No more paci, baby

I said in my letter to 2 year old Jase that we would be making big changes this year and apparently I wasn't kidding.  The big boy bed was welcomed with open arms.  Potty training was much less dramatic than anticipated.  We bought a boat.  We're planning a wedding.  It's summer!  Things are happening, we are busy.

I have 3 drafts sitting unfinished that  now pale in comparison to the event that took place at our house last Thursday just moments after Kiel got called back into work.

Jase threw away his paci....and we ALL survived!

(27 months | May 14, 2015)

He's been a paci kid since week 1..

So I've been reminiscing about the last 27 months because I'm sad this stage is over...who knew?

It got us through doctors appointments...

It was like a sleeping pill for him...one minute he was there and then zzzzzzzzzzz

I don't even remember when we made the transition to nap/bedtime only but it was well over a year ago.  This is the last picture (November 2014) I have of him awake with it in his mouth. He had the flu and because we all know sick babies get whatever they want, he had it for like 2 days straight.

On the big night, Jase was fighting me on brushing his teeth so I gave my standard empty threat "if you're not going to brush your teeth, we're going to have to throw your paci in the garbage" to which he replied, "OK!" and then proceeded to THROW HIS OWN PACI IN THE GARBAGE!  There was a major meltdown when he realized he wasn't getting it back, but I stood my ground in the kitchen quietly watching him cry into his pillow via the baby monitor.  After about 15 minutes of yelling for daddy and mommy and "MY PACI IN MY MOUF", he gave in and fell asleep.  I waited for him to wake up all night freaking out, but not a peep.

I've realized, I may have been hanging on to the paci as much for me as I was for Jase's feelings because when I asked Kyra how nap time went she said, "He never even mentioned it."  He did ask for it when it was time for bed that night, but didn't put up much of a fight when I reminded him that HE threw it away.  And the cycle continues...we are so very lucky.

And for the last paci pic, ever.  On our way home from Earlville on Easter weekend...out like a light before we even turned off Uncle Roger's road.

I'm laughing at myself for writing this big post about such a small object, but a week later and I still feeling like I'm missing a limb not packing one in his daycare bag everyday.  What a big step for our independent little man.

-Nicole