I think I'll "pac" ...

While I'm keeping track of milestones, I might as well mention that Jones has entirely given up the paci. He never loved it like Camden did. For two years, Camden walked around with one in each hand and two in a holster on his hip.

Jones was always way more blasé about it. He'd take it, but he'd just as soon leave it. I read somewhere, though, that some study had shown putting babies to bed with pacis in their mouths cut down on SIDS, so of course, I was obsessive about it. "No naps without the NUK!" was a major motto of my first seven months of motherhood. He'd always spit it out as soon as he fell asleep, but the peace of mind it gave me to give him the paci was well worth the seeming futility of the gesture.

In the last couple of weeks, though, he'd started spitting it out sooner. In fact, he'd spit it out as soon as I'd slip it in, preferring instead to replace it with his thumb.

So finally, I quit fighting it. Now, I lay him down at nite, and he rolls to one side - usually his left - puts his thumb in his mouth and drifts off to Dreamland.

About the same time, I quit carrying the paci during the day, too. He hasn't missed it a bit, and neither have I.

I just hope he gives up the bottle as easily. Operation Sippy Cup is full effect, come his nine month birthday!

Our "Itty Bitty" is getting big!