My little girl!

My little girl is growing up!!

Yesterday when I picked her up from school, she ran up to me with a huge, proud smile on her face and said, "Mommy, guess what? I napped today without my beanie! I'm such a big girl!"

Jenna has been a serious blanket girl since she was 9 months old. Her "beanie" is the love of her life. She has never slept a night or nap without it for 3 years. I've been carting that thing back and forth from two different daycares every single day for the past 2 years because she refused to take a nap without it. Her current pre-school has never been thrilled with me bringing it, but they haven't pushed the issue, so I kept bringing it. I swear, that thing gives me just as much security as it does Jenna!

Anyway, apparently yesterday she was playing around with her blanket at naptime and woudn't rest, so her asst. teacher told her if she didn't quiet down, beanie would have to go into her backpack in the hallway. She didn't quiet down, so beanie went into the hallway. Her teacher said she teared up initially, but pretty quickly laid down and went to sleep - WITHOUT BEANIE!

Jenna seemed very proud of herself and her teacher suggested we take advantage of this opportunity, when Jenna is feeling positive about it, to stop bringing beanie to school.

This morning when I dropped her off, I reminded her that "beanie" would be staying in the car today with lil' lamb (her second-in-line security item) and would wait for her in her carseat until after school. She looked a little sad for just a brief second, but then brightened up, tucked them into her carseat, and hopped out of the car! I was so proud of her!

I need to find a picture of beanie to add to this entry, but I don't have one at work. I know the day will come when she won't want it anymore at all. Everyone else says it is stinky and gross, but I think it smells good. It smells like Jenna. I may have to start sleeping with it in my bed when she's finished with it!