Olivia Goes to the Dentist

Today was Olivia's first dentist appointment - ever. I don't know when you're really supposed to take your child for the first time. At a year? At two? Who knows. I get different opinions. Needless to say, she's had dental insurance since she was about a year or just over.

She'll be three in a couple of weeks. So, I figured it was time. I got online, pulled up a list of recommended dentists in the area by our insurance company and booked an appointment with the dentist closest to our home.

At Mums and Tots on Monday, a mother mentioned that she was bringing her daughter to the dentist later that day. I mentioned that I was bringing Olivia on Thursday for her first appointment. Her response, "Nice. Are you bringing her to Dr. Fisher? He is wonderful with kids. We had the best experience last time. He does this and that to make your child comfortable. He's just so good!"

Okay, I had never heard of Dr. Fisher. When I mentioned that I had booked the appointment with someone else closer to our home, she gave me the, "Umm humm. Good luck to ya! Dr. Fisher is the best" look.

Note to self: Learn from this mother's mistake. You look really bad and snooty when, even inadvertently, you make another mother feel like an idiot.

After noticing her expression and tone of voice, for a second, I start to panic, thinking I'm bringing my kid to the wrong dentist. I'm a horrible mother. Everyone must bring their kid to Dr. Fisher. Why don't I know this? Then, I compose myself. It's a dentist. Come on.

So, this morning, Olivia didn't get up until 9:45. So, I had to rush her out the door to the dentist. Her appointment was at 10:30 and I had never been to that particular office before. In the rush, I forgot my camera. Of course.

I didn't think I would miss much, as far as photo opportunities go, because what antsy three-year-old sits nicely for a dentist? We had talked about what the dentist was going to do and she seemed interested. However, I still had no confidence that she would sit nicely and let someone look into her mouth and then polish her teeth. Surely not my Olivia.

Well, I was wrong. She was more cooperative than I think she's ever been in her life. She opened her mouth wide and even before he asked! She was quiet, didn't ask any questions, and sat in the chair with a proud, confident look on her face. As if to say, "I can do this mom! It's fun!"

He was a lovely dentist and I was so glad I stuck with my choice to stay with this dentist instead of caving in and going with the "popular" one.

Lately, Olivia has been much more reasonable and better behaved. Today, I stared at her sitting in the big dentist chair and glowed with pride!

Lila, now 14-months, has been slow to show an interest in walking. Olivia walked at 10.5-months, therefore, Matt's worried about Lila. I, however, am not. She cruises very well, climbs steps, furniture, etc. On top of it, in the past couple of weeks, she's started to expand her vocabulary greatly. I think she's been focusing on other things. Matt begs to differ.

Matt's worries can now cease! Lila has begun to, finally, take her first steps and, of course, I have to share them with everyone!

Olivia (or, Iia, as Lila calls her) and I bribed her with food and an interesting looking "box." Of course, earlier in the day, when I didn't have my camera with me, she took 15 steps in a row. But, here's a tiny show of what's she's been accomplishing.

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa

A while back, my parents came to visit. I mentioned their visit in a post. I did not, however, explain how grateful I am to have such wonderful parents.

I don't think it ever crossed their mind that I would marry a military man. What parent dreams their daughter will marry a solider? I don't know of any and I'm not sure I would wish it for my daughters. However, surprisingly to my parents, I married one and shortly thereafter, Matt and I moved far away (Alaska) and had two babies less than two years apart. My father traveled up to Alaska four times. My mother, twice.

Just when my parents thought we'd be back in the continental US, and a bit closer to home, (read: making it easier and less expensive to visit), our plans changed and we got stationed in Portugal.

Fact: My mother hates to fly. It can bring on an anxiety attack. She dreads the flight, worries incessantly about it, makes herself feel ill, and is unable to sleep on flights.

Fact: My father loves to travel, however, he's frugal.

All that being said, my parents were the first to get in line to book their trip to Portugal. Why?

First of all, despite not wanting to spend the money, despite my mother's fear of flying, despite limited time off from work, putting their grandchildren first is their priority. In the end, isn't having developed the best relationship possible and creating lasting memories with your family the most important? Despite the distance and cost?

Second, they remember, all too well, how difficult and expensive it is to travel with children. Small children at that. As all parents know, it can be nothing short of a nightmare to travel with children. Diaper changes on flights, screaming, uncomfortable, hungry, bored children. Overtired children. Sick children. Tired parents, grumpy parents. They know better than to guilt-trip us into visiting them. They know that it's much easier for two rational adults to travel long distances than it is two parents with small, unreasonable, young children.

My parents both got sick while visiting. My father would have liked to go on more outdoor adventures. My mother would have probably liked to have done a bit more shopping. But, they got to spend valuable time with their grandchildren. They got hugs and kisses and snuggles from two precious little girls. They were able to watch them play, read books to them, take them for walks and, simply, play with them. They got to see beautiful Portugal and visit with Matt and I.

My mother always tries to make me feel close to home. She's always thinking about me. For a few years now she's been keeping me stocked with Vermont Maple Syrup and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters coffee (I'm a Vermonter, if you haven't guessed). When she's out shopping, she'll call on her cell and ask if the girls need "this or that." She sends packages on, nearly, a monthly basis. Often with Vermont made products or gifts from local craft fairs or markets. She's even picked apples and sent them to me in Alaska. Ohhh, they were sooo good. Even if they were picked a week prior by the time they got to me.

So, Mom and Dad, thank you for going the distance. To finding a way to get to us no matter how far away we are and how much it costs. To never making us feel guilty about not coming home more often and about the things that are beyond our control (read: baby being born during an extension and me needing/begging for your help and for being stationed thousands of miles away from home twice in a row).

I hope that all of you reading, who live far away from family, whether in the military or not, have parents this willing and loving to make their children and grandchildren a priority - no matter the obstacles that they may be presented with.