Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Breaking Bad Habits....



Well ~ as you can see our little Miss Annabelle was able to send all her "binks" to the "Bink Fairy" last week! This is truly a HUGE step for this very unsure little girl. Sure she is loaded with a personality a big as the Montana sky but she is also so very well reserved when placed in new situations and when around a lot of people. Her bink was the one thing she truly counted on whenever she felted unsure. Since coming home back in November 2008, I have been diligently working with her in feeling secure, confident, and loved. She has since been able to give up her bink when in public but still needed that reassurance when going down for a nap or night time. After doing a lot of soul searching within myself...conflicted within myself on taking away the one thing she felt she needed the most and feeling like the "Bad Mommy" for taking it away...I kept putting it off. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that our little Miss Annabelle starting waking up in the middle of the night calling out for me and me waking up to see what was wrong (thinking the worst) only to find her laying there on her back asking for her bink while it rested next to her head. The first few nights this happened I was very understanding and patient, but after a week of this going on...I knew what I had to do. So last Friday after having good night sleep with her bink (and me getting up because she was too lazy to look for it and place it back into her mouth) we said good bye to her binks and placed them in our mail box for the Bink Fairy to come and take them away for the children in China who so need them. And as you can see in the photo, she was very happy about her binks upcoming adventure to her birth country. Nap time on Friday, she cried very little and did sleep for about 1 hour and 20 mins (not her usual 2 1/2 hour nap) and Friday night, she only got up once crying for me which I got up and walked the hallway while carrying her until she feel back to sleep. Saturday & Sunday afternoon there was no naps so no issues, but Saturday and Sunday night...she was really missing her comforting-germ infested friend. She even asked me several times for it during her crying & sobbing and I felt terrible. I think I would of had caved (and give them back to her) if it wasn't for the fact that I did throw them away and I was not about to go digging through the garbage that has been sitting outside for almost a week waiting the salvage company to come and pick it up. So that was truly the end. And since this past weekend of major crying and sobbing at night of needing her little friend and not getting it, she has not had any more incidents of longing for her bink. She has gone back to napping for her normal 2 1/2 hours and has been sleeping thought the night since Monday with not getting up at all. I know some of you must be thinking, "What an awful mother she is!" And believe me, I felt the same way, but after seeing that it can be done (even with a few nights of crying and sobbing and maybe taking a chance that she would form some other bad habits)...she is much better off with out the nasty-germ infested-gross-bink and it was all so well worth it!!!

***Since giving up her bink, Annabelle did fall into the habit of pulling/twisting her hair. She did this about 3 days and with the help of a special glove she stopped that new forming habit quickly. She still does lightly rub her ears when "going down" and she now requests that her musical dragonfly play until she falls asleep...which is about 20 minutes. Not too bad in my opinion - if I must say!***

As for the other "breaking bad habits", my husband finally quit smoking after many, many , many years of doing so. It has been almost 3 weeks and according to him, he is never going back to that dirt habit! I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of him for doing this! He has tried in the past with only quitting three days at the most...so him making it three weeks smoke free - that is truly amazing! "Way to go Honey! I am so very proud of you!"

Well...there you have it on our end! Life here in our household has not stopped for one moment since our move! I don't know if it is the new home, new location, beautiful weather we have been having, or it is just because it is summer-time, but I can't seem to catch up (especially here in bloggerland). Just want to say to you all - Have a wonderful "rest of the" week and here's to a beautiful weekend ahead. See you all very soon...

12 comments:

Courtney said...

Way to go on the binkie. I love the idea of the binkie fairy. Also congrats to your husband for quiting smoking!

LaLa said...

Wow...congrats on both!! Did you really throw it away..I am such a pack rat I totally would have kept it : )

Gwen Oatsvall said...

hey girl thanks for checking in on me ... we sent our binky to Santa one year for him to give it to another baby just starting out ... It is always a tough day ...

blessings sister !!!

Marla said...

Yay for being binkie free, that's awesome!!! And congrats to you hubby too!

Becky said...

Yay for both! I am proud of you for sticking it out on the bink and what a great idea to "send" them to China.

Jodee said...

Wow! Way to go! I wish I could send my kids' thumbs to China with your binkies! HA HA!

Hope you have a great week!

Keisha said...

Awll.. I remeber those days....
You do feel like a bad Mom. But, You are NOT! Way to go Miss Annabelle Faith! Those children in China are going to be SOO happy!!!!
(so sweet Mom, way to think on your feet ;) )

And,, WAY TO GO to your Hubs!!!!!! That is Awesome!! He's going to feel so much better!!!
I know you are Proud!
Hugs! Have a Fab Week!

Ashton said...

Yay!! Congrats! Such a sweet picture!

Bushnell Girls said...

Frances was a binky girl, and one by one, they wore out. The last one went when she was 2.5. Abigail, unfortunately, sucks her thumb, but ONLY when falling asleep. At least she is not rubbing all of her hair off, like she did in China!
Tell Kieth congrats!!

Football and Fried Rice said...

I am very very proud of Annabelle AND Keith!

Having been a smoker for 10 years (quit in 12/2005) there isn't many days that go by that I don't think about it. I am NOT repulsed by smelling it on others in the stores or in passing cars :) BUT, there is hope!

Miss you!! Looking forward to hopping on a jet plane; I am always checking tickets! As soon as they are right, I'm gone!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

I can't believe you are done with the bink.....I was amazed when you told me how you got rid of it the other day. We are trying to get Sarah to give up hers, but have not really tried that hard......I keep thinking she really will lose it, because we are down to the very last one. She is guarding it with her life, so I might need to do what you did......I just don't have the courage.

BTW, she looks so cute:)


Hope you guys are having a great weekend!!

Lisa

Sue said...

Hooray! I think the idea is great and as long as you, her mama, know she can handle the adjustment then of course it was time! We still have B sucking her thumb, but thankfully it is very rarely now (all our photos from China have her constantly sucking!!!)
Yippee for Keith!!! Congrats on quitting!!!