The Binky Fairy Came to Our House (sorta)!!!!!!

Forth of July fireworks at Mac and Gramps. The video is dark, but Whitney was so sweet and excited :)


The Binky Fairy (aka, my fabulous friend, Juliet!) called Whitney last week! As with the toddler bed and the whole potty training experience, the binky relinquishment was executed swiftly and with minimal thought or planning. I knew I wanted Whitney to be binky-free before starting preschool next week, but then she was sick all last week (double ear infections after suspected pink eye...ugh), and I wasnt about to take away her bink in the middle of an illness. Not fair to either of us!
So, once she was feeling better (although she never admitted she felt "sick" or "bad"...in fact, when looking at her pathetic, goopy, oozy, yet-somehow-still-cute face with pity, we would ask, "whitney, do you feel okay?" and without fail, she would sweetly reply, "no, I feel HAPPY!") I decided it was time to give up the binks. Now, she's only had them in the car (purple binky) and at night and naptime. NEVER in public, and RARELY around the house. But just because she wasnt always rockin' the binky look doesnt mean she wasnt in love with her pacifying pals. She would request specific colors each night and at naptime, and would count them. She was happy with a binky, and I was happy to let her hold onto that last litttttle piece of babyhood.
But...I said I was gonna get rid of them before preschool, so I had to make it happen.
I quietly called my friend, Juliet, and told her she had to play the part of the Binky Fairy and tell Whitney to put all her binkies, including purple bink from the car, into a bucket and leave it outside the front door. The Binky Fairy promised to bring her old binkies to little babies who need them, and leave Whitney a hula hoop in return.
Whitney had been asking for a hula hoop for more than a week, so I figured this would be a fun surprise and a cheap way to soften the blow.
Welllll....its a week later, and Whitney still is not in possession of said hula hoop. Wanna know why?
Here's some video to help the story:

DId you notice my look of concern when "The Binky Fairy" promises a PURPLE hula hoop the next morning? We didnt actually OWN the hula hoop we would be trading for binkies....and we werent entirely certain Walmart would have a PURPLE hula hoop.  This plays a critical part in the story.....

,,,getting the red bow:


Ok...now let me explain why this Binky Fairy character has a purple, light-up hula hoop chillin' in Eric's trunk is hanging onto the purple hula hoop for a while longer.  Ya see, it was clearly bedtime once the binkies were in the bucket on the front porch.  Eric and I said our prayers with Whitney and while I finished up the tuck-in routine, the Binky Fairy's sidekick, Eric had to RUSH to Walmart to purchase the fabulous purple hula hoop that the Binky Fairy/Aunt Juliet had promised would be at this child's front door in the morning.  Note to self: remind the child-free Juliet not to promise specifics....keep it general, girl. I had already called another girlfriend, Kathy, who's two daughters were willing to part with their own purple hula hoops in the name of the Binky Fairy if Walmart didnt come through for us.  So....Eric leaves.  Walks out the door.  And he wasnt alone in thinking that Whitney was "fine" with the whole relinquishment process.  I thought she was happy and cheerful and delighted to pass her binkies on in exchange for a hula hoop.
Alas...there I was. Alone in the house, attempting bedtime with our precious toddler who was desperately trying to understand why I couldnt just grab one of her binkies from the front door so she could sleep soundly.   The conversation went like this (not lying...not even exaggerating....she is simply THIS good, folks.):

Whitney: Mommy, were my binkies go?
Me: Remember we gathered them in the bucket for the binky fairy to take tonight. Arent you excited for your hula hoop!?
Whitney: (no tears. just stating facts.)But Mommy. I wuv my binkies. I wuv dem.
Me: Aww, I know you loved them, Honey, but little babies need them now.  You are getting to be a big girl, so you dont need them anymore!
Whitney: Mommy, dose are MY binkies. I dont want duh babies to have dem. I need dem. I wuv dem.
Me: I know you miss them right now, but you arent a baby anymore! You sleep in a big girl bed...and you go on a potty like a big girl.  Babies sleep in cribs and need diapers, and they need binkies.  YOU dont need binkies. (trying to get her jammies on and move through this convo quickly and calmly.)
Whitney: (VERY serious, but still not one tear....and I was waiting for them to start) Mommy.  I need a diaper. I need a diaper, Mommy.  And my binkies.
Me: (internally panicking, picturing soiled panties and regression and "wanting to be a baby" from my kid who hasnt even wet the BED in over three weeks...) Ooooh, honey. You dont need a diaper! Diapers are yucky! I know you miss your binkies, but here is Bear Blanket and Jessie and Woody (this week's sleepover pals) to keep you comfy instead.
(She hops up into bed, still thinking deeply and clearly concerned that this Binky Fairy business was suddenly becoming very REAL.)
Whitney: Hey. Mommy. Go Tiguhs? Go TIGUUHS! (tigers)
Me: (shocked in realizing that my two year old is not crying over this, but choosing to schmooze her way back into a binky by randomly cheering for my Clemson Tigers...Whaaa? I almost think tears might've been easier.) Good girl! We say GO TIGERS! Not 'Go Knights' like Daddy, huh?
Whitney: yeah, mommy!! Go Tiguhs!! I need my binky. Duh yewwo one. Pweas?
Me: (inside my head, I was saying, "DAAYUM, you are GOOD! You need to be an attorney someday because you are TOTALLY about to talk me into handing over the pink binky I have stored in my right pocket right now!) Nope. No binkies anymore, Whitter. You can do it.
Whitney: But Mommyyyyy. I weawy, weawy, weeeaawy wuv my binkies.  Dey make me sooooOOOooo happy.

So...after several more minutes of back-and-forth, I handed over the pink binky.  The entire time I was trying not to laugh out loud as she calmly tried to win my affection with cheers for my alma mater and threats of regression. I was really wishing Eric was home to video her carefully-planned arguments and rebuttals, but he was still hunting down the purple hula hoop.  Thankfully, this Daddy spoils his little girl, and had not only grabbed a light-up purple hula hoop, but a giant pink bouncy ball Whitney has eyed at the entrance to Walmart recently.  So since the pink binky appears to be here for a while longer, the Binky Fairy is hanging onto the hula hoop, but was nice enough to drop off that ball in exchange for alllllll the yellow, white, red, purple, and green binkies in the bucket.

How did my toddler ut me in the trick bag? She's smart. I am not worried about her teeth, as I know a binky does not effect a child's mouth/teeth until after 5 years of age. Her doctor has never mentioned taking it away.  I am not worried about it hindering her speech, as A) she doesnt have it 95% of the day, and B) she talks NON-stop, very clearly, and without issue.  If she wasnt talking yet or had funky speech/tongue troubles, I wouldve been ore difficult to sway.  But this binky is CLEARLY not causing our kid any issues at this point in her life.
She easily and nicely agreed that there would be NO binky in the car now that purple binky was taken to a new baby by the Binky Fairy. So we are left with Pink Bink, who stays on her pillow, only to be used at nap and bedtime.  We have had ZERO resistance on the binky-less carseat, even after several late night drives and long drives, where we would typically rely on a binky.  Whitney will give up the binky when she is ready.
For now, it gives her comfort, allows me to still see occasional glimpses of our "baby" girl, and it is not hurting one thing.


And the next morning:


And, some recent SplashPark fun:  (more pics on this later...)



I have been a horrible blogger lately, but am hoping to get back on track now that Whitney will be in preschool two mornings a week.  She starts this Tuesday, and seems really excited! I will be back with more pics from recent days, and definitely an update on her first preschool days!