Ellie's first dentist trip!

Today was Ellie's first trip to the dentist. I was pretty nervous, but she did great! We told her she was going to visit a friend - Dr. Mary, and that Dr. Mary was also Ada's dentist. We told her Dr. Mary was a dentist just like Uncle Bill, and I think that thoroughly confused her because then she started talking about how Uncle Bill pinched her buns and Mimi made him stand in the corner (sorry Billy, but that is still a highlight in her short life). So we got to the waiting room and she was a little timid, but got comfortable once she saw the princess tea set. We had lots of tea before they called us to the back. As soon as we walked back there Ellie became a monkey with a death grip on my hand, leg - anything she could grab on to. She saw other children sitting in the big dental chairs and immediately started crying. So...they took us into the one room they have that has a door and closed it. I know Ellie was scared, but the staff there handled it so well. They were calm and patient but very firm with her. When she wouldn't cooperate the hygienist said to Ellie "Ellie - this is not negotiable. You have been brought here to have your teeth cleaned and that is what we are going to do." Ellie'e eyes opened wide and she looked at me...I said "that's right, so let's be a good girl" and she did. It was amazing. She sat in my lap and laid her head back on the hygienist's lap to get her teeth polished and flossed. She kind of cried, but there were very few real tears and it was mostly just for show. Then she got to choose her own tooth brush and got sparkle toothpaste. She cheered up a little at that point. The next thing they did was take X-rays. She was such a good girl - they were amazed because they got 2 anterior shots and both bite wings, and those are the ones that hurt because you have to chomp down on hideously uncomfortable plastic! She got to choose an extra sticker for being such a brave girl.
Then Dr. Mary came in and charmed the pants off Ellie. Ellie is in love with Dr. Mary and told me on the way home she wants to go back and visit her again. Dr. Mary also convinced Ellie that since she's such a big girl now she doesn't need her bite anymore (pacifier). Dr. Mary told Ellie that mommy and daddy would take her to the toy store and she could exchange her bite for a new, special toy. Brant and I have been talking about getting rid of the bite for months now, and the idea has been completely rejected by Ellie each time. And not just slightly rejected - Ellie has thrown tantrums at the idea of not having her bite! Amazingly she bought Dr. Mary's idea. The whole kit and caboodle. I guess this is just the beginning of her thinking everyone else's ideas are way better than mom and dad's.
So that is our plan for this weekend. Ellie will be handing over her bite to Leyla at So Childish - our neighborhood toy store. I'm sure we'll have a few rough nights, but Brant and I will have to be strong and get through it!