Bye, Bye Banky

Sam is almost three. He will be three two weeks (or so) after Emily is born. Emily is due in less than two months. We have had two goals to accomplish with Sammy before Emily is born that will help to simplify our lives.

1. Potty training (including overnight accidents, if possible)
2. No more Binky (pacifier)

This is not too much to handle, but we could never afford to have two kids in diapers at the same time, and if Sammy is still on his Binky when Emily is born, then there is the possibility that it will be very difficult to get him off of it.

This weekend, Rusty and I decided (without much planning) that it was time for Sam to lose the Binky. We were extremely busy on Saturday, so Sam didn't get a nap. We had the family over for the "1st Annual Family Car Wash", so the kids went to bed really late. Rusty and I really picked a bad day to start the "Binky's Aren't For Big Boys" policy, but we started it, so we had to keep going.

Earlier that morning, Sam and I went around and found all of his Binkys. He threw them all away and even threw away his Binky Box (he would keep them in this little basket that we named, the "Binky Box"). He was SO proud of himself. He even showed Grammy that all of his Binkys had been thrown away!

So, ending the long, eventful, fun-filled Saturday, we tried to put Sam to bed. He sobbed. And sobbed. And sobbed. My heart felt so bad for him. I just wanted to hug him and tell him that everything would be okay, but I knew that he would play in to that.

So, Beth took over the role of comforter while Rusty and I cringed. We told her that she had a date the next night too, if he kept up this crying. She does this on occasion. She'll go in there with Sam and rub his back. Within minutes, he has calmed down, and is either asleep or at the point of falling off the cliff (that stage of sleep where you can still hear some things, but you fall off of the cliff right as you go to sleep, and it wakes you right up). Good ole Boppy! Works every time. Sam goes off to sleep with no problems.

Sunday roles around, and it comes time for Sam's nap. He whines and fusses because he didn't want to go to bed (as to be expected). There was way too much fun going on. We didn't let him have his Binky. He fussed for a bit, but ultimately, he went to bed.

Sunday night. What a night. I think that I may have finally realized that no matter how much I try, I can't make these kids stay the way that they are right now. Of course, I want them to grow up and become great people, but I really love the way they are right now. Cody's 15, and I still think that he's the best EVER. Rachel is still in that stage of playful and on her way to becoming an adult, and Sam is just Sam. He's two.

It comes time for bedtime Sunday night. Typically, either Rusty or I will rock Sammy to wind him down, and then send him reluctantly off to bed. He ALWAYS rocks with his Binky and his Banky. He has had his Banky since before he was born, and he has always used it, as most kids do, to comfort himself. He has a certain "piece" on it that he smells over and over again, and if he REALLY loves you, he will allow you to smell it too. I know, it sounds pretty weird, but it really is cute.

It comes time for Sam to "rock with Mommy" Sunday night. I tell him to go get his Banky, and he says, "I don't want it." I just think that he's being a little booger, so I tell him that it's okay. He doesn't have to have his Banky. Rusty goes to get it and put it beside us just in case he changes his mind. We typically rock for about 25-30 minutes. Sunday night, his Banky sat right beside him, and for one last time, he reached over, grabbed his "piece" and smelled it for just an instance. He put the Banky back down, and continued rocking.

Hasta la vista, Banky! Sam no longer needs you!

This is phenomenal! We went from worrying about his Binky/Banky attachment being one of the roughest times in his life (so far) to having neither in his possession in less than one day.

At the same time that this is awesome news, I find myself near tears. I can't believe that my little guy has moved on from the baby stage. I would imagine that every parent goes through this, and I wonder if it's magnitude, for me, is not magnified because of my increased hormonal condition, but nonetheless, I am SO sad! Had I known that taking the Binky away would have been so simple, I would have waited just a little bit longer. I love the time that Sam

and I have when we rock!

Patti had a great solution to my dilemma. She says that now that Sam doesn't have his Banky to cuddle with, I'd get more cuddle time! In that sense, I'm relieved. He's not completely gone to the dark side. Although, thinking about it, neither has Cody, and he's 15!

So, back to our original plan with Sam:

1. Potty training? Done. We are still working on overnight, but I can live with it.'
2. Binky? Gone! Banky? Gone! I guess I can live with this one too, it's just gonna be hard.