Avery's Birthday - 3!

On May 11th, my baby girl turned three.

Good gracious, how did that happen?

I did a blog post here on her actual birthday... but here are the pics from that day. :)

She awoke to flowers from her daddy and presents from all of us.

I found something that brought two of her favorite things together... a dog guitar!

Daddy got Avery donuts with sprinkles.  I made "pink birthday milk" for her.

Right after breakfast, Avery said, "Mommy, I'm three now.  It's time to send my pacis away."


See... I was never going to be "that mom" who had a kid addicted to their paci until they were three.  Ha.  One (of many) realities I've had to swallow. :) She had been only using them for naps/bedtime since about 15 months of age... but they needed to go.
I have a few disclaimers (read: excuses).  First, before Avery turned two, I started telling her that when she became two, she wouldn't need her pacis anymore.  I thought it would be good to prepare her.  So we started a countdown to her birthday.  Well, Avery started getting sad and saying she didn't want her birthday to come.  It broke my heart.  So I dropped the paci issue.  I wanted her to look forward to her birthday!
Avery turned 2 last May... so then I thought maybe while we were on vacation it would be a good time.  This time, though, I would do it cold turkey.  I bought her a little pillow to surprise her with that she would get "instead" because she's a big girl now.  I put her down for bed at the cabin and she asked for her pacis.  I told her she didn't need them anymore, but that she had a special pillow now.  Avery said, "No Mommy, I need them.  I really DO need them." We talked and talked about it.  I ended up having to say goodnight through her tears and walking out.  I sat on the couch and listened to her scream... I cried.  I was huge pregnant and so emotions were everywhere. :) I turned to my mom and said, "I know this is a time when I need to stand my ground... right?".  She smiled and agreed... then said, "just throwing this out there... but as soon as you get home from vacation you're transitioning her to her big girl bed, right?" I answered yes. The screaming was still going - hard core.  I was regretting my cold-turkey tactic. "Then, you're having a baby two months after that... so those are some pretty big changes.  I wonder if those transitions would go smoother if she had her pacis - then you could do it after she's initially adjusted to a sibling." Well, that's all it took.  I was weak.  I broke.  I went into Avery's room with her paci and she cried tears of joy.  She kept saying "Oh Mommy, you FOUND them!  Oh thank you SO much, Mommy! I feel so much better now!" I felt so guilty.  It was the first time that I hadn't followed through on something like that.  Sigh.
So fast forward a bit.  The transition to her big girl bed could not have gone better (August).  She LOVED it and we didn't battle her getting out at all (we had tried in March when we moved and it didn't go well - I was SICK preggo and couldn't handle getting up multiple times each night, so that lasted 2 nights and we went back to the crib).
Then Ezra arrived in October.  Avery did wonderfully with his arrival.  I had fears about how she would do, and they were all put to rest.  As the new year came and I was adjusting to two kiddos, I realized it was beyond time to focus on the paci issue.  So I figured out a new plan.
I gave Avery warning this time.  I told her that 3 year-olds didn't need pacis and that there was a baby girl who didn't have any... and I asked Avery if there was a way we could help this baby girl.  She said, "Well, if I don't need them anymore, maybe when I'm three I can give her MY pacis!" Perfect.  Avery got excited and we talked here and there about the baby girl who would be so happy to have pacis.


Back to her birthday... she brought it up and said it was time - yay!  Joe had found a box for Avery and I let her color it for the baby girl.

Avery put her pacis in the box and told them bye and thank you. :)

Avery wanted to walk her box out to the mailman.

Our mailbox wouldn't hold that size of box, so I told her she could set it on the rocks and the mailman would come get it.

Bye bye, pacis.

Avery and I went in the backyard to see Daddy and Ezra.  Avery told Ezra that when he turns three, he'll have to send his paci away. :)

I shouldn't speak too soon, but he should be done with his paci WAY before three.  I'm paranoid, so as of June he's already down to just nap and bedtime with it. :)

That evening, we went over to my parents' house.
Avery got to open gifts.  Malachi helped. :)

My mom got Avery a doll that has her name on it. :)

Mom and Dad (Bubba and Gpa) also got Avery a superhero cape and mask.  I was surprised that she didn't want to wear it right away... but Malachi was happy to try them out! :)

Jericho was worn out by the birthday festivities. Ha ha.

Ezra just kept trying to walk around and got annoyed when it would bring him back to center.

My birthday girl wanted to play outside, so we did.

Happy (belated) birthday, my Avery Nell! :)


Oh and update with the paci situation... there were a few nights where Avery was sad and asked if she could please be two again so she could have her paci back.  We had some hard conversations.  I shouldn't have waited until she could logic/reason with me. :) Here's an example of the conversation we would have...
A: Mommy, can I please have my pacis back?
M: No, honey.  They are gone.  Remember, we mailed them to the baby girl so she could have them.  That was so nice of you to share your pacis!
A: I don't think I want to share them anymore.  Can we go to the post office and get my box back?
M: I'm sorry sweetheart, we can't.  The box has already arrived to the baby girl's house.  Her mommy is so thankful because you helped her baby stop crying...
A: Well, can we please go to the girl's house and talk to her? I can ask her nicely for my pacis.  Maybe she is done with them.
M: Her house is too far away, hon...
A: Oh!  Maybe we can drive there!
M: No, sweetheart, it's REALLY far away...
A: I know!  We can fly there!  Can you buy me a plane ticket please?
M: Oh my Avery, I love you.  I know that you're sad about your pacis, but you are such a big girl now that you don't need them.  That baby girl really needed them and she is so happy now.  How would she feel if you took your pacis back?
A: That would make me happy but her sad.  I don't want her to cry.
M: Well, then what should we do?
A: I guess she gets to keep my pacis.  I might be sad for a while though.
M: That's okay, hon, I know it's hard.


She would cry at bedtime now and then and I would be afraid that she would lose her love of sleep (she gets SO excited for bedtime/naptime).  Thankfully it was just a phase and my happy sleeper has returned!