It's not easy being three!

Isabelle is finally sleeping at night without her "nuk." I never wanted her to have a pacifier and it took her pediatrician telling me to give it to her to feel comfortable about it, but for the past 3 years she has been a big nuk-lover.

We never let her carry it around and several months ago we took it away from her and put it in her bed, to never come out again. Since she couldn't have it unless she was in her bed, she has always been happy to climb into bed at night. Jelly has never been a good napper, since day one she has resisted naps, but she has always slept well at night. (She doesn't need much sleep like her dad.) In January she visited the dentist for the first time and the dentist told her that the next time she visits her, in July, she wanted her to throw her pacifier away. Since Isabelle is the rational child that she is, she immediately came home and threw it in the trash. However, that night she dug it out and has slept with it ever since. On Saturday afternoon, Jelly woke up from a short nap and yelled from her bed I am throwing this nuk away so it doesn't make my teeth crooked! Of course, Ben and I had to follow her lead and she has not had a drag in four days.

The first night it took her over an hour to fall asleep with out it but it has gotten progressively shorter each night. The second night she cried and cried and said she wished she was still a baby...I do too! She still whimpers and cries a little for it and always says I love my nuk before rolling over and shutting her eyes, but we have gone cold turkey and so far she and I are both still alive. One major drawback is that since she hasn't had her motivation to get into bed, she hasn't napped yet this week. None of us are quite ready for that change, but I am fearful that that short break mid-day is coming to a quick end.

As a side effect from the lack of sleep, today while we were grocery shopping she was unhappy about something and this was our conversation:

Isabelle: Mom, I am so angry!!!
Mom: Why are you so angry Belle?
Isabelle: I am so angry mom...because my Grandpa's liver is just so bad!!!

She got me on that one!

**This is a Jaimie Haley Photography picture! Check her out: http://www.jaimiehaleyphotography.blogspot.com/

Summer days and the living is easy!

Last weekend Uncle Sam invited us to Schlitterbahn to celebrate his birthday! Although we only live 30 miles from the Travel Channel's #1 Water Park in the World, we had never been....until now! Unfortunately, Jelly woke up the day before with a head cold but we couldn't let the fun pass us by, so Saturday we packed up all our swim gear and headed out to New Braunfels, TX. Several of the Cosby family were able to meet for the weekend and we were happy to get to visit with everyone and wish Sam a happy birthday in person.

Schlitterbahn was wonderful and overwhleming and we barely scratched the surface at trying all of the slides and pools. One of Jelly's favorite moments was when all of her Uncles came to her rescue and bullied a young boy into giving them his crocodile so that Belle could ride "queen of the river" around and around the lazy river. Another highlight was when we ventured onto the Congo River Expedition. Isabelle was in her own black rubber tube and we thought that we were safe until near the end when the operator of the ride shifted our tubes to go down the "mine shaft." It was a pretty big free-fall waterfall and Ben did his best trying to keep Belle afloat, losing his own sunglasses and being dunked himself in the process. It dumped us all into the real Comal River and we spent the next half hour floating through the chilly river and over waterfalls, until we could finally make an exit. Afterwards, we discovered that life jackets were strongly recommended and that tubes with a bottom were available and encouraged for children, especially small ones. Luckily, we all survived and although Belle thought it was great, Ben disagreed and was ready to pack the car and head back to San Antonio.

We enjoyed visiting with the Cosby family and continuing the party in San Antonio for the next 24 hours. Isabelle loved waking Katrina and Gordon up in the morning, playing with her doll house with her grandparents and doing the The Animal Boogie with Uncle Seth. It was a great weekend and a perfect way to kick off the summer!