The Binky Fairy

Our youngest daughter, Alenia has been a Binky girl from day one. She was sucking her fingers in utero and about 30 seconds after delivery. She has always been a very particular girl. The rules were: the Binky must be in at all times (unless there is a bottle in her mouth of course), she must be swaddled with just the right tension and to be held while sleeping or if you were lucky rotated at 27 degrees. Let me just say this made for one very tired Mama!! Once Alenia turned one, I only allowed the Binky's when sleeping. My pedi told me not to try and take them away until she at least 2 1/2. Once she turned 2 1/2 I tried to get her to throw them in the trash-NO, I tried to get her to give them to the little babies-NO, and I even tried the Binky Fairy idea before-NO again! Did I mention her nickname is PITA?????? Well, she just finished up her potty training and did amazingly well. She hasn't had an accident in several days. :) I am very close to traveling to China to bring home her "baby brother Audie" (who is an inch taller and 12 days younger) so I knew we had to get the Binky's gone before Audie came home, or she would be taking them on her honeymoon. I told her the Binky Fairy was coming tonight and she would have to find all of her Binky's and put them into the basket. If she did a good job and slept all night without them, the Binky Fairy would bring her a present. Alenia informed me that yes, she would surrender the Binky's to the Binky Fairy so she could give them to the little babies who needed them. When the time came she cried, no MY BINKY'S!!! I let her know that she was now a big girl and it was time for her to leave them for the Binky Fairy. She eventually helped collect them and into the basket they went. She went to be and then cried at her door for about 20 minutes before surrendering to her bed. The next morning, she woke up and yelled that she was a big girl and slept without the Binky's and there was a present waiting for her. We went out into the living room and sure enough there was a present just for her and the Binky's were gone. The Binky Fairy had left her a nice letter, a Tinker Bell doll that you brush and style her hair and "Fairy Dust"!!! She was so tickled with the fairy dust, she kept showing everyone, even after I vacuumed.

We have conquered the potty, the Binky's and next is the PITA!!!!! We have made it a week without the Binky's and she hasn't asked for them in last several days.

On Wednesday I leave for China, I cannot begin to express how excited I am. I wonder if I will be able to sleep the next several days. We have waited over a year since seeing Audie's face and now with it being so close, I just am soooo happy and thankful to God for connecting me with my son!!

Becky

p.s. The picture of the three girls was Alenia's due date and is Audie's birthday. How awesome and meant to be is that?????