Holes in her head

Ok, not really her "head", more like her ears. Brooke got her ears pierced today! We've been talking about it for a while and she has been adamant that she did NOT ever NEVER want her ears pierced. She was just being a bit dramatic. Then, all of the sudden, today after her nap, she walked over to me and said, "Ok, Mommy. I decided. I do want to have my ears pierced." I raised my eyebrows, asked 100 times, "are you sure?". She agreed everytime. So we talked about the process, that it would probably hurt for just a little bit, that she'd have to wear the first earrings all the time for a long time before ever taking them out. We'd have to clean them, etc etc etc.... Then I asked again, "are you sure???" And she said, 'yes'.

So we went down to the mall (after convincing Daddy this did not mean he was losing his little girl forever), to our local Claire's store (we checked out Icing by Claire's too but were put off by the 16 year old worker who was too troubled to get up to talk to us) and picked out the most sparkly earrings. Meanwhile, another young girl was over there bawling her eyes out in sheer terror. Later to find out, she was 7. And scared to death. Brooke was very brave and actually kept looking at me like, "are you kidding me???, she's THAT scared???". So finally, I intervene and ask the mom if it would help if her daughter got to watch someone else do it first. (not wanting Brooke to chicken out or get worked up herself...not that she was, just trying to preempt any possibilities) So the 7 year old screaming girl hopped down, and up Brooke went.

Again, she was very brave. She didn't talk much (of course!) to the employee, who come to find out was the manager and had been doing this for 23 years. But she didn't shed a single tear. I had even warned her that with us going right now today, she would be limited to having only one worker present and therefore having to get one ear done, wait, and get the the other done...and there would be no backing out. I offered to let her wait till the weekend when there would be two workers there to do it at the same time. But she insisted she was ready and wanted to do it today! Here's the first ear getting done...

After the first ear, she just sat there, held her breath for a minute, then braced for the second ear. What a champ!

She was amazing! Didn't cry a bit! Not even a tear in her eye! Whew. Glad she didn't lose it for sake of the 7yr old screamer. ;) Then she hopped down and got to look in the mirror and pick out 3 lollipops (one for each ear plus one for Brenna), a sticker, and went over her instructions. By the time we left the store, she didn't even feel it.

We checked back in at the store after we grabbed a quick dinner at the mall. 7yr old was still there, with one ear done and now terrified of the other ear being done. The manager checked Brooke's ears again, making sure they weren't red or irritated (which they weren't) and sent us on our way!

I am so proud of Brooke. She might be very shy and timid, but when she sets her mind on something, she is very adamant and brave. I knew going in she wouldn't cry, but its still impressive to me.

Now, of course, her ears are much prettier (so she says). It was hard to get them 'straight' because she has a wrinkle in one, and only one, earlobe, but I think the lady who did it did a great job and got it as close as possible to matching. Now, I can't wait to buy her pretty little earrings for Christmas. And she was soooo excited to show them off to everyone at bible study..and is even more excited to show everyone at school and elsewhere. My big girl. :)