Bye Bye Binkies

Binky aka "B" .... they have been attached at the hip or should I say mouth since they were born.  Unlike Liam, it is their addiction.  If I let them have it all day they would.  With two babies it is hard to keep one from crying while the other one was just laid down to sleep.  I would quickly shove a binky in to keep him quite.  At 18 months we got rid of Liam's.  It was EASY!  I'm not sure how or why, maybe he was sick or we were somewhere and we didn't have one available but we just continued to go without after that!  With the twins, that's another story.  About 3 or 4 months ago I dropped it down from all the time to only nap time and bed time.  I just have to find all their hiding spots throughout the house because they are always popping up with them in their mouths.  A couple nights ago we were at Ryan's parents putting on pajamas when Maggie mentioned Kane's teeth.  I had noticed it before but haven't had the nerve to take it away.  It's not only comforting to them, its comforting to those putting them to sleep! Kane's teeth have started to push forward a little.  I thought to myself, they are turning 2 tomorrow and Ryan is off of work sick all week, what a perfect time to take them away.  So on May 15th we took away binkies.  What a night that was.


 Night 1 both cried out for them and it took a while to calm down.  Ryan rocked Reid like he always does and I tried to comfort Kane on the couch.  I ended up getting them a sippy with some water.  That way they still had some type of oral stimulation just not something constant.  Kane ended up tossing and turning on the couch until he gave in.  Reid finally gave up and was up in his crib.  Ryan said nap time that next day was pretty difficult as well.  I had to work so I didn't get to witness it.


Night 2 was better than night 1.  They both cried but not as long as the night before.  Both still calling out for B's.  We spent most of the day in the car that day.  They napped for about 45 minutes to Murfreesboro and about 30 minutes back home. 


Night 3 was even better.  I rocked both boys at the same time.  Reid didn't want Ryan to rock him which was unusual.  He fell asleep first. When Ryan came to get him to put him in his crib he woke up wanting me again.  So I left Kane in the rocker and took Reid to his crib.  I then rocked Kane until he was out.  There was not a single tear shed that night!  They didn't even mention B's.  Nap time is the struggle.  Day 3 consisted of NO NAP!!!!  Kane fell asleep around 4:15ish on the floor playing his Nabi.  I tried to rock them at their normal nap times but it wasn't worth getting beat up for.  They toss and turn and flip and flop.  They are so restless.

May 25th - it's been a little over a week and still no binkies.  It has for sure been a struggle.  They can't seem to soothe themselves at nap/bed time.  I'm hoping it will get better soon.  Some days they wont nap until late and then it's even harder to get them to bed at night.  They seem to want me to rock them both to sleep but some night that just cant happen and Ryan rocks Reid to sleep as he is screaming.  He finally gives in but then wakes up every time you try to put him in his crib.  Both boys have been sleeping on the couch.  I am so ready for their new bed to come in.  I just hope they like it and actually sleep in it peacefully. 

We are headed in the right direction, I know.  It's just tough to see them struggle.  I sing, play calming music, diffuse oil, give them water, read them a book, give them a teddy bear, rock, pace, you name it I'm trying it.  They need a good nights sleep.  They wake up around 3 every morning trying to crawl in the bed with us.  I refuse and take them back to the couch and lay with them until they fall back asleep. This too shall pass!

Here are some pictures I have found of them over the last 2 years and their beloved binky. 

RIP Binky!

Thank goodness for cell phones!

I don't know what I would do if it wasn't for the camera on my phone!  I don't have to lug my Canon everywhere and its just faster and easier to manage.

Second weekend in May we made a trip to Mississippi to see Chris Stapleton in concert.  It just so happened that Tunica was right down the road so we made it a weekend getaway!

 

 The girls!  ... well plus 2 photo bombers in the back ground (Ryan and Dad!)

 

Kane rode with me to pick up Bella after we got back from Mississippi.  Since Hartley has passed, Bella has become quite the diva.  She doesn't like to be in her crate.  She always wants to ride in the car.  She thinks her seat is the carseat.

 Here she is again.  We are taking her back to get a haircut.

 After we dropped Bella off I braved it and took all 3 with me to Sam's in Murfreesboro.  We also met up with some friends and ate lunch at BJ's too!  Here is our before and after cart picture.  The boys were good for the most part.  It could have been worse.  I had to keep moving or they would jump off and want to help or touch something I asked them not to touch. I said "Sit Down!" a lot.  I think they are immune to my voice.

 When we got back from Murfreesboro we picked up Bella.  They wore her out!  This was after about 2 minutes in the car!

 They have been playing with Buzz and Woody a lot these past couple days so I decided to sit them on the couch and see if they would watch Toy Story.  It lasted maybe 10 minutes and they were bored.  We would stop occasionally and watch more of it but they just can't sit still!

 Liam had another ball game.  We seriously have got to work with him.  I don't ever think about it when we are outside playing to get the tee out or pitch to him.  I'm not so sure baseball is going to be his strong suit.  He is starting to not want to go to games and throws a fit about what socks he has to wear. (insert eye roll)  I'm thinking he might like soccer better. We will see.  It might just be his age.  Time will tell!

 What do you know?!? Not a day goes by that someone doesn't get bit, cut, scraped, bruised, etc.  Lucky Kane got bit and scraped an elbow today.

 Silly Reid, the class clown!

 Cheering brother on at bat.  I think these boys will be my ball players!

Happy Birthday Reid & Kane!

May 16th - Reid & Kane woke up 2 years old! It's crazy to think that they are already 2 years old.  I made them birthday cake pancakes for breakfast along with eggs and sausage. 

They weren't quite sure about the candles but they loved me singing to them!



 

Once I showed them what to do they blew out the candles and watched in amazement at the smoke it produced! Ha!

They gobbled those pancakes up!  They were really good if I do say so myself!



Liam had a ballgame that night so we went to that.  Ryan stayed home and made lasagna for dinner so that it would be ready when the game was over.  Lasagna is one of their favorite foods!  All grandparents were there to enjoy as well.  After dinner they had a couple mini cupcakes that I had picked up while I was grocery shopping. 



They took a shower after dinner and then it was time to get ready to go to bed.  We have started weaning them off their binkies.  We have gone 2 full days of no binky and it seems to be getting a little easier each time. For the last couple of months we have had it down to only naps and bedtime.  Hopefully its a smooth transition for everyone!