Toliver Ten on Tuesday

1) It's late, but I'm up working anyway so I thought I'd go ahead and publish my Ten on Tuesday.
2)We watched The Voice again tonight. I like it but don't LOVE it like I'd like to. KT actually left in the middle to run to the store. Now I'm really lookin forward to So You Think You Can Dance.
3)I got the girls their first pair of flip flops.  Nala liked holding them but didn't like the way they felt on.  I could tell that Nia felt cute in hers.  We stopped by my mom's and she got to show them off.  I got them at Babies R Us for only $3.99 each.  While there I also scored a couple of camera tees...not as cute as some of the ones I've seen online, but cute still. 

4)If I thought it would help, I'd love to make fun Bento Lunches  for my girls.  Nia and Nala always get "ate some" on their take home papers.  I'm just not sure what to pack them because they can't have warm ups...
5)MacKenzie wrapped up her school year on Monday.  It was a short day.  They just had field day and were dismissed at 1:00.  I can't believ how fast this year went by.  I think I've just about gotten her summer schedule set.  Before the twins, I'd always have this done by early March. 
6)MacKenzie's teacher for next year gave them summer homework. She has to read and critique 5 books for a minimum total of 500 pages.  This is no problem for her.  She loves to read and I'm requiring her to read 100 pages a day anyway.  Speaking of books, We spent a lot of time at Barnes and Noble this weekend. I used to take MacKenzie to the bookstore all the time. It's just a bit harder with the girlies. I have to keep them in their stroller because I have runners (this week, we had running episodes at Target and at Food Pyramid). I got Mammarazzi: Every Mom's Guide to Photographing Kids, NiNa got Marvin K. Mooney (one of MacK's favs when she was little), and MacKenzie chose Four Truths and Lie and Sounder.
7) My cell phone whacked out on me last Thursday.  I called customer service and they want me to do a master reset. When I realized I'd lose all 718 (yes...for real) pictures that I had on my phone, I told the rep, I just wasn't ready.  I'm not.  I'm so mad at myself for not backing those pics up... In the meantime, while I mourn (yes, it is that serious) I am left using my HTC HD2 phone that I had before getting the Samsung Vibrant.  I remember why I switched!
8) The girls and I also went to my two nieces' piano recital...UNFORTUNATELY, we had to step out almost as soon as we walked in because a)Nala decided whining was appropriate in a quiet auditorium and b) Nia wanted to loudly greet her Nana.  We spent the rest of the recital in the noise proof cry room...those girls!
9) My sister wants to go to the Katy Perry concert and I told her I 'd go with her...but the truth is I've only heard one of her songs...I'm so out of touch and I'm largely ok with this.  I just looked because of course I had no idea...it's in September so I guess I have a little bit more time to get more familar.

10)Cue the orchestra!  Pomp and Circumstance would be appropriate.  Nia graduated from her fingerguard and I'm all done talking about it here...LOL.  I'm just loving seeing her put better use to those chubby lil fingers.

Have a great rest of the week!

Finger Sucking | Finger Guard

A couple of weeks ago I posted that we were going to be trying out the finger guard for Nia.  We are about a week in a half into the recommended three weeks. 

I was totally skeptical about the whole ordeal, but attempted out of desperation because she refused to listen to me.  I searched and couldn't find any third party reviews outside of those on retail sites.  But when I found a site that was selling it with a Money Back Guarantee and free shipping (I'm a sucker for free shipping), I figured I had nothing to lose.  Well ten days in, I HIGHLY recommend  mommies of finger suckers give this a shot.  I am AMAZED by how well  and how fast it is working.  Here is a summary of our progress.

Finger Guard Journal  | Days 1 - 10
Day 1 | Morning  - Showed Nia a portion of the included instructional video and told her I had something to help her with her finger sucking.  She has no problem letting me put it on.  I called it a bracelet.  It actually comes with 50 colored hospital bands that secure the guard on the fingers. 
Day 1 - 30 min later  - She wanted to take it off.  We told her no, that she was going to have to try.  I left for work and felt awful because she cried a bit. 
Day 1 - Noon - KT called and said she had a hard time at naptme and cried for a while but eventually went down.
Day 1 - Evening - Took her a while to go to bed.  She usually goes right down.
Day 1 Summary - Just need to keep her busy and she'll be fine.


Day 2 - Morning - No hesitation when I washed and changed her guard.   No finger sucking.
Day 2 - Evening - Totally fine until bedtime. Cried but by then, use to the guard, just not to sure how to otherwise comfort herself.


Day 3 - Morning  - Again no hesitation.  She doesn't mind wearing it at all.  No finger sucking.
Day 3- Evening - Caught her with fingers in her mouth with the guard on.  I was discouraged.
 
Day 4 -10  No hesitation to wear the guard.  Enjoys picking the bracelet color.  Leave "bracelet" off between 10 - 60 min to let her fingers breathe a bit better and wash it warm soapy water.  No attempts whatsoever to put her fingers in her mouth.  Convinced that the product has worked as promised.  Planning to finish out the 21 days though.
 
I am so thankful to have found this.  I know it sounds crazy, but I think I can actually see a difference in her teeth already.  I confess, and my friend Brandy will confirm, after a good workout, I can always see a difference in my ab muscles...but seriously...I think I can.  I told KT and he doesn't think it's possible.  I was shocked but thrilled when my mom told me on Saturday that she thought she could see a difference.  This was BEFORE I even mentioned it. 
 
I'm loving seeing Nia's beautiful smile more and seeing her  make better use of her hands.   Interestingly, she seems to enjoy wearing it now and picking the colored bracelet.  It's funny to see how she is now using her left hand more, but she totally works that right hand with the guard on. It's not intrusive.  Her usage was a little off the first two days, but that is it.  Out in public, we've only had a couple of people comment on it.

Sidebar - Nala was upset that she didn't have a bracelet on day 1 and still occassionally puts her hand out for a bracelet, but I've tried to be clear that it was for Nia to help her. 
 
I'll post again after the 21 days... but I'm just thrilled and so hopeful that this is over for her.
 
If you have a finger sucker...TRY it!!!
 

Nia in her finger guard  purchased from A Zeal For Living.

Bad Habit | Finger Sucking

Spend any length of time with Nia and you are sure to see her doing this at some point.  I won't say it's constant, but it's a frequent habit.  We wanted it to be a phase.  We obeyed the doctors and dentists and tried not to make to big of a deal out of it...but she's two now.  I'm ready for this habit to go bye-bye.  It may not be a popular choice...but I'm going to be trying out  Finger Guard.  We are hoping that if she wears it for 3 weeks or so she can break the habit.  I feel bad, because I can see that it's effected her teeth.  She has a bit of a cross-bite, the slightest bit of a lisp (so far only noticed by me...), and gets seriously mad when she's tired and you bother her finger sucking.

So...I'm hoping it will be here by the end of the week.  I'll document our journey.  Hopefully it will be smooth... It looks pretty funky, huh??

They recommend it for ages 3 and up, but I've read that some kids have had success at 2...here's to hoping Nia is in that group!

Interestingly, I'd never seen nor heard of this habit prior to Nia, but it really isn't all that uncommon from what I've read and heard now.  When I've talked to other people about it, they almost always say they know someone who did or does.  And oh my goodness, I was checking out Oklahoma City photographer, Beth Jansen's blog and saw the cutest little red head doing the same (look!!! serious adorableness) ...I showed Nia and she instructed "No Fingers!!"... mimicking what she hears from us...Now if she'd just take her own advice... :P