Ch-ch-changes

There's a David Bowie song about ch-ch-changes ... I can hear the melody in my head but don't know the lyrics. Anyway, our family has been swimming in a sea of changes lately, and our girls are no exception. In fact, Ruby is on Day Two of the biggest change in her life. (Our litle girl has sensory integration challenges.) She's remarkable about perceiving things, and especially loves to take in information through her tactile senses. One manifestation of this is her incredibly strong attachment to her "paci". Yes, Folks, she is 4 and a half. But we've had professional experts assure us that Ruby, while needing to get rid of the paci, is simply wired differently than most kids. She craves sensory input, and we need to look for appropriate and healthy ways for her brain to get what it needs/wants. Nonetheless, the paci has to go. She lost her two bottom teeth this summer, and now her two top teeth are loose. This is unrelated to the paci, she simply got her teeth early and is losing them early too. But, the pacifier is bound to mess up her teeth.
Sadie Lou is also a big fan of the paci. Both girls are down right addicted - needing a paci to fall asleep, and even crying for it in the middle of the night if it falls out of their mouth. I know, I know, not my proudest parenting accomplishment.
Anyway, yesterday was a big day - Paci Release Day! We bought balloons, and sent the pacis up into the sky. Ruby told us that God was going to bring her paci to a baby who needed it. She said maybe her paci will float to her brother.

Bedtime was harder than ever before. Sorrowful tears for a lost friend. But naptime today was better than I expected. (Can you believe that both my 2 year old and my 4 and half year old still nap two hours a day?) Tonight bedtime was a long road for Sadie - sleep didn't win the battle for almost two hours. But every day will be better, right?

Notice the "lovies" in the photos? Ruby has her Baby Anna, and Sadie LouLou has her favorite baseball pillow. Anna and Pillow come with us everywhere. I'm thankful those are two attachments that won't have to float away on a balloon string...