Missing Teeth & Other News

I keep trying to find time to blog, but that time just doesn’t seem to exist. So I’m going to try to cram in a quick post even though I don’t technically have time.

This is just going to be a bunch of random tidbits I’m going to throw at you.

Eleanor lost a tooth yesterday. She actually didn’t lose it, she yanked it out of her mouth by herself. She hits a certain point when she gets fed up with a loose tooth, and she just wants it out of there. I really didn’t think she’d have the guts to do it because she has tried several times, and when she did, I heard a chorus of “Ow (pause) Ow (pause) Ouch!” yelled from the bathroom for a while before she gave up and came out. Last night, that chorus was followed by a loud screech, and then she came out holding her tooth. I’m not sure if the screech was out of pain or excitement, but I’m sure glad she got it out.

She’s excited that the new tooth is already starting to come in. She also likes how funny it sounds when she talks. I can’t help but inwardly snicker sometimes when she’s talking to me because it makes her other top teeth look like snaggle teeth. It’s like my daughter became a country bumpkin over night.

This is tooth #4 that she has lost. I didn’t blog about the last one. She lost it Nov. 27th, and it was the bottom tooth, just to the right of her front two. I keep meaning to make her a chart to keep track of what tooth she lost and when, but I haven’t gotten to it yet. When I do, at least I can check the blog as a reference.

Phaedra is convinced any number of her teeth are loose, and she’ll tell just about anyone she sees.

None of her teeth are loose.

Curtis got a new car seat. Our other convertible car seat has been through 2 girls, has flowers all over the cover, and (what really drives me crazy and probably isn’t safe) the straps will only loosen on one side when you try to adjust them. When I got pregnant with Curtis, I told Grant under no uncertain terms that we were getting rid of that car seat and getting Curtis a new one.

It came today. We have yet to put it in the car.

I was tempted to get a seat that only faces forward that converts into a booster with a back and then just a seat booster. Curtis is legal to face forward now because he meets the age and weight requirements, but I’ve never had a child face forward before age 2 (because the girls took that long to hit 20lbs.). Also, the recommendation is that you keep them rear facing for as long as possible. So we decided to get the convertible instead (that faces forward or backwards) and keep him rear facing until his legs get too long or until he’s 2, whichever comes first. He’s been rear facing all his life, so I’m sure he won’t know the difference.

Phaedra loves helping out at home, and she enjoys her “alone time” when Eleanor is at school. This is a norm for her: a bunch of little toys grouped on the table or the floor of her room (any place where Curtis can’t interfere), and she sits and makes them all talk and interact. She could play like that for hours.

She dresses herself, and she can come up with some really funky outfits. She has had 2 days when I have wanted to get a picture of what she was wearing, but I never got the chance.

My house has been messy, making me not want to take pictures because of the messy background. Yet, when I look back at old pictures with mess in the background, I’m just glad I captured the moment. Sometimes I notice the mess in an old photo and say to myself, “Yep, it was one of those times when it was hard to keep the house clean.” I try to push myself to take pictures in spite of the mess, but knowing I will want to blog the photos, I end up being more reluctant to take them. I need to get over it. Something is better than nothing, and I can’t let these memories slip through my fingers just because of a cluttered background. I’ll keep trying.

While we’re on the subject of clutter, I finally made chore charts for the kids, and we had a Family Home Evening last night about the importance of work where we introduced the kids to their new chore charts. So far, they are excited about them and happy to mark things off. I am loving having a little more help and a little more order in my home. I’m hoping I can do an individual post on our chore charts with a few more details later.

On an unrelated note, I vote we dispense with this winter nonsense and go straight for some 70-75 degree weather with sunset around 9pm. I’m tired of being cold and feeling like a cave dweller! Anybody with me?