Bye Bye Pacifier

Harper has used a pacifier since she was about 4 months old. But for as long as I can remember, at least for the last year, the rule has been that it is only for sleeping. It stays in her bed, with the exception of road trips and airplanes. But over the past week, Chris and Harper have been talking about getting rid of "paci." So four nights ago, we were all in Harper's room getting her ready for bed when her daddy asked her if she wanted to throw her paci away. She nodded, got up, took it out of her mouth and said "trash!" Then she walked out to the kitchen and threw it away. She waved at the trash can and said, "bye paci." Chris and I just looked at each other thinking there's no way it's going to be this easy.

It hasn't been, but it also hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought. She did cry that night when we actually put her in bed and she asked for her paci. And every naptime and bedtime since then she tries to find ways to stall or cries until her daddy comes in and talks with her. But she doesn't get up in the middle of the night asking for it or anything like that. It's just the initial falling asleep. After her first night without it, Chris went to the store to get her a present...a doughnut with pink sprinkles and a pink balloon that he decorated. (She loves pink!) We are super proud of her. She is growing up so fast, and I love watching her make her own decisions. I don't think she realized the consequences of that decision until it was too late, but that's just part of the learning process. She's such a great kid, and I am simply crazy about her!