Fontina, the Paci Fairy

Ever since Banner was 2 weeks old, he's had a pacifier. We had tried to keep him away from them while trying to establish breastfeeding, but when that wasn't working for us, Sam and I decided to go ahead and give him a paci. His first pacifiers are the same ones Quinn uses now, the GumDrop pacifiers (from Hawaii Medical - not the First Years ones) which have the space cut out for the nose - but they are otherwise the same as Soothies. The instructions from the manufacturer said that these pacifiers were not recommended once your child has teeth, so at around 6-7 months, Sam and I tried to get Banner to start liking other options. He was at the point where he could re-paci himself, if he could find it, and not need us to come rescue him in the middle of the night. So, we happily spread a few pacifiers in his crib. The Soothie was easy for him to like since it was so close to what he had been using, and he took to the Nuk pacifiers quickly as well. So, he ended up with 2 Soothies and 2 Nuks in his bed each night. A couple months before Banner learned to climb out of his crib (and therefore, a couple months before moving to his "big boy bed"), we misplaced a Soothie, but since Banner did so well without it, we never gave it back. He never even asked about it. 

However, since that time, his "blue paci," "white paci," and "brown paci" have become his best friends. They all three go together for naps and for bedtime. He has to have all of them, and he adores them. So, the thought of weaning him from them is not only hard on Banner, but it's emotional and difficult for Sam and me, too. We have been dreading this for a while, but we know it needs to be done. I'm not opposed to him having these "loveys," especially since the dentist has told us that (at this point) Banner's teeth are not affected by having them. BUT, lately, they've been the cause of midnight wakings when he can't locate one of them. I even tied pacifier keepers/bungee cords to them so he could hold them easier... and slightly hoping he'd attach to the cord and NOT the paci.

In any event, it was time to say goodbye to at least one of them. Sam and I thought long and hard about how best to do this, and we're okay with a longer weaning period rather than cutting him off from all of his best friends cold-turkey - especially since he's still in a fragile time with possible regression since Quinn's birth. So, we had been telling Banner about the possibility of the Paci Fairy coming to take his pacifiers to the new babies at the hospital. He liked this idea, but I don't think he ever imagined the Paci Fairy would ever really come!

Just this Friday evening, though, he got his very own letter from the Paci Fairy! Banner and I went to check the mail, and there was a letter addressed to Banner along with a plain, white, empty box. "What's this, Banner? You got a letter!" He was immediately excited. He was pretending to be the mailman on his tricycle, and he got off of his trike, came to see the box and letter, and then he took all the mail inside to see what it was. We opened the letter, and this is what it said:

We read it together a few times until he fully understood what Fontina was asking of him. He immediately said, "I will give my brown paci." Sam and I were shocked. This is his favorite one (and therefore ours)! We were certain he would choose the white one, but he ran to his room to get the brown one, came back, and put the brown one in the box. I said, "Why don't we look at all three of them, and let's make sure you choose the one you want the new baby to have." So, we went to his room and examined all three. He said, "I want to give all of them to the babies!" Shocked and not sure he understood he wouldn't see them again, I replied, "You do? That's so nice! Are you ready to give all of them? Fontina said she only needs one." I was also terrified he would never sleep again, so I called Sam in: "Daddy, what do you think?" I asked. Sam basically reiterated what I had said - he doesn't have to do that until he feels ready and that he really only needs to give one if he wants. (We made it clear that he doesn't HAVE to do it, but that the only way to get a gift from Fontina was to leave one paci on the front porch.) So, he picked just the brown one. He also wanted to give the keeper/cord to the baby (which was so sweet: "The baby can have that, Mommy"), but ultimately we decided to only give what Fontina requested and keep the cord.

We took one final picture of all three pacifiers together. Then, Banner kissed "brown paci" and told it goodbye. He said, "I love you," and then placed the pacifier in the box.

Then, I suggested that he and Daddy decorate the box for Fontina after dinner. I was bathing Quinn, so I didn't hear this part for myself, but Sam told me he asked Banner if he wanted to write a message. Banner said yes, then proceeded to tell Sam what to write. He thought about what to write for a minute, and then he said: "Forklift." Sam said, "Okay, anything else?" Banner thought, then replied, "Dump truck." Fighting back laughter, Sam said, "Anything else?" Another pause, and then, "Digger." Sam answered, "Is that all?" Banner replied, "Yes," to which Sam asked if he wanted to say he hoped the new baby likes the paci, and Banner said, "Yes." So, here's his note:

Then, Banner and Sam placed the decorated box with the brown paci inside on the front porch before heading to get ready for bed. When bedtime came, Banner told me he wanted his brown paci. Sam and I looked at each other confused and a little anxious that he still didn't understand. "Remember, you put your brown paci in the box for Fontina." He said, "No, I want to give the white paci." So, Sam went to check to see if the box was still on the porch or if Fontina had taken it already. Fortunately, it was still there, and we swapped the brown and the white - again, after saying goodbye to and kissing the white paci for the last time.

There was no more discussion about it until right before I left Banner's room for the night. He said, "Mommy, I want my white paci." I said, "Remember, you gave it to the Paci Fairy," and he basically just said, "Oh," and that was that. It took him about 30 minutes to fall asleep, and he slept great through the night. Then, the next morning, he woke up around 6:45 (later than normal!), he called for me, and when I went in his room, he said, "Mommy! Did the Paci Fairy come?!" I told him I didn't know and said, "How would I know if she'd been here?" He said, "Is there a present?" Again, I told him I didn't know but that we could go check. We went to get Daddy out of bed, and then we went to the front door. When Banner opened it, there was a present waiting for him!!

He was so giddy, and almost afraid of the present! He kept looking at it and laughing. Then, we read the letter from Fontina on the front of the gift.

Inside, Banner found a Mike the Knight talking doll, a fuzzy soft security blanket, and a few chocolate coins! 

He was so excited! And, since I was so proud of him, we celebrated with powdered donuts for breakfast. He enjoyed thinking about what a special thing he had done for a new baby, and I think he'd be willing to give another pacifier pretty soon - but we'll see how the next few nights go. In fact, at nap time this afternoon (his first nap without three pacifiers), he said, "Where's my white paci?" I reminded him, and then he said, "Mommy, I don't WANT the Paci Fairy to take my pacifiers. I don't like that!" with adamant disdain. I told him I was so sorry and then reminded him that he had slept fine last night with just two. Surprisingly, he only responded with, "Oh." :)

And, again tonight, he asked about his white paci at bedtime. I reminded him, and then distracted him, and now he's asleep. I sincerely hope the sleep continues! :) And, I hope he feels okay without having all of his loveys with him. I hate, hate, hate seeing him sad and missing them. I'm not sure when we'll tackle the next two pacis, but I don't think Sam and I are ready any time soon! Maybe, just maybe, this is harder on us than on him! ;)