When Daniel was born, someone bought him this stuffed dog:
"Hi. I'm Puppy Dog."
It’s an “asthma-friendly” stuffed puppy dog and it’s the softest, snuggliest little guy ever. My husband has asthma, so I was excited to see that a company actually makes asthma-friendly stuffed animals. Please note that Daniel has many other types of stuffed animals. Many he received during our baby shower and plenty that we bought him ourselves. I was just trying to encourage Daniel to snuggle with this special dog during his naps and bedtime, so he would have an asthma-friendly piece of cotton stuffed against his face and body opposed to something that was asthma “unfriendly.” (Ahem.) Better to be safe, than sorry. Well, it worked and Daniel still sleeps with “Puppy Dog” today.
So when Annabel was born, we bought her this:
"Hi. I'm Pinky."
The same asthma-friendly puppy dog, but in PINK. We call it “Pinky.” Annabel is 16 months old, so she only says a few words here and there, but she does say “Pinky.” Actually, it sounds more like “Inky,” but it works. I understand her. What makes Pinky different from Daniel’s Puppy Dog is that Annabel is OBSESSED with Pinky. Daniel just sleeps with Puppy Dog. Once Daniel is up and out of his bed, that is the end of Puppy Dog for the day. “See ya next time Puppy Dog.”
But Annabel is quite different.
Pinky started out as Annabel’s nap and bedtime stuffed animal. But then she started reaching for Pinky when she was on the changing table. Pinky kept her quiet and STILL when I had to change her diaper, so that was no problem. And then Annabel had to have Pinky in the car seat with her during our long vacation road trip. Fine. But now things are gaining momentum.
Annabel has begun to SCREAM for Pinky if we leave the bedroom and it’s still in her crib. Just two weeks ago, Annabel could sit and play with her toys in the living room, but now she has to have Pinky clutched in one arm. She’s just learned to walk on her own and she has to have Pinky in one hand while she teeter totters around the house.
(I guess I should be glad she’s holding onto something soft in case she feels the need to slam her head against the coffee table or wall.)
Today, a new habit has emerged. Pinky had to join her for lunch! Ugh. As soon as I put Annabel in her high chair, she screamed for Pinky. I was holding my ground and just handing her milk and goldfish crackers, but the screaming just got worse and worse. So I ended up feeding Annabel her chicken soup, yogurt and applesauce while she hugged Pinky against her chest. (And yes, Pinky now has to take another “bath” to wash that broth and pink goop off her fur.)
I’m not trying to be “Mean Mommy” and not let my sweet daughter have a “lovey,” but there is another issue with Pinky. Annabel puts her thumb in her mouth when she holds Pinky. Not all of the time, but I notice it right before she goes down for naps or down for the night. She clasps Pinky in her arms and shoves her thumb in her mouth. When I check on her an hour later when she is sound sleep, the thumb is out of the mouth, so that makes me happy. But sometimes when she has Pinky during the day now, and she’s playing, I slowly see her try and creep that thumb in her mouth.
I managed to avoid any pacifier addictions with both Daniel and Annabel. Which was thrilling! But now I might have to deal with a thumb AND Pinky addiction at the same time.
Leave it to my adorable little girl to shake things up.
I was JUST cleaning out our spare room and found a bag from my baby shower that had accidentally gotten buried in other stuff. Guess what — my Alex has a Puppy Dog, too! Who knew?
I pulled it out of the bag and said, “Hey, it’s the dog from Pop Mommy!”