A small step for mankind, a big step for the Strongin family!

2009 was a pretty big year for Abby - she began speaking in sentences, started school and really grew into a little girl.

Next on Abby's (our) agenda for 2010 - potty training, getting into a big girl bed and becoming a big sister!

Happy & Healthy New Year to all!

Countdown to No More Paci

T minus 2 nights until we attempt to rock Abby's world by taking away her most prized possession, her pacifier (paci). She is now officially 2 1/2 years old and a "big girl" by many other standards (though not yet sleeping in a bed or potty trained), so we figured it was time to end the love affair between Abby and her paci. Not to mention, her dentist said we needed to do it sooner rather than later for the sake of her overbite. Granted, she only uses it at nighttime and for naps, but she is clearly attached to it, as noted at 3:30 am today when she called out to us when she couldn't find it in her crib.

I have heard many stories of success and different methods for doing this deed in the most painless way as possible. We started talking to her about the "Paci Fairy" a few weeks ago to get it into her head, but when we ask what she wants when the Paci Fairy comes for her pacis, she replies "a chocolate ice cream cone," which clearly would not be a problem to get but it won't be replacing the paci in her crib anytime soon.

So....our initial plan is to take her to Toys R Us on Christmas Eve Day (because no one else will be there then, I'm sure) and have her pick out a toy of her choice. We'll have her pack up her pacis that evening and put them in a special box for the Paci Fairy. And then we'll wait as she'll likely cry herself to sleep and then wake us up crying throughout the night. Hopefully she'll wake up and have her present from the Paci Fairy (if we all survive that night). And we'll have to do it all over again the next day for her nap/nighttime and hope that it doesn't take longer than the 4-day weekend I have from work.

Wish us luck sending the pacis away forever (or until Abby's little brother needs one)!!!!!!!

A Little....

....Brother! That's what Abby's going to have in about 5 months (or less, hopefully)! We found out last week and are very excited. Of course, everyone assumes I'm thrilled to have "one of each" but the truth is that I'm terrified to have a boy!!! I know girls and know how to play with them and dress them and give them advice. Boys are a whole different story! I am sure I'll figure it out in due time, but my initial doubts are of how I'm going to raise a little boy to be respectful, not a terror to his sister and dog and how to treat girls/women.

I am thrilled for this next chapter in our lives and am looking forward to seeing it all play out. And in the meantime, if any moms of boys want to give me some good tips/advice, I'm all ears!!

Giving Thanks

With Thanksgiving just 2 days away, I thought it would be appropriate to share what I am thankful for this year.

This year in particular, I am quite thankful for the home over my head, food at the table and for Jason and I being employed, unlike so many others. I am beyond grateful and thankful for a healthy family, from my little girl who still amazes me each day, to my husband, family, extended family, dog and friends. I am thankful that I got my H1N1 vaccine, as did Abby and Jason, so I can rest a bit easier when I am in a public place. This year, I am also thankful for the little bean in my tummy, who is growing and developing more and more each day (and whose gender I will be discovering tomorrow!).

I wish my friends and family a safe and happy holiday season and many more things to be thankful for in the coming months. XOXO!

Abby's Exciting Announcement

Well folks, in case you didn't get a phone call, email or Facebook notification, it is with much excitement that I share Abby's big announcement: she is going to be a BIG SISTER! Yes, we have decided to populate the earth with yet another little Strongin running around and we couldn't be happier about it. The estimated due date is May 1, 2010, so Abby will be turning 3 just a few weeks later.

While we know we are in for a lot of craziness and a wild ride with two kids, Jason and I are looking forward to giving Abby a sibling and someone else she can push around (figuratively and literally). After all, lately she has been Miss Bossy, telling us to "sit down, Mommy" or "stop it, Daddy" or "I want more" - all things which we are sure she will love telling her younger sibling.

As an only child myself, I am very curious and can't wait to see how the sibling relationship will play out. I hope Abby loves having a sibling as much as I wanted one when I was younger. The only person who may not be thrilled with another little person in the house is Sadie, who probably could live many more years happily without another baby chasing after and taunting her!

I'll be happy to keep everyone updated on the exciting milestones, including the gender announcement in a few weeks!

Halloween Debate

'Tis the season for apple picking, pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating. So aside from looking forward to all the extra sugar and calories we'll be consuming, a dilemna bigger than should-I-eat-the-Twix-or-Milky Way-first, is do I let Abby choose her costume this year or do I get to have one last year to choose for her?? No doubt by next Halloween, she'll have quite an opinion about what she wants to be.

Abby only really knows Sesame Street characters at this point (Elmo being her favorite) and Clifford the big red dog. Going as a red monster or a red dog doesn't seem very girly but she could probably care less if she went as a princess or Dora or a cupcake. If I take her to a store to pick something out, all hell could break loose when she wants everything. If I choose for her, am I causing her years of therapy when she looks back on pictures and isn't happy with my choice??

Ahhhh...dilemnas....if only things could be as easy as Twix vs. Milky Way!

EDITED ON 10/9/09 TO ADD:
OK, the decision has been made. My little Abby will be Abby Cadabby (the Sesame Street character, for those of you who don't know) for the big day. Her friends Maddy and Jordan will be Elmo, her friend Sammi will also be Abby and I'm hoping to convince Sammi & Jordan's daddy and Abby's daddy to go as Bert & Ernie :)
The good news is that the costume comes with a headpiece, complete with fake pigtails since it will be a long, long time before my child will have enough hair for pigtails!!!

Are You Smarter Than a 2-year-old?

It has recently come to my attention that my 2-year old is smarter than I am! I realized this fact this morning when I saw a pair of blue and white striped socks sitting on Abby's changing table. Aside from being 5 sizes too small for her, I knew she didn't own any socks like that. I asked my nanny if she knew where they came from and she said she didn't know, but they were upstairs so she washed them with Abby's laundry.

So I took a chance and asked Abby "whose socks are these?" And she replied: "Monkey's." I realized then that she was referring to her dress-up monkey (who lives in her playroom) with "real" clothes that come off - of course!!! And Abby looked at me like "of course, Mommy, duh!" Silly mommy.

She also has recently become much more aware of her surroundings - last night, for example, she claimed "I see Justin right there" and pointing to every SUV that resembled her friend Justin's car. She tells us to go "that way" when we pull out of the driveway to get to Justin's house or her cousin Matthew's house.

I just wonder at what point her homework will be over my head?!?!?