Clair's 1st visit to the dentist!

Clair went to the dentist today for the first time.

Knowing our highly anxious, people-averse daughter, Lester and I steeled ourselves for the worst. We both took the morning off work to be there, just in case the craziness was at DEFCON 1.

Color us shocked and giddy when Clair got up in the chair (after watching Cary do it first), opened her mouth, said "Ahhh," answered the hygienist's and the doctor's questions, got a very short cleaning, and climbed back down when it was over -- LIKE A BOSS.

A little nervous, perhaps, but still compliant! And not crying!

Look how awesome she is doing!

It looks like they listed her full name, Clair Elise, but there was actually another brand new patient today named Elise. So cute.

She even played in and around the waiting room toys with other children. Willingly!

She is getting so much better guys! I really was so, so proud of her.

Now, let's see how it goes tomorrow when we drop her off at summer camp and LEAVE HER THERE. Lord.help.us.

A rant, a rave and a real housewife (sorta)

First, a rant.

I have been very quiet about my kids' pre-school, because I have not had a lot good to say about it. The feelings I had in the beginning about the teachers have not gone away. In fact, they have only been confirmed. I won't go into detail, but let's just say, I'm going to have to have a long discussion with the school about their 3s program -- and especially the teachers -- before we even think about enrolling them next year.
I have not shared most of my displeasure, but I had to share this:

So RUDE!!

 Do you see what I see there?

The teachers thought it was appropriate to send home a note to the entire class, listing the parents who still needed to send in "pullups" -- their catch-all term for diapers -- and wipes. It's not like it's a long list; there are three people listed there. Why couldn't they have slipped something discreetly and kindly in the kids' take-home envelopes? Or said something privately to the parents when they came in? I don't know how those three parents feel about being publicly shamed in this way, but I am outraged for them! It's just plain rude, in my opinion, and I am not loving the fact that my children are being taught by people who think that that is any way to behave. Also, I truly cannot get over this woman's obsession with "pull-ups." If she put half as much energy into teaching, playing with and nurturing the kids in her class, those kids would all be future Rhodes Scholars and philanthropists and tree-huggers.

OK, rant over. It's Friday. I'm not going to let her ruin my Friday buzz.

Now, a rave!

We took Cary and Dean to the dentist again today and they were AMAZING!

Checking out their goodie bags after being SUPER good boys at the dentist!

I almost didn't recognize these two children. Whereas last time there were tears aplenty, this time they were cooperative, friendly and agreeable. They did everything the hygienist and the dentist asked them to do. They said "aaaahhhh!" with aplomb! They laughed at the dentist's goofy jokes. They smiled when people spoke to them. Everyone was gushing about how well-behaved they are, and how adorable, and what a great job we are doing taking care of their little teeth! I feel like a million bucks! 

Of course, Cary decided he didn't want the bag of rewards the hygienist gave him, and threw it on the floor of the car, only to decide he did want it after I was already driving (sorry, buddy!), causing a grating whinefest for the entire ride home. But a girl can't have everything, now can she?

And -- just to make sure Clairzee gets in on the Friday blog-post-action, here she is doing her best "RBONJ" imitation. (That's "Real Babies of New Joizy" for the uninitiated.)

Totally needs her own reality show!

Isn't she the most?!

Happy weekend, all!

Boys survive 1st Dentist's Appointment!

Cary and Dean had their first ever dentist's appointment today.

I thought this was sooo cute, on the door of the dentist's office when we walked in. But a friend points out that it might just be a HIPAA violation. Whoops! I still think it's cute.

The status report: No cavities!!! But plenty of tears.

Thank God Lester and I both went to this appointment, because we needed all four hands on deck to keep the boys calm enough for the dentist to poke around in their mouths, count their teeth, check for cavities and paint on some flouride. (Note: The whole appointment took about 8 minutes. Which would have been great, if our waiting room time hadn't been over an HOUR.)

P.S. Cary has 16 teeth (right on schedule), and Dean has 12, with 4 cutting through, which might explain his crankiness and clinginess. Actually, he's just cranky and clingy. Who am I kidding?

The boys actually did better than I thought with the dental exam -- and they probably would have done even better, if it hadn't been for the fact that the office was backed up, so we had to wait, as I noted, more than an hour in the waiting room. So by the time our name was finally called, the boys were a little tired, needing a snack, and completely opposed to leaving behind the treasure chest of books, blocks and other amazingly fun things for them to do.

My babies thought they were big boys, "playing" video games! But their favorite thing in the waiting room was a pretend kitchen, which kept them enthralled. I know what THEY'RE getting for their birthday!

The crying ensued before we even made it to the dentist's chair, and scaled up as we got to the clinical part of the office, so needless to say I wasn't able to get any lovely photos of them with wide, protesting mouths and crocodile tears. Sigh. My photojournalism skills fail miserably in the face of twin temper tantrums.

Next time, hopefully they'll see us sooner, so the boys don't get the idea that the dentist's office is really a big playroom. I want them to get it that we go there so the doctor can check their teeth, not so that they can pretend to make food in the little play kitchen for an hour. (Am I asking too much too soon?)

The dentist was very happy with the boys' teeth, and the fact that they are pretty much juice-and-soda free. He did (kindly) stress to us the importance of getting them off the bottle at night, and when I told him I was already on it, reducing their milk by an ounce a week until their birthday, he wasn't impressed. He said I need to make sure the last thing in their mouths at bedtime is their toothbrush and toothpaste, not milk. So unless I'm brushing their teeth after they have their bottle (which I'm not; we brush during bathtime) then I'm not doing the boys' teeth any favors.

I considered what he said very seriously, but I honestly think at this point I'm just going to stick with the plan to wean them over the next few weeks. They will be 2 on May 11, and either that week or the very next week, they will have their last nighttime bottle. (God-willing and the creek don't rise.)

I think my sweet little baby boys need the full month to transition out of that bedtime ritual.

And I know I do. :-(

Note: Next dentist's appointment is in 6 months, and I'll have to pull them out of SCHOOL to take them! Egads!! Time is FLYING. I can't stand it! Seriously, stop this train!