Suck it!

Lately, Babykins has A) been teething, and B) been traveling.  This has led to increased pacifier usage, and the unfortunate tendency to chew on it.  Chewing on pacifiers ruins them, so Hubbykins started reminding her, "Don't chew it, just suck it."

Which has led to Babykins randomly pulling out her pacifier, looking at us (or whoever happens to be around) and yelling, "Suck it!"

Oops.

Thief!

Babykins had a fantastic time on our cruise.  There were a couple thousand people trapped on a boat with nothing better to do than dote on her.  The waiters brought her favorite foods at dinner before she even asked.  The youth staff told her how smart she was.  Complete strangers ohh'd and ahh'd over her dinner dresses.  It was Babykins paradise.

I noticed, though, that a lot of people like to play a game with toddlers that they probably think of as cute. I think of it as stealing.

It goes something like this:

Stranger:  Oh, look at your cute purse!  It's so cute, I'm going to take it.  Look!  I've got your purse!

Babykins:  Giggles and reaches out for purse.

Me:  Trying to decide if pushing them down, taking back the purse, and telling them to steal from someone their own size would be an overreaction.

Obviously, I don't find this game as amusing as everyone else.

It didn't stop with the purse, either.  During the cruise, people took her chapstick, shoes, and a box of raisins.

Then one day, someone popped the pacifier out of her mouth, and I watched as Babykins tried to decide if the game was still fun, or if it was time to let out a scream that would let everyone know what she thought of pacifier thieves.

I quickly intervened, informing the gentleman that taking the pacifier was a bad idea and he should give it back quickly (I may have given him the look, too).  Babykins was quickly handed back her pacifier, and disaster was averted.  It was a lesson, though.  Taking candy from a baby might be easy, but it's generally not a nice thing to do.

Babykins' Bedtime Diary

7:15 - Used to be bedtime.  Have trained parents that this is bad bedtime.  In highchair eating Cheerios.
8:15 - Get ready for bed.  Fall asleep in mama's arms while eating.
8:30 - Something's wrong!  Open eyes.  Mama's putting me down in cage thing.  Cry.
8:40 - Have been turned, rolled, patted, and rubbed.  Still in cage thing.  Cry more.
8:45 - Parents finally get it.  Am removed from cage.
9:00 - Crying was invigorating.  Playing in living room.
9:15 - Ready for bed, again.  Fall asleep in mama's arms while eating.
9:30 - Parents not as dumb as they seem.  Have moved mattress out of cage, onto floor.
11:30 - Forget there's no cage.  Roll off mattress onto floor.  Cry.
12:30 - Try to suck pacifier.  Where is pacifier?!  Cry.
2:30 - Sleeping is hard work.  Hungry.  Cry.  Eat.
4:30 - Pacifier gone again.  Know how to put it back in.  Too tired.  Cry.
5:30 - Roll onto tummy.  Forget there's no cage.  Sleep with legs on floor, head on mattress.  Is this what it feels like to have a pillow?
6:30 - Feeling refreshed.  Wake up, parents!  Time to play!

If Only, If Only...

As ruling princess of our house, Babykins has come to think that all things should work exactly as she wants.  Which is why she's very confused about why some of her greatest dreams just won't come true.  For example, two nights ago Babykins was fussing in her crib.  I went in to check on what was wrong and found her with one pacifier in her mouth and one in her hand.  She was trying valiantly to get the second pacifier in her mouth, as well, but only succeeded in repeatedly banging it against the one she was already sucking on.  I took pity and removed the pacifier from her hand, at which point she quickly clamped both hands over the one in her mouth.

Her other big wish is to find a way to simultaneously nurse and suck her thumb.  No matter how many times she tries, though, all she succeeds in doing is dribbling milk out the side of her mouth.  Not only is she not accomplishing her goal, she's losing part of her dinner, as well :( 

Luckily, Babykins can take solace in the fact that she's very close to achieving another big milestone...she's just seconds away from crawling!  Keep dreaming big, Babykins.  You're on your way!