Up, up & away! Our "Paci Send Off"

The time has come - after K's dentist appointment the other day, we FINALLY did the 'paci send off' that we've been talking about since August. YAYYY!!! I'm so over that thing. Though she's only been using it during naps & overnight (but not at preschool)...I'm just done.

After I got home from work, we all went to Party City, where I let K pick out her special balloons....blue, pink & yellow - along with a pretty Princess one of course!

We came home, dug out her 2 remaining pacifiers, then she helped me tie them to the balloon strings. She was so excited to "send her pacis to a baby who needed them"...so the whole process was actually FUN for her - which is exactly how I'd hoped & pictured in my head:

We went outside just as it was getting dark...walked into the grass & made sure no trees were super close...{man that would suck!!}

I let her have the whole bunch of balloons, counted to 3 (very slowly), and she let them go. Paci's in the wind. She waived, said bye...and watched.

Then the 'watching', seemed to turn more into 'waiting'....perhaps waiting for the balloons (& pacis), to make a U-turn and come back to her. She had a little moment by herself, staring up into the sky - long after they were out of sight.

I knew right then it'd probably be a rough night after bedtime...

We quickly distracted her by going over to our neighbor's house for a bit to play with her friend Laylie...then came home to make yummy pizza! Our fav is the garlic dough from Trader Joes...topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperonis, avocado, artichokes and sprinkled with pesto on top (& feta or olives if we have em, but I forgot it this time, boo!). K loves to help in the kitch!

And boy was I right...last night was a rough one. She woke up crying, well, more like 'whimpering' about a handful of times...when normally we don't hear a peep outta her (unless she has to potty) until morning. We each took turns comforting her & being overly patient...praising her for being such a big girl.

One time while walking by her room, I heard her quickly whispering "paciiii...paccciiiii....where are youuuuu?" - it was the cutest/saddest thing ever!

But she survived & so did we. Hopefully in a few days, the "paci" will just be a distant memory for her! It's crazy how attached children can become to things like a paci, or blankie or stuffed animal. These things provide a comfort that is simply incomparable. Whenever K was sick, her paci was so soothing for her. No matter how many hugs or kisses or snuggles we gave her, the paci helped in other ways. So I don't regret her having it - but it served it's purpose and now it's time to let go (eek, hopefully she doesn't ask for it next time she gets sick!!)

YAY we did it {insert Dora/Boots ending song & dance here}|!!