Monday, August 23, 2010

Wonder of Wonder, Miracle of Miracles

See this baby girl? She is no longer. Oh, she'll always be MY baby, but she has officially become a "bigger girl." (her words)


Her long and deep-seeded love and need for her paci (known in our house as the Um or Ummie) has been relinquished.

ALL. ON. HER. OWN.

Or mostly. At three, Ellie is a full year older than Cal was when we took his away. But it has been harder for me this time. Harder because she is my baby and she seems, you know, little. Harder because it's, you know, easy to give it to her for sleeping. Harder because with three busy ones it never seems to be a good time.

But we finally admitted there was no more putting it off. And we've been talking for weeks now very specifically about the Ummie and how it isn't good for her teeth and how only babies need Ummies and that none of the big girls use them. We've talked about how if you leave your Ummie in a basket at night, the Ummie Fairy will take them and leave you a present instead. And, then we picked a date, the 27th, with the promise of a pink frosted cake the next day.



But it's only the 23rd, you're thinking? How could this be?

Oh, she surprised us all asking to do it at bedtime last night, dropping them in the basket without hesitation and not even mentioning them again. HUH?

OKAAAAAY....


And these guys? Pinky and Lollipop (her choice) dropped off by the Ummie Fairy at her request. A pink unicorn for her and a blue one (oops) for SB (AKA Sleepy Baby, her nighttime lovey).

She is happy as a clam and not even a MENTION of the UM. Just when you think you know your kid, I swear.....

Although, admittedly I can't even explain the 3-D glasses.

11 comments:

Jen said...

Congrats! Hmmm... Wonder what the Um Fairy looks like?
It is hard for me to relate to this post, because Dylan never liked the pacifier. For the first four months of his colic filled life, I used to repeatedly put the darn thing into his mouth, praying for just five minutes of peace, only to have him spit it out and let out another ear piercing scream.

One Photo said...

It happens all the time doesn't it - they just decide on their own that now they are ready, now is the time and just let go or move on. It happened recently with my daughter when one day she just decided she was ready to use the "big potty" and relinquish her "little potty." As I said to my husband it has only taken me three and a half years to realize that things will happen, when your child is ready. Great job - and I love the gifts the Um Fairy left too.

Melissa Crowe said...

Annabelle got a unicorn almost exactly like that when she was that age--and a little later a baby one (ours are called Uni and Corn-corn), and she STILL sleeps with them at age 11. So get ready to see those things for a long while is all I'm saying. Congrats, E.!

Ms. G said...

Hey, she knows that when you are a SuperStar the Ummie clashes with the shades! Congratulations to your Big Girl she deserves her prizes!
My youngest was attached to a yellow fuzzy blanket that she would take bites out of and chew on. I never did take it away. I think she ate it.

Theresa said...

Yes, the 3D glasses boggle the mind, especially when the same child refused to wear them for the actual movie!

Theresa said...

Oh, and tell her I said, "It's so FLUFFY!!!!"

Amber said...

We packed up their "boppies" when they turned 2 and mailed them to other babies. In return, those babies' mothers (aka grandma) mailed them back a little present. Tears for a few minutes and then never thought of again. Amazing how grown up our "babies" are when we allow them to be.

ps. She is beautiful, 3-D glasses & all.

Scented Sweetpeas said...

That is fantastic - well done to your little big girl :-) It is hard isn't it, they suddenly look more grown up without their ummie (or dada as called in our house).

beemahoney said...

I cannot stop laughing at her looking over the glasses. so funny. and good for her, a girl who makes her own mind up when she wants to.

Nicola said...

Huge hugs to you and Ellie. Big big deal saying bye bye to the paci um binky!
Nicola

Amy said...

I have to say I am struggling with this very issue at our house. Our 3rd will be 3 in a month. Time to be free of the paci.... What a wonderful idea about the fairy. Love it. our first had a and I did away with it by her first bday..... Oh my. paci