Something for the weekend

My parents came to visit this morning. It's been several weeks since we've seen them, so it was nice to get together. Then they spoiled us by taking us out to breakfast. (Mmm, I have pumpkin pancakes at IHOP.) And they bought a few fall clothes for Zachariah. Guess that's what happens when you walk into The Children's Place with generous grandparents. All in all a fun morning.

They left early in the afternoon. We watched the end of the Ohio State football game and were happy that our Buckeyes won. Zachariah and Matt both got naps in. While they were napping, Matt's father called. He was on his way home and passing by our house in a few hours. So he ended up coming over and taking us out for dinner. The good news is that I finally got to eat at our new Panera Bread. (I love that place and just hadn't gotten there yet.) The better news is that I'd already had something in the crock pot, so we'll have an easy lunch tomorrow after church. And the best is we got some bagels for breakfast in the morning too.

What made my weekend, though, was a big milestone we had with Zachariah. He has always taken a pacifier since he was a teeny little one. He got his first one when he was in the special care nursery at a few days old. (I would have waited a little to introduce one, but the nurses gave it to him.) Anyway, at about 9 months old I had him down to only using the pacifier at night. I had every intention to take it away at about 1 year. But I knew it soothed him to sleep for naps and bedtime, so I let him keep it. He was such a good sleeper, and I was really afraid to ruin that. Our doctor said he should be rid of it by 2 years old. I was hoping that he'd give it up on his own before then. But he continued to use it at bedtime and nap time.

We've tried so many times to convince him to give it up. We've even offered to trade it to things. Or we've asked him if he'd like to give his pacifiers to babies. Nope, never worked. This has gone on for over a year. We keep trying every once in a while. He always gets really upset about it, so we give in and give it back. I knew he wouldn't still have a pacifier when he was in school.

Last night we were getting Zachariah into bed and couldn't find his pacifier. I lifted up his blankets, and he searched all over his crib. I said, "Uh oh, I don't know where it is." He didn't seem too alarmed by that, which was surprising. Then I spotted it all the way under his bed (where he couldn't see it). But I thought Let's try this. "I know what happened to your paci. I bet the Paci Fairy came and took them to the babies who needed them. You're not a baby anymore are you?"

"No," he says with big wide eyes.

"Well, I guess she needed more for the babies. But that's OK. You don't need a paci anymore. You're such a big boy."

"Zacky, Big Boy!"

"I know. And you know what? It's time to go to sleep. We'll have to be quiet so the babies can sleep too. Good night, love."

With that I laid him down in his bed and snuggled him in with all his blankies and stuffed animals as always. Just no pacifier in his mouth. He did ask for music, so I turned on the radio. A fair compromise I think.

Would you believe he never shed a tear? No whimper. No protests. Just went to sleep. I couldn't believe I just pulled that off! I thought it was too good to be true. My baby really is growing up.

I think we had an advantage, because it was already a late bedtime and he was tired anyway. I thought he'd probably wake up in the night looking for his pacifier, but he never did. So after he'd been asleep for a while and no protesting took place, I made him a little card with stickers and confetti from the "Paci Fairy". Then there were 2 sheets of stickers for his reward.

He loved getting that this morning. He was so proud of his stickers and he stuck them all over the card. I made a big deal about what a big boy he was. He kept talking about the babies that took his pacifiers. Ha ha. He didn't quiet get all the reasoning, but the idea worked.

He took a nap this afternoon with no problem and again went to bed tonight. It only takes him a minute to remember that his pacifiers are for the babies, and then he's done looking. (Oh and I snuck in there this morning and cleared them all out of his room. I think in the morning I'll throw them away.)

I am proud of my Big Boy and tonight when I put him to bed he looked so grown up to me. There was no baby there. My baby has been replaced.