The search for a loveable Guy. OR For the love of lovies, part 2

[Julie411me]

Kristen had "Guy," who got his name because we would say, "Do you want this little Guy?"  She did! 

"Guy!" she would call out at naptime, extending her little arm toward him, palm up and fingers doing a reverse wave.  She was both summoning Guy to her side and asking me to retrieve him.  Whichever worked would be fine.

Guy was also a lovey but unlike Jimmy and Mary, the diaper premium and 25 cent garage sale find, toted around by her sister, Guy cost a whopping $15.00 at JCPenney.

 

The Search

As any big sister can tell you, once you fall in love with a lovey, all the babies in the house immediately want it, need it, desire it and pee pee on it.   It's some sort of unwritten toddler code.  Kristen wanted a raggy and Elizabeth had two.  Naturally, she assumed she could help herself.  It's simple toddler math. 

Two, take away one, leaves one for me and one for you.

Except preschool math beats toddler math much like paper beats rock and rock beats scissors. 

Two, take away one, equals one shove plus a bite.

Two take away one is simply unacceptable when it comes to life-long emotional companions.

So, we tried to find a suitable blanky/lovey/raggy for Kristen.  Anything in the house was up for grabs except for 4 things, Johnbunny, blankey, Jimmy and Mary. 

We tried the body double that had been purchased and rejected as a possible life-extender for Natalie's blankey but that was again rejected, this time with a push and the defiant toddler head turn and frown that is usually reserved for strained peas and washcloths.  We tried the soft pink baby blanket thatElizabeth had gotten as a baby gift, but that was already a part of the daily crib requirement and so, was not special.  We tried several stuffed animals that were all sent cartwheeling from the crib.  We needed a lovey and we needed it fast.

We packed the three kids and the stroller into the car (my God, that used to be a lot of work)and headed to the mall.  We started at the toy store where all the toys intended to be security items were quickly rejected.  Elizabeth, twirling her raggies around by the ears said she wouldn't mind having a new toy.  We left.

We moved on to Sears where none of the blankets had heads.  Elizabeth announced she was in need of a new blanket.  We left.

Next, it was on to Gymboree.  They had plenty of cuddly and pricey toys and blankets, but none met Kristen's approval.  A tunic with matching leggings and hair bows met Elizabeth's approval and she tried to purchase it at the counter, using her good looks as currency.  Again, we left.

Finally, at JCPenney we found real, honest-to-goodness lovies.  And they even had pink ones.  With three daughters, I was always drawn to pink.  "Oh look at this pretty pink bunny!" I cooed, holding the lovey down at stroller level.

"No." said Kristen, reaching toward the shelf.  "See." 

"Oh do you want to see the pretty blue one?" I asked, retrieving it from the shelf.

"I'll take the pink one and she can have Jimmy!" Elizabeth offered, generously. 

"Too little, too late, kid." Eric said, shooting her a dirty look as Natalie gave her a thump and told her to shut up.  Elizabeth gave her a couple lashes with Jimmy.  He was the tougher of the two raggies and very defensive, despite nearly being placed for adoption.

"No.  See." demanded Kristen.

"This one?" I asked, disappointed, holding out the drab, cream colored lovey with the teddy bear head.

Kristen's face lit up and all four limbs began waving frantically, causing the stroller to roll back and forth slightly.  Ladies and gentlemen we have a winner!  I thrust the bear-headed blanket square into her arms and she sank back into her stroller and into a state of bliss.  Finally, she had a suitable companion.

As we paid the cashier it occurred to me why she preferred the drab, nearly colorless, off-beige version when lovely pastel pinks and blues were so much brighter and even had cuter animal heads.  The dreary version was the nearly the same tone as the time-worn, faded lovies still much-loved by her sisters.  It was ready to go!  It needed no breaking in, no toning down and best of all no cycles of "wash seperately" for the first few weeks to check for colorfastness. 

Forget the flashy exterior, she was looking for a humble guy of substance that needed no taming.

My child, I decided, was a genius!

[stefanierios]

Feb. 9, 2009 at 4:46 PM

that´s a very lovey story.  :-)  now I have to go read part 1.

[Moomie]

Feb. 10, 2009 at 1:54 PM

We have TWO of those fuzzy on one side silky on the back with a head lovey's. I try to get the baby to love one (daddy sucked the other up in the vacuum and burned two big holes in it) but he just isn't having it. Great post!

[mama4Christ361]

Feb. 22, 2009 at 1:06 PM

LOL Awwww! My dd's lovey is this HUGE blanket my mom made her. It was originally pink and fuzzy. Unfortunately, after much puke, poop, pee, food spills, and who knows what else, it is now a mangled grey and NOT fuzzy at all, but a slightly scratchy muzzled mess. And it is currently covered in drool and vomit and I am in the midst of sneaking it into the washer....Wish me luck in Operation Blankie Wash!!!