Goodbye PAYA

As many of you know, Champs was more than fond of his pacifier and the obsession has only been getting worse as the months have gone by!  It almost had gotten to point where I feel like he couldn't play and enjoy himself if he knew the paci was upstairs or our in the car, etc.  So let's face it, it was driving Mama crazy!!! Last week, it was especially bad, and I was fighting with my almost two year old way too often about it - which is pretty silly if you think about it.  So totally out of the blue on Thursday morning about 7:15, (he's been on a 3 week kick of waking at 5:30am - that's a whole other story) I decided the Paci Fairy was visiting our house and taking all of his pa-yas as he calls them!

What came out of my mouth was this...."Champs, oh my goodness - this is so exciting - the Paci Fairy came and took all your paya's!!  Do you know what this means??  She thinks you're a big boy!!  Mommy is sooooo proud of you!!"  Lots of hugs and kisses and then I waited to see what he'd say.....He looked at me and said "Payas are all gone?!"  I said "Yeah!" And he started giggling.  (WHAT??!!)  And that FOR THE MOST PART is exemplary of how it's gone since.

I can honestly say nothing has shocked me more in my life!  My little Champs was OBSESSED with it and when it was gone, he was honestly okay.  Sure, he's asked for it, but I'll remind him where they went and we'll move on to something else.  I tell him that the Fairy took them to some TINY babies who need them.  And that because he was a big boy now he got to go pick out a new toy.  Below is a video of him getting his new dump truck at Target on the afternoon of Operation Paci Go Bye-Bye! So yes, he's asked for it some, told me he needed it and not the tiny babies a few times, but all in all, he's done SO WELL and has NOT had it since Thursday morning bright and early!!

What's funny too is since we took the paci away he is also asking for Raffi (giraffe lovey) farrrr less as well.  And many times before we're leaving to do something, he'll run and put Raffi in his crib and say his famous line...."Bye Bye Raffi, see you next time!"

Let's just say PROGRESS all around!! :)

I am so very proud of my almost 2 year old!!  Oh and this happened on the day he turned 23 months - so when I am looking back later I'll remember this!

A small part of me will miss it, because it reminds me of Baby Champs and oh how it soothes and relaxes him, but I think it's definitely for the best.  So long paya!