Off the wagon...

It has been a rough morning with Alina (i.e. several tantrums, time outs and spankings all before 9 AM). At one point she said "shut up" to no one in particular. Here is the ensuing conversation:

Me: "You need to say sorry for saying 'shut up'"
NiNi: "Sorry....and I don't forgive you"
Me: "Ok, I forgive you"
NiNi: "I don't like you. I like daddy"
Me: "Ok, that's fine that you don't like me"
NiNi: "Sissy likes daddy too"
Me: "Then who likes mommy?"
NiNi: "yourself"

Brutal, I know. On the other hand, I guess I better get used to being unpopular because I hear it doesn't get any better until they're about 25.

Part of the disdain for mommy may stem from the fact that I have been trying to get NiNi to stop sucking her fingers. If it were up to daddy, she could suck them "as long as she darn well pleases," but I have come up with '4' as the arbitrary age that one should no longer suck appendages whenever we're tired or upset. Her knuckles have two big ugly callouses on them from being rubbed by her teeth, and her orthodontist is not too happy about it either. Not to mention that it is just plain unhygienic. So, if she stays clean for 5 days she earns a brand new Barbie. To help her kick the habit I've tried wrapping her hands in gloves, medical tape (after which she broke out in hives...at least now we know she's allergic to latex) and mittens held on with duck tape, none of which are totally foolproof. She has been exhausted from not sleeping well and last night she fell off the wagon...I came into her room and found her peacefully sleeping and sucking. I didn't have the heart to tape on the mittens again. I guess we'll try again another day.

Growing up...

"Hey mom, take a camera of this..."

NiNi is becoming quite the ham and loves having her picture taken (although she pretends not to) especially while dressed up in princess garb.