Max is a Big Boy!

That's right! You heard it from his own mouth. Max is a big boy. Not because he uses the potty, not because he can get himself dressed, and definitely not because he doesn't throw tantrums. Max is a big boy because after 2 years, 5 months, and 3 days, he finally {FINALLY} sleeps with no paci. After several attempts to rid Max of his little friend, I had come to terms with the fact that Max would probably be taking his paci with him on his first date. (Okay, okay. It's not that bad. The rule for quite a while has been he can only have his paci in his bed. At least then I'm spared from public humiliation.) Then, early yesterday morning, Max came in our room to show me that he had bit through his paci. Only half of it was still attached. I told him to just go back to bed and we'd fix it later. Too bad after he quickly obeyed and went back to sleep, I laid awake with the monitor next to my ear, waiting for him to bite off the rest of the paci, choke, and start gasping for air. After we all got up, Blake helped Max "fix" his paci by cutting the entire thing off. I was SO nervous when we put Max to bed last night, but there was absolutely no problem. That little stinker slept through the night like he'd never had a paci. REALLY MAX?!? Yes, it was that easy. Now, whenever I give Jack his paci, Max is quick to tell me that pacis are only for babies, not for big boys.

Max and his many pacis have had quite a journey. At first Blake and I were intent on never letting him have a paci; maybe that's what caused the attachment in the first place. It took Max FOREVER to hold his paci in his mouth by himself. I remember bouncing that little guy and having to push his face into my arm to keep his paci in. And when he was teething, his paci doubled as a soother and chew toy. Max and his paci have traveled all over. They've been to the Atlantic and Pacific and several places in between. They've even traveled internationally to our neighbors in the north and south. Oh, paci. Thank you for calming my baby enough to pass his gas bubbles, helping pop many ears on airplane rides, and basically being a quick fix to any problem. We've been through many ups and downs. I will always remember how big you looked in my new baby's mouth and also how embarrassed I felt at Walgreens buying the humongous size 3 double pack. I will forever be grateful, but it is sure good to see you go!