Pierced and tatted...

Okay - maybe not tatted....but I made you look!

A week ago, or so, Janna was sitting on my lap having a conversation with me. Rather, she was talking and I was listening. She grabbed my ear and said:

"I like your earrings mama!"

I responded, "Thank you, Janna."

She asked, "when I get big girl, I can have earrings TOO?"

I again responded, "Well, Janna - you can have earrings right now for all I care."

"REALLY!?!" (she's bouncing at this point).

"Sure." I said, taking cover. "But you need to know that it hurts. They will pinch your ear and poke a hole."

"They will poke a hole? And it will hurt a little bit?" Asked Janna.

"Yup. Do you still want them?" She nodded excitedly. Then I told her, "the gun they use will make a loud pop. It might scare you. Are you SURE you still want them?" More excited nodding.

"YES! YES!" She exclaimed. "I DO WANT PRETTY EARRINGS!"

So, I told her she could have them. I must have reminded her EVERY DAY that these things were going to hurt, that she didn't have to have them, and the whole thing was up to her. She insisted that she wanted them, so away we went.

Now, I need to remind you that this is the second time we've pierced Janna's ears. The first time Daddy didn't realize that you had to clean them out for a solid 6 months. They got infected, and we couldn't ever effectively get rid of the infection. So, we let them close up and heal completely. I pushed the idea out of my mind, and waited for an appropriate time. I really don't see piercings as a big deal, and I had them done as a young child. Since Janna asked for them, without prompting, I felt like now was as good a time as any. It turns out one of her little friends had them, so I suppose that's what peaked the curiosity.

This morning we woke up and I told Janna that today was the day (my first full day off from work with Jeff away). I packed the kids up, and we drove straight to the mall. On the way down, she told me that she wanted "blue sparkly" earrings. When we got there, I asked her which one she wanted. I asked "this one?" I pointed to the blue crystals. She said "no, THAT one." She pointed to the 1/2 karat sized CZ ones. My daughter, apparently, loves her bling.

I explained that Janna has "little ears," and those big earrings are made for big ears. She thought better of it, and settled on the small CZ flower ones instead.

Waiting patiently:

Marking the ears carefully: First one is in. I really think that this MUST have been the monologue in her head, based on her expression:

"Okay. That was oka....wait...that hurts. Yup, that DEFINITELY hurts. Not cool...not cool."

Then we told her "one more." She was game. Until the earring went in. Then she wailed. I got her to stop, and she was cool, until she looked in the mirror and saw them. Then she remembered that her ears hurt, and wailed all over again.

So much for not crying.

On her defense, she got over it quickly. Then she modeled for the camera.
I didn't tell her to make that pose. I said, "let me get a picture." Then she did THAT. Really, is it any WONDER she sobbed? She just looks so grown up.