So long, Paci

Eli l-o-v-e-s his pacifier.  From Day 1 he would cry if that thing ever went more than a couple feet away from him, and he seemed to develop a sixth sense for finding it.  No material thing made him happier, and as long as he had it, he was pretty content.  We tried giving him other pacifiers, but he would quickly spit them out, disgusted that we'd try to deceive him and take away his beloved.  Havoc was wreaked whenever his paci was lost, and we were sure The End had finally come, and we'd have to figure out how to go on with life from there.

14 Months living with this blessing and curse, until one day I noticed a tear in the pacifier.  Eli didn't seem to mind, but when David found out, he put his foot down and said "No more paci."  WHAT?!  Doesn't he know our child can't live without it?!  Doesn't he know WE can't either?!  He tried looking up the website that's on the soothie paci, but they don't sell any.  I suggested we go to the hospital and beg them to let us have another.  ; )  David resorted to the sensible thing and went to the store to buy a new pacifier (Gumdrop brand).  When he brought it home I told him, "Eli's never going to take that."  Sure enough, Eli spit it out on more than the first try.  I knew he must be miserable without his dear paci, so I snuck it to him during his nap.  : )  David was persistent, though, and kept trying to get Eli to take the new one.  After about half a day, it worked!  Eli was taking the new paci(s) like a champ!

I always knew this day would come, and dreaded its arrival.  Saying goodbye to that first and only paci seemed a good deal harder on me than it was on Eli!  It felt like a part of him was gone.  He doesn't seem at all phased by the change, and now seems equally addicted to the new pacis (Thank goodness there are now two!).  He loves to carry one in his hand while the other's in his mouth (as you can see below), and switch them around.  : )

Life has become tremendously less stressful having TWO working pacis, and knowing that if anything happens to them, we can run to the store and get more!  Thank you, little tear!  You were actually a blessing in disguise.  : )