Today was a big day for our Syniah Grace. Today she is 3 years 3 months and 9 days old. She hasn't always had a pacifier until she was about 1 1/2...........
This is when she started with a pacifier
I was pregnant with Leilah and Niah found some pacifiers in a drawer and the rest is history. Most kids get rid of their pacifiers by one year old, not start using one! Syniah is the exception. She has been attached ever since but lately Ervin and I have been talking about taking away her pacifier for a few weeks now. She is fully potty trained and the only thing keeping her from officially being a BIG GIRL is her Chupie. We took advice from friends on how to take it away from her, we read articles and we tried an approach that just didn't seam to work for her (cutting off all the nipples to her pacifiers) there always seamed to be a new pacifier appearing under the couch or in a drawer.
With lots of brainstorming we came up with this..........................
BUILD A BEAR
Syniah got a giftcard for her birthday from the Caamamo Family and we have been thinking of the perfect time to take her since she has never been. What better way than to use it to our benefit :) We talked to her about how she is a big girl now and that it's time to give up her chupie. We talked about going to build a bear and giving her bear the chupie and she can sleep with her bear and hug her bear when she is sad instead. She got really excited with the thought of being a Big Girl but really sad at the thought of no longer having her chupie.We prepped her for it in every way that we possibly could and really hyped up her being able to pick any bear she wants. We got the girls dressed.........loaded them in the car............and off we were to the Ontario Mills. Build a Bear here we come!! On the way there Niah was skeptical and she kept saying things like "I really love my Chupie." It was breaking my heart but I knew I had to stay strong. This was a really big deal so I knew I had to not only take on my role as a strong Mom, I knew my Mama-Bear instinct needed to console her little heart at the same time. So we walked in front of Build A Bear and explained to her what we were going to do.......We are going to take your chupie and put it in any bear you want because you are a big girl now.
"Okay Mama" (With a huge smile on her face)
We walked inside and instanlty Niah was overwhelmed by everything they had. She was super excited but nervous.
With the help of Dada she picked her bear.
Syniah held on to her Bear tight, but held on to her Chupie even tighter....
Her facial expressions were priceless
Still holding on Super tight
We showed the worker her pacifier and he knew right away what we were doing and did a great job explaining to Syniah what they were going to do with her Chupie and talked about how she didn't need it anymore.
"This is my Chupie"
They talked a little more about her Chupie.....She held on tight
Niah waited for him to add a little filling to the Bear
Still holding her Purple Chupie
I think this is where I lost it. I felt the lump in my throat and the tears swelling up behind the camera. I knew her heart hurt. This is something she held dear to her and this would be the hardest thing she has ever done in her last 3 years of life. I am her Mama....I know my daughter and I knew what she was feeling but because I am her Mama I stayed behind the camera and stayed strong. I praised her for what she was doing but my heart hurt. I never thought something so simple could be so hard. This is my baby, but my baby is growing up and she tried to stay so strong but her facial expressions told me that she was still so sad.
He open the Bear up a little more
Added a little more stuffing
She walked up a little closer but still holding on to it pretty tight
and there it went..........
My 3 year old baby is now a Big Girl.
She watched him sew it shut..
I saw her mixed emotions on her face.... The lump in my throat was still there.
Now she held on to her Bear tight......with the support of our little Leilah Faith
She combed her Bear's tummy
She combed her Bear's feet
Syniah was so overwhelmed by the choices of clothes
She walked around the store over 20x's
Finally she made a choice
She picked a dress and shoes
With Dada's help they filled out her Bear's birth certificate and chose a name
PRINCESS
We had a very smiley
Very confused 3 year old BIG GIRL
This is PRINCESS with a Chupie in her Heart
We got home and Niah was sleepy. She said "Mama, I miss my Chupie." I laid with her and rubbed her hair and talked to her as she had some tears. She even got upset at one point and threw the Bear but got right up and picked it back up we talked more about how she is a Big Girl now and how she is a Big Sister. She cried a little and said "I don't want to be a big Sister." She held on to her bear tight. She eventually fell asleep with a few tears in her eyes.
This is Niah and Princess sleeping and for the first time and for the first time in 2 years Syniah is a Big Girl without a Chupie.
My Sweet Syniah Grace,
Today you became a big girl and though it makes me sad that you are growing before my eyes, I am so proud of you. Today you showed me that you are very brave. There will be lots of disappointment throughout your life but always show courage and strength and I will be there to guide you and hold your hand. It broke Mama's heart to see your tears today. I know we still have a little road ahead of us but today was one of my most proudest moments being your Mama. Watching you give up something you love and stayed strong about it. You are such a special girl. I love you to the moon and back. My sweet sweet Syniah Grace.
Love,
Your proud Mama
