Pat the Bunny
Today I’ve been thinking about babies. Most of you reading here now my stance on US having babies, but it seems to be baby season all around me. Pregnant ladies, newborns, friends having babies… Today my friend Shayla had her firstborn. A little girl who I can’t wait to meet. I wanted to get something special to bring our new ya-ya at the hospital, and I immediately envisioned the most cuddly teddybear ever. One she would still want to sleep with when she was 5 and scared of the dark.
Are you aware that stuffed animals are no longer something that makes a good toy for a child? I assume this is so because when I went to my local Target (because Target has everything), I found in the stuffed animal area of the toys about 10 bigger stuffed animals, and a few bins with tiny stuffed animals. That’s it. No fluffy bears, now hang-toungue dogs, nothing. What’s that all about?? Have we replaced stuffed animals with things that blink and make obnoxious sounds??
So I decided that a nice gift would be a book. I knew that Shayla had registered for a few, so I started there. I accidently ended up in the DVD area before I found the books and there were HUNDREDS of DVDs for children. When I finally found the book isle, there really weren’t very many choices, and it seemed like our friendly store helpers in red didn’t seem to think that it was very important to keep this section well-stocked.
But I did manage to find a few book for our little scholar in training, and imagine my surprise when I saw this among the meager selection:
This book was my most favorite book when I was a young kid. My parents used to read it to me constantly, and I was so attached to this book that now that I’ve grown up I’ve given it to almost every new parent I know. And then it hit me. I blame it on monthly hormones, but as soon as I picked this book up and put it in my cart and imagined Shayla and Madalyn in the new Hawaiian Girl nursery reading Pat the Bunny before bed together, I started crying. Sobbing in fact. Now can someone please explain that?
Grey’s Anatomy on Sunday. Did you watch? I bawled. My friend cried so hard she took a pregnancy test because, and I quote, "TV just doesn’t DO that to me."
Sometimes, babe, ya just cry.
Explain what? It’s one of the joys of being a woman.
That sounds like an ideal gift for your friend’s baby.
Books are the best gift!
And no need to search for any explanations on those sentimental tears…it just happens!
Hey…I noticed in your sidebar that you’re one year blog-anniversary must be coming up soon!
Thoughtful gift. I swear books are the best gifts.
And I’m feeling a bit of that baby bug going around too. Just wait until you hold her!
I also though of a good book, but is gonna be Click, Clack, Moooo. It’s my kids favorite. The crying part… its harmones. be careful about all the baby fever…
Oh my…I’m sorry you were bawling in Target! I hate it too that the shift is from reading to watching these days…and Pat the BUnny was one of my favorite books as a kid.
Do you remember my story about turning the corner and seeing all the little girl clothes and bursting into tears in much the same while thinking about the same thing? Yeah, I’m right there with you. It is just such an awesome time that it gets overwhelming
I loved my stuffed animals when I was a kid…I used to line them up and play school…I was the teacher and they were the students.
We have oodles of stuffed animals and we LOVE books.
I saw a commercial yesterday for a new LeapPad type thing that will "read" to your child when you are busy. The mom on the commercial had to go answer the phone but the book kept reading to the boy.
That made me SO sad.
It isn’t just about the story…it is about snuggling close to your mom (or dad) and listening to them do the special voices and just being there with them.
But yes, bright, loud, not very well made toys have taken the space where books and fuzzy animals used to be.
I just need to tell you the Build-a-bear has the most cuddly, perfect "baby" teddy bear. It’s made of all the right "hypoallergenic" stuff and has no beads or things that baby can chew up and it is SO cuddly.. Grace loves hers.. Not so much for cuddling just yet..but that will come later.. I found the same thing you did when it comes to just plain stuffed animals..just plain ole’ teddy bears. So I was excited to see this.. plus, it was a little more special since we went through the process of "building" her.
As for the hormones.. With us.. we went from "never ever having kids" to bawling at the site of a food truck that said "Because no child should go to bed hungry"… But like the pervious comment said.. it really is such an amazing time, whether it’s you or a good friend..and the tears and totally justified..even at Target. I can’t wait to see Shayla’s little girl.. Madalyn? I love that name! How sweet! I hope everything went well with her after her rough pregnancy.
This is still my favorite book.