K, you took a morning nap today.

By that, I don’t mean you slept in a little late this morning.

I mean that you and H have been waking up so ridiculously early – for no good reason, really – that driving to school today you simply fell asleep from already being exhausted.

To be fair, you were sleeping fine today before H woke you up, but it escalated into a perfect storm.

You had been fussy late last night, so mom had put you in our bed.

So mom was at the gym early this morning when H woke up and wandered into our room.

She woke me up so I just told her to get in bed with you and I and go back to sleep.

H laid down on the other side of the bed beside you, and soon yall were both giggling.

After listening to little girls giggle for a while, and then telling you guys to stop four or five times, I got up to go to the bathroom and happen to glance at the clock.

It was 5:15.

Mom got back home soon after – but none of us ever went back to sleep.

So, yeah.

By 7:45 you were sound asleep on the way to school.

You are wonderful in every way.

And I hope we all sleep a little better tonight.

I love you.

-Dad

K, we took your pacifier away from you.

I am so sorry!

I was a few weeks ago.

And, we really didn’t want to do it.

But you will be two years old here in a hot second, and the dentist told us it was time for the sake of your teeth.

The worst part is:  We didn’t actually take it away.

We gathered all your pacifiers up and threw them in a plastic bag in the back of one of the kitchen cabinets – except for one.

You got to keep one pacifier.

But that one – and here is the rub – we cut the tip of it off with a pair of scissors and offered it to you the next time you asked.

We had read about it beforehand and yeah, the parent gets to play stupid about it all and then feel guilty afterward.

“Oh, no! Is it broken?! I’m so sorry.”

You still cry about it, off and on, when you get sad, but the entire process has actually been smoother than I thought it would be.

This feels like I’m typing a confessional right now…

It was all mom’s idea, if you want to know the truth.

Seriously though, it’s not the end of the world.

Because you do still have a pacifier attached to the front of your little stuffed animal “Lamby.”

And you get to sleep with her every single night.

Just don’t tell the dentist!

I love you.

-Dad