Pap-ci?

Before Brilee was born, Lilly was doing so good with not "over-using" her pacifier.  I would give it to her for naptime and bedtime only--and when she woke up I would tell her, "Give mommy your paci" and she would pop it out of her mouth and into my hand.  She would sometimes even hand it to me without my asking her.

Well--things have changed a bit in this area over the past couple of weeks.  She started asking for it by pointing up to the top of her dresser then pointing to her mouth--and because she HAS been teething still and waking up in the middle of the night with her teeth hurting and chewing on things more, and not eating well (all her symptoms of teething)--I would give it to her at these times.  Well, this was a HUGE mistake on my part, because she is becoming more and more attached to it.  Other times I just forgot to take it away after she wakes up, so it ends up staying in her mouth too long, and it's too late when I realize it.

Now, the past few days, she has starting asking for it by name, she'll point up to the counter where I have placed it after taking it away, then says, "Pap-ci?"  I try not to smile because she says this in the sweetest, most innocent voice--but when I tell her, "No, Lilly--you don't need that--you're not sleeping", that sweet little face turns quickly to a scowling wail and she goes through one of her crying fits/tantrums because I've told her no.  So, I have to deal with a wailing toddler--and if she wakes up Brilee, a crying baby too.  Then, I think Sean doesn't want to feel left out and he starts crying about something too!  AAAHHH!!!  Sometimes I think about screaming too just to see what they will do! 

Lilly has also turned to thievery to get a paci, by reaching into Brilee's swing or bouncy seat and taking it away from her!  I caught her once, but she was already frustrated with the paci because it was too small--and she started whining over that (she has become an expert whiner--one reason we all know she is approaching 2).  Which gives me an idea just as I am writing these words.  Perhaps I should take away her pacifiers completely and replace them with her old, smaller versions to see if she still wants them or not.  It's a hard habit to break, and I didn't want to take it from her too soon, because when Sean was not allowed to have his paci anymore he started going through a bad biting phase, which I think was related to his teething.  Therefore, I'm at a loss to how often to give it to her.  I definitely am going to remember to take it from her after she wakes up and just hide it and endure her wails of lament.  I am praying for patience today...and that I will be slow to anger.