Day 11 - Bye Bye Paci

Today's nap is O's last time to have his paci. We are going to go cold turkey tonight...I think...I hope. I suppose all good things must come to an end. Although I have mixed feelings about how "good" his pacifier technically is for him. Some of the good things that I'm going to miss are its magical plugging action. You know, sticking a cork in it, so to speak. :) It makes him be quiet sometimes! It also soothes him and helps him go to sleep, and go back to sleep if he wakes. Like everything, it has its pros and cons. One major con is my dental hygenist friend said she thinks its pushing his teeth forward and that's certainly not good. Now that he's 2 and is becoming a big boy, its time for it to go. I knew this day was coming, but remarkably I find it tugging at my heart for some reason. I mean really, won't life be easier without a paci? Why do I feel sad? Its not like I'm going to go through paci-withdrawal...my poor baby boy is. Maybe that's why I'm sad, knowing its going to be so hard on him (and its going to suck for his dad and mom, too). But I think its deeper rooted...I know he's growing up. Every milestone we cross tugs at my hearstrings a bit. The last bottle he ever had I just had to give to him. His last nursing session he ever had I still remember clearly. His first birthday. His 2nd birthday. Gosh. Its all passing so quickly. I want to remember it all. I want to remember him...always. I think that's also one of the reasons I'm in love with photography. I can capture all these moments and savor them always (provided my 3 hard drives don't crash). And I can also share them. I took these top two today before putting him down for a nap, as I tried to explain this was his last time to get his paci. I snuck back in his room for the bottom one after he was asleep. He stirred just as I came and the paci, once barely hanging on to his mouth, dropped to its resting position by his chin. Enjoy Day 11's collage, a tribute to our friend/enemy, the paci. Wish us luck tonight!