Annie's first love
Well, we finally did it. Annie no longer has her pacifier, affectionately named Bar-Bar. She named it Bar-Bar when she was about 12 months old and has been attached to it since the day she was born.
She was in the NICU at 6 hours old and held on to it with all her might. Because of meconium aspiration syndrome (inhaling your own poo in utero) and because she stopped breathing when she was a few hours old, she wasn't allowed to nurse or bottle-feed for the first 24 hours to prevent her from aspiration. (In the hospital they gave her a binky that was attached to a red dog plush toy.) She's been hooked on a binky for comfort and support ever since.
About 6 months ago, we restricted its use to nap time and night time. That was a little rough, but much better than anticipated. The first couple days, she would randomly ask for it and then fold her hands in an o-so dramatic pose over her face and cry, collapsing to the floor, when we told her she could only have it when she went night-night.
So, the thought of taking it away completely was a little frightning. It was one of the 3 things I wanted her to get rid of before # 3 arrives in July: crib, diapers, and binky.
One day last week, Josh decided to put her down for her nap without it, the first time ever. I had no idea. That night when I put her to bed, he chimed in: "Remember, no bar-bar. They're all gone."
I thought, oh great, this is going to be miserable. I took her upstairs, tucked her in and she asked for it. I told her they were all gone, she wimpered a little. We said our prayers, I gave her a hug and kiss. To my amazement, she was asleep when I checked on her 15 minutes later.
Wow, that was easy. She asked for it the next night, and then never again.
Well, last night, I was lying on the couch. Annie walked up to me, hugged and kissed my belly and then she said talked to pregnant belly: "Hi baby. You want a bar-bar? When you come out, you can have a bar-bar." She then smiled and giggled.
It's such a change that I can't believe it. I just now checked in on my sleeping Annie. I ran upstairs — well maybe ran is an exaggeration – but anyhow, she is sound asleep, no bar-bar. Instead, she is clutching some blocks and a mini soup pot in her hands. She looks so cute.
I think it's funny how we, as parents, always over-analyze everything we do. It's just a binky, she'll be fine without it.
I got all three things on my checklist done now! Now, if only I could get my house in order. Something else I'd like to do before the baby is born.
