saying goodbye to the pacifier

Nearly two weeks ago, Katie gave up her pacifier for good.  It wasn't really her choice, but she did well with it regardless.  We simply took it away and told her that she was a big girl and that big girls don't need pacis.

The first night was kind of rough.  We let her sleep in our bed because we weren't sure how she'd do going back to sleep on her own if she woke up in the middle of the night.  That night, we laid in bed counting "stars" on the ceiling until she fell asleep.  We got to 76.  At first, Kate was very practical about the matter, claiming, "no stars in my house, Mommy, no stars."  Eventually, she relaxed and drifted off, though.

I will admit, our little Kate-cat was quite cranky the first week or so.  She was used to having her pacifiers whenever she wanted them.  But, now she doesn't even ask for them.  And, should she find one that we missed, she tells us that she found a "baby paci."

Surprisingly, Katie has stopped drooling incessantly (I didn't realize that was related to the pacifier) and, unsurprisingly, is talking much better.  She's really growing up!