Bye Bye Binkies!

Well, I finally did it, I trashed the binkies! Audrey doesn't know that's where they went though. This is what we did:

I started off by telling her randomly for about a week that she was getting too old for a binky and that soon the Binky Fairy would come at night and take her binkies to give to a baby who really needed them.

Then one night after she went to sleep, they all went in the trash! When she woke up around 4am and couldn't find it, she called for me. I told her that the Binky Fairy must have come to bring it to a little baby who needed it. She seemed upset for a second, but then smiled and seemed happy that a little baby had a binky now. She went right back to sleep and I couldn't believe it was going to be that easy!

I was wrong. Naptime came and she screamed and cried her little eyes out. She kept asking what the baby's name was and why she couldn't see the fairy. So when she finally fell asleep, the Binky Fairy returned. She wrote her a letter and included a picture of herself that she took with Audrey while she was sleeping. She even left her some special headbands sprinkled with "pixie dust!"

The letter read:

Audrey, 

Thank you for the binkies! There is a sweet little baby girl named Charlotte who lives in New York that really needed them. She is so happy to have them now. I know you miss them and you’re a little sad, but you’re a big girl now and I’m so proud of you! To say thank you for giving your binkies to Charlotte, I brought you a present sprinkled with pixie dust. They are very special and I hope you like them! No more crying, okay? 

Love, The Binky Fairy 

P.S. Here’s a picture of us together!

She seemed excited about the letter, picture and present, but bedtime wasn't much better than naptime. We are on day 4 and she hasn't actually napped the last 2 days. It breaks my heart listening to her scream and cry for this little piece of plastic that comforts her. I waited much, much too long to get rid of it and we're paying for it now. I'm glad I chose a method that just completely removes the option of me giving in and giving them back to her though. Hopefully she starts to forget about it soon.

I'm sorry, sweetheart! Mommy hates to see you sad.

Audrey - 31 months

Audrey,

The last 2 months have been filled with summer fun and travelling for us. Your new cousin was born and we spent 2 whole weeks in Maryland with Titi, Uncle Ryan, Blake and sweet baby Ellie Jo! You had a blast playing with Blake, but being so close in age, you fought as passionately as you loved each other. You were also such a "mother hen" to Miss Ellie and loved holding her and kissing her.

You went fishing for the first time with Pa and had a great time! You weren't afraid of the worm or the fish you caught, but Mommy's not surprised! You love bugs and animals and getting dirty.

Mommy woke you up to watch your first fireworks on the 4th. You were amazed at about the first 10 that went up, then you were more interested in the fireflies, then you said, "Mommy, can I just go back to bed now?"

You love to sing, make up your own songs and stories, and pretend to play Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. You are obsessed with people's full names, first, middle and last, and you like to recite the full names of everyone you know, along with learning new names.

You have started to develop a little fear of monsters and noises in your bedroom. We have a spray bottle of water that we call "Monster Spray" that seems to work, except for the fact that we now have to spray it at naptime and bedtime every day.

You love to pick vegetables from our garden and you are the best weed picker there is! We don't even have to be at home and you'll stop to pick other people's weeds from their yards or in the street.

We spent some time camping in Lake George, went to the fair, picked raspberries and blueberries and made jam, went to our town's annual beach party, went canoeing, ran around in the sprinkler and have spent lots of time swimming and playing outside.

You grow and change and amaze me every single day. You are the sweetest, most independent, creative, silly, and loving little girl in the world, and I cherish every new moment with you.

I love you to the moon and back, sweetheart!

Mommy

New arrival!

We've had a busy summer, as is evidenced by my lack of posts recently! But one of the most exciting events in our lives lately was the arrival of my new niece, Ellie Josephine, on June 17th!

Our little Ellie Jo is equal parts pretty princess

and sweet angel!

We are completely smitten with her and and love her to pieces!

L L F M D: Study abroad.

13. Study abroad.

Though I did some travelling when I was younger, I didn't study abroad and it is the one thing I regret from my college years. I graduated a semester early, so I had the opportunity, I just didn't do it. I was always afraid to do things completely on my own.

Step out from your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to travel by yourself and meet new people. Often, the things we are most afraid of turn out to be the most exciting and rewarding. Discover the world. Experience other cultures. Do it before you have a full time job and a family and responsibilities that make it more difficult. Take in the architecture, the food, the language, the land. Meet the people. Appreciate the blessings you already have in your life at home. Learn from others how you can live a better, fuller life. Take lots of photographs of the places you travel to. You won't regret it. 

Planting our garden!

"Grow us some nice tomatoes, plant, please!" 

And she said something similar to every single thing we planted. ♥

Audrey - 29 months

Audrey,

It has been 3 months since your last letter, so I think it is about time we get caught up!

We've been busy the last few months and have been down to Maryland to visit Titi, Uncle Ryan and Blake 3 times! We spent Easter with them, and spent 2 separate weekends helping them get settled in and set up their new house! One weekend when we were there, we went to the zoo and the highlight of this past weekend was that you and your cousin went swimming!

We've been spending a lot of time outside, of course! You love to be outside and so does Mama. And Mama is so glad it doesn't take us 20 minutes to bundle up and go outside anymore!

Mama joined a medicinal plant co-op, and you've had a lot of fun searching for flowers and plants with me.

If you can be swinging, riding your 4-wheeler, chasing bubbles, meditating in the sunshine, digging in the dirt, playing in your sandbox, or climbing the rock wall, you're a happy girl!

We are planning to plant the garden this week, so we've been busy getting the raised beds ready and you are anxious to get the seeds and plants in!

You had both your first pedicure from Mommy and your first pedicure in the salon recently. I think Mommy has created a monster because as soon as the nail polish starts to chip you want it fixed. But I have to admit, you look so cute with your toe nails painted!

You didn't sleep in your toddler bed long before you transitioned to a regular full sized bed. But you finally sleep consistently through the night and put yourself to sleep for nap and bedtime! I must admit it is amazing and I don't know how we made it over 2 years with your old sleep habits.

We've had a couple of our little photo shoots. You're the best model and Mommy has so much fun trying to capture your sweet and curious personality.

Your imagination runs wild, you tell the craziest, best stories, and you are equal parts sweet and sassy.

I love everything about you and everything you are becoming. Watching your personality develop is awe inspiring and entertaining. You certainly test my patience and your boundaries almost daily, but you're a good girl and Mommy is grateful for you.

I'm looking forward to all the summer will bring!
I love you so much, sweetheart!
Mommy

French braids

I put Audrey's hair in two French braids for the first time this morning. When I showed them to her in the mirror, she smiled and said, "I look like Doc McStuffins!" She ran to show my husband and said, "Daddy! Daddy! I look like Doc McStuffins!" Then I hear him whisper to her, "No, you look like your Mommy when I fell in love with her."