Bah, Bah, Bye!

Look Ma' no Bah!

Quinny turned 2 1/2 over the Memorial Day weekend and that was the tipping point for the bah.  He's been holding on to that thing forever.  Well, literally forever for him.  He was born with it and still has it.  It's not too often you can actually say forever and have it be true.  Take that world.  We had 3 goals to accomplish with Quinny this year; we wanted him to be potty trained, get rid of the bah (pacifier) and we wanted to get him in a big boy bed.  Everything we read told us to handle one thing at a time.  If you try to do too much you will fail at everything.  For example, moving to a new state where it snows while your wife is 8 months pregnant with complications like a breech, changing doctors at the ninth hour while starting a new job at a new location.  Well, I'm just saying.  We had the baby so that part was successful.  He's a really good boy too.  Goes to sleep at night and everything.  Quinny really took to the potty training so we've been hammering that home.  He got a chance to pee off a boat this weekend - so exciting!  So, that's a farm, the middle of a front yard with an audience and now off the back of a boat "in water daddy!!"  Yup, it doesn't take much to excite the little fella.

So after dominating the potty training the bah had come next.  He was being his pistol self, Mr. Personality (sorry Brett!) and just whining to the umpteenth degree.  He was all over the map, even abusing the time out chair so he graduated to prison (his crib).  He didn't like that and frankly either did I.  Who wants a screaming child locked up?  So I walked into his room and we decided we were going to have a little man to man talk.  I sat down in the chair, he still in his prison (captivated audience - so literal!).  And I told him.  He couldn't act like this.  No sir, we can't take this kind of abuse on the weekends.  He's in the prison but I'm living in one.  Nope, his momma and I can't take anymore.  I think you've been babied my son and today you're growing up.  You're giving up the bah, straight cold turkey.  Yup, you heard me.  Cold turkey.  I know there will be some withdrawal symptoms but that's why God gave you a thumb.  Just plug er' in if you feel the need.  So, he agreed.  He was granted temporary parole but only if he could behave.  That was mid afternoon. 

Of course the evening rolls around and one of our beautiful child's scams he pulls on unsuspecting grandparents mostly is "I want to put my PJ's on!"  Oh, the grandparents love it because they are thinking I've got it.  This kid is going right to bed. What are Josh and Carrie complaining about?  Rookies! Ha! Yup, well, guess what Grandma?  PJ's mean he gets his bah.  Not tonight sonny boy.  The whole talk starts coming back to him.  The kid doesn't forget a thing so I know he knows.  His face gets flush.  Reality slowly, painfully sets in.  The wails start coming out.  "I want my bah.  Dad, my bah!  I want my bah!  Oh where or where is my bah?  Dad, my bah!!!"  Nope buddy, today you chose to become a man.  But, but, but, but.  Nope, a man.  After about 10 minutes he accepted his fate.

Our lil' cowboy

When bedtime came he held up pretty well.  He screamed for maybe 45 minutes, which is only like 3-4 minutes more than usual.  He did quite well.  I must admit I would've taken it away a long time ago if I knew it would have gone this well.  He has probably only asked for it 10 times or less, which I didn't think was too bad.  It's kind of weird, though, to not see him it have it.  It actually makes me a little sad, which is so ironic! He's growing up so fast and this is just one more step in that direction.  He spent the weekend at the cabin (I use that term loosely) in Prarie du Chien (wisco!) and we thought the long car ride (dad got a speeding ticket with the whole family in tow- Wahoo! On a side note I've only gotten two tickets my whole life and both were in Iowa.  What's this state got against me anyway??) He didn't ask for it in the car all but once and slept fine. Well, fine for the road, which means sleeping next to me while my wife is sleeping next to child number two in a separate room - so romantic these weekend getaways! without the bah, though.  Success! We are really quite proud of him.

So if you see that son of mine give him a little high five for turning into a man.  Undies - check.  No bah - check.  Still not sleeping - check.