Bye-bye paci

Last weekend was a busy one. We made the long journey back "home" to Indiana for the Notre Dame game. We did not, unfortunately, get to see all of our friends who were a mere 3 hours away (which seems like chump change when you now live 20 hours away). But we did get to see lots of family.

The tailgate was a little soggy. Poor Nana and Pop lost their tent to a sudden gust of wind during a brief heavy shower. Luckily the kids were safe and warm inside with Auntie Care Care and Megan at the time.

Staying dry in the trunk

A boy and his "shootball"

Team spirit

Girls can play football too, especially with a tutu on.

Brennan loved his pom-poms, maybe even more than his new football

But perhaps the most memorable thing, for me at least, was a huge milestone for Brennan. I can't believe I'm actually getting a little teary eyed thinking about it now. We'd been preparing for this moment for about a month but I don't think either Brennan or I were completely prepared for all it would mean.

Brennan, very happily, gave his precious clippy paci to his baby cousin Connor right before we left to come back home. He didn't hesitate a bit. In fact, he almost just threw it at him and ran. I guess he was pretty excited to open the presents he got in exchange.

Brennan's "clippy" was to him what Bun-Bun has been to Kaelyn. So I actually feel kind of bad making him part with it. But we knew this day would have to come eventually.

As smooth as the hand-off went the rest of the week has been a bit rough. He asks for paci at every nap and bedtime. When we remind him that he gave it to baby Connor he asks for blue paci (his back up paci's that we packed up several weeks early). Unfortunately blue paci's are still in the house and I've been tempted several times to get one out, but I have stayed strong.  Getting Brennan to stay in bed and go to sleep this week has involved a lot of stall tactics, crying and snuggling - his favorite stall tactic.  Next we're going to have to wean off the snuggling since more than half the time we've ended up having to stay with him until he falls asleep. It's just so hard to say "no" to "nuggling" with that cute face. Kaelyn has even been a trooper and pitched in by reading extra to him when snuggling time is over.

Here's hoping the transition starts to ease soon and paci will soon be forgotten. At least by Brennan. Carolyn, I actually want clippy back once Brennan has forgotten about it so I can pull it out to remember my baby boy when he's all grown up.  Just not too soon, lest I give in on a weak night.