Goodbye, Binky!

At 2 1/2, Joshy still loves his binky.  We tried to limit binky-time to bed-time and car-time, but he was definitely stretching those "rules"...  So one day in early December, I reminded Josh as we were heading down the road (having just dropped off Grace at preschool) that when he got bigger, he could trade his binky in for a stuffed animal.  

"Today, Mommy!"  he cried from his carseat.  Doubting his sincerity, I clarified that he'd have to give up all of his binkies--perhaps send them to Ollie, Auntie Julie's little dog who LOVES Joshy binkies--and he continued to ask to do it TODAY.  He kept saying it...so I went with it!  We went straight home...

 ...took one last picture of Joshy with his binky (notice it's upside down)...

...plopped three binkies into an envelope for Ollie (and a colored picture with a note to Auntie explaining that he was done with his binkies and that Ollie could have them)...

 ...and took them to the post office!

We then went to Target to find the perfect stuffed animal.  And of course, this is the ONE TIME that he can't find any that he likes!  :)  He finally ended up with more little Toy Story "Guys-es" to add to his collection.

It was a very exciting day.  The post-binky report was that he didn't sleep at all during his nap that day--his "guys-es" were talking and playing for 90 minutes--but that evening when I put him to bed, he kept saying in a sad, sad voice, "I just want my binky."  I found a rogue binky under his bed--I want to make it a tree ornament, but Jeff tells me it's too soon. :)  Maybe before I put the decor away, I'll make it to bring out next year!

And the second post-binky report is that Ollie has successfully demolished at least ONE of Joshy's binkies.  :)