Monday, January 24, 2011

Good to Wow: Good Night Edition, SOOC

"Ma-Mee! Ma-Mee!"

"I'm right here, Baby," I said reassuringly.

"No. Ma-Mee!" She looked up at me, tears welling up in her big, blue eyes. My heart was gripped by that helpless feeling any mother hates to encounter.

I picked her up and tried to cuddle her, but she just kept crying, "Ma-Mee!" Finally, it occurred to me that as of late, Alex had been quite attached to the cloth diapers I used as burp cloths for her baby brother. I put her down momentarily and went to fetch one. As she saw me enter the room with it, her tears dried up, her eyes lit up, and a smile of delight spread across her face.

"Ma-Mee!" she cried happily, taking it from me.

And that is how the Security Blanket first entered our home. Three of 4 of the kids have had one. Jacob is the only one who never became attached, though because of his shy nature seemed like the one who would be best suited to cuddling a blankie for comfort.

What's funny is that none of the kids' security blankets were ever called "blankies". At least at first. Alex of course called hers "Ma-Mee", which I've never figured out unless she found her blankie to be some sort of substitution for "Mommy". She was the easiest to provide blankies for because it seemed in those days we had a never-ending supply of cloth diapers (which we used only as burp cloths, not diapers); keeping enough laundered to serve as both burp cloth and security blankets was another story, especially with a colicky baby.

It was a little more difficult to ensure Michael had his "bappy" always on hand. He took to a blue and white flannel blanket that was given to him as a baby gift. At one point we had two. When one was lost, we cut the remaining one in half so we would always have one for the house and one for the car.

Thankfully, Audrey only needs hers in bed. And, yes, I know she is 5 1/2; it is probably high time for her to give up her blankie, but she's just so cute with it. Although she now calls it her blankie, at first she dubbed it her "My". I don't know where that came from, and as I recall, we went through a similar situation as with Alex in discovering a "My" was her blankie.

Audrey's My is actually a blanket Alex received as a baby gift, and unfortunately, though I have searched and searched, I cannot find a duplicate. Because there is only one, her My has become well, well...loved. Almost daily, I cut stray strings from her blankie, and consequently, there is less and less My everyday.

SOOC Good Night Blankie


Perhaps because her My is disappearing, Audrey has also become quite attached to Bear. Bear was her first gift in the hospital from her adoring daddy and siblings. Bear is very loved as well, but at least he has all of his limbs.

SOOC Good Night Blankie & Bear


I know soon my last little baby will move on from blankies and stuffed bears to make-up and boyfriends. I treasure each evening when I tuck her in, feel her sweet little arms around my neck, hear her tell me she loves me, and then kiss her as she clutches her My and Bear to her chest.

SOOC Good Night Audrey


16 comments:

Anonymous said...

so sweet Kathleen, Miranda has a big dog that she's slept on since she was a baby. We carried it from house to house until I finally bought one to keep here. I've always called her Sunshine and a year or so ago she told me she was too old to be called Sunshine now, but at 10 she's still not too old for her dog and that makes me happy.
Our babies grow so fast, the memories they create become so sweet. love your post.

Unknown said...

I adore this post. For both my kids, the diaper rags (cloth diapers used as burp cloths) became their "blankies". Perfect because we always had a supply on hand. My son, now 12, still sleeps with "Puppy Dog", a formerly white stuffed animal given to him in NICU by his big sister.

4 Lettre Words said...

Love this...and that 2nd photo is too sweet!

Unknown said...

OK, this post just made me seriously tear up! Our 8 yr old still sleeps with her piggie from when she was born - we have two thank God so if one is hurt the other quickly comes to the rescue. She still loves that thing so much :-)

Your shots are beautiful! They truly tell the story all on their own!

Blessings,
Jill

Lexi said...

such a cute post!! Love the last shot of your daughter! gorgeous SOOC!!!

Brittany said...

This story is just so sweet. My 2 year old has just become attached to a dog that my dad gave him his 1st Valentine's Day. I'm not sure what we'll do if he loses it.

I adore the last shot of her in the bed cuddled up. Your shot is beautiful and so is she!

Ashley Sisk said...

Awww bear looks adorable and I love the story. BTW, you can post as many SOOC shots as you want. I don't worry so much about stuff like that. We just want to see at least one of them edited later in the week! :)

FYH said...

Oh, I love this post...what a great idea! And that last shot is so sweet!

Gina Kleinworth said...

Oh my- My daughter has a lovie that is so similar. Pink & the same material- only it's a bunny. She loves it & for a long time it went everywhere with her. I think she is finally old enough to put it in the time capsule- but I totally understand this story. Been there. :)

tsinclair said...

ahhhh...don't let her grow up. :-)

CrossView said...

*sniff* Love this! And that pic of her bear is phenominal! Wow!

Too old? Meh! My theory is that there is no age limit as long as it doesn't interfere with life. As in, she will let it go when she needs to. :O)

dclouser said...

How adorable is that little Audrey! You did a great job with your story and photos. Someday she will treasure this post.

Rose said...

My older daughter did not have a blankie...but my younger daughter had a quilt I made her. She still has it...or what is left of it. It is in pieces.

I think it can be a good thing I think, for them to have something that gives them comfort.

Natalie said...

Oh my! My son has a 'blankie' that he cannot go ANYWHERE without. Not just bed and naptime but has it most of the day. It was a velvet-y blanket with satin trim around the edges. he didn't start clinging to it until around a year old now he's a little over 2. Through last summer he kept falling over it as it was so big it dragged the ground. So we cut it into four's. Now we have extras if we misplace the others! LOL and it's so sweet it's gonna be hard to see him grow up into more 'serious boy' things so I cherish it :)

jillconyers said...

Wonderful capture. My son, who is now 14, has Mr. Bear. Mr. Bear is not seen as often as he once was but he is still around never to be parted with.

Michelle R said...

Love this series! I still have my baby blanket, and I won't tell you where's it's kept, but I didn't see the point in it staying in a box! lol! :)

Adorable pics and a great memory-story to go along with them.