Sweet 16 (teeth, that is)

Jaclyn went to her first dentist appointment this week.  We took a recommendation from a friend for Kensington Pediatric and made an appointment.  And we were not disappointed!  The office was beautiful with toys for the kids, two TV's and a fish tank in the waiting room alone.  The exam room was also beautifully decorated with murals, TV's on the ceiling, and lots of open space.  Jaclyn really seemed excited to be there even though all morning long she kept saying "I don't neeeeeed to go to the dentist".  And she was friendly and sociable with the assistant and Dr. Stephanie.  She did get upset during the exam which was heartbreaking.  But the doc said her teeth were healthy and strong and she wouldn't come back for a year or so.  That was a relief.  Jaclyn does however have some staining on her teeth.  I had been worried it was decay; but it was just a stain.  But what is staining her teeth?!  Is she drinking wine and eating dark chocolate when I'm not looking?  Sipping daddy's coffee?

I forgot to take pictures, but the dentist emailed me this pic:

After her exam she got to pick out a treasure from the treasure box.  This really perked her up and she LOVES the puzzle she picked out.  She also got some stickers, of course.  And then we headed to the zoo!  Not so bad, was it kiddo?  AND all week long she's been playing dentist, telling us to open up and say aaahhh, counting our teeth, and saying they are healthy and strong.  She is also flossing her own teeth with the floss sticks that the dentist gave her.  (She has crowded tight teeth for a toddler so flossing is advised.)  But who would have thought she'd want to do it all by herself?

However, the biggest result of the visit to the dentist was the kick in the rear we needed to break the pacifier habit.  Even though we have kept the pacifier use only in the crib for more than a year now, it has still affected her teeth.  Her two front teeth are pushed forward from the rest.  Let's hope that is all the damage that's been done and it corrects itself as she continues to grow.  And the dentist recommended we tackle only one big change at a time.  This will probably be a year full of big changes, like potty training, big girl bed, a preschool where mommy leaves, and hopefully a sibling and maybe even a new house, so......

Last night was our first night with no pacifier and it was a success!  We had discussed it all week.....we talked about being a "big girl" and not needing a pacifier; only babies use pacifiers.  We agreed to trade in the pacifiers for new toys.  New toys are always exciting!  The first pacifier she traded in was the one she kept at Nana's and she traded it in for a Dr.'s kit toy.  Dr. Smeal was making house calls and doing check-ups on her dolls.

Then yesterday we went to Build-a-Bear and she picked out a new friend and we put a pacifier inside the bear.  This way she could hold her new bear at night if she missed her "paci".  She also bought a pet carrier toy with a little puppy inside.  Last night she was more interested in bringing her pet puppy to bed than her new bear.  And even though she did ask for her paci, when I said, "remember, no more paci's.  You are a big girl now" she didn't even cry.  But it did look like she was looking for her backup paci hidden somewhere in her crib when I left the room.  Smart girl knew there was another one she hadn't traded in for a toy yet.  But I had confiscated it.  When she didn't find it, she talked and sang herself to sleep.  She was singing, "Here my am, here my am.  I am (word I couldn't understand), I am ?".  I finally realized later it was the Thumbkin song!  But she had all the words mixed up.  It took a little longer for her to fall asleep, but it was a peaceful night and I think we are done with the paci!  Yeah!