Gone Bobbie Gone?

We have passed a bittersweet milestone this week. Gone is the beloved "bobbie" and therefore, sadly... gone are the naps.

It's been our family's "dirty little secret" that Trace, at 3 months shy of 4-years-old, still slept with a paci up until last Monday night. He only had it for naps and bedtime, but we have known for a long time that it's past time to kick the habit.

It's just, when you have a child that happily climbs in the bed lugging his bobbie and blanket, and then puts himself to sleep without much ado, it's hard to see that end. He has been such a great sleeper up until this point and I will admit, it's not because of my excellent parenting skills, but in part because of the bobbie. ha!

I was always amazed at the peaceful contentment that would consume Trace's body the minute he put bobbie in his mouth. You could really see it as a baby, but even now, when he was tired, sick, or hurt, the bobbie miraculously made everything better.

We have had in-depth discussions about how to get rid of it... give it to Santa, throw it into the ocean on vacation, trade it in on a favorite new engine, send it to another "child in need." But we've just been too lazy (and selfish) to actually make it happen.

Then suddenly, Jimmy came home the other day with the plan.

His friend's wife had read in a book that you snip the end off the paci and give it back to them. Then, each week you snip a little more off until eventually they are left with nothing but the little plastic piece that lays across their mouth... and nothing to suck.

So last Monday night, he did this to Trace's last remaining bobbie...
The look on Trace's face when Jimmy handed it to him was priceless. He immediately pulled it back out and said, "Ohhh, daddy look, my bobbie's broken!!" He wasn't near as interested in it after that and while he went to bed with it in his hand, I think the magical spell was broken.

The next day at nap time, he asked me if daddy could get his tools out when he got home and fix his bobbie.

My heart broke a little bit. :(

I'm almost afraid to type this but... we are one week and 2 days into life without bobbie, and there has not been one meltdown and strangely he hasn't even asked about it in days.

However, with the ying comes the yang... there has also only been 1 successful nap taken since last Monday (my pregnant body is in withdrawls) and he's still figuring out how to "settle" in bed at night. One night it took all 4 of us (Ginger has been very supportive) laying in his bed until nearly 11 o'clock telling many, maaannny stories about Thomas the tank engine's adventures to get him to sleep.

Here's a little picture tribute to the beloved bobbie. It's been a lovely ride.

The love story began with the standard, hospital issued, blue bobbie...

They have shared many firsts...

First time lounging poolside...

First tax season...

First time to the beach...

First fireworks display...

First pumpkin carving
(It came in awfully handy when you didn't want him
to eat things like sand or pumpkin seeds)

First haircut...
(look at that terrified, little face)

First necklace...

First attempt at disrobing...

He even learned to share his bobbie...

And it aided in countless cuddles on the couch...

Things will get very interesting around here in February, when Girby makes her appearance with her own stash of purple and hot pink bobbies. That might be when the meltdowns begin.

Wonder if she will love them as much as her big brother did? Guess we'll see!