one who is obsessed with Spiderman and Star Wars,
one who shuns dolls and soft toys in the daytime,
one who will one day grow to be a man. . .
there is something incredibly sweet about coming in to do the last tuck-in for the night and finding him curled up with a stuffed elephant.
I bought that elephant when I was about eight months pregnant. The reality of the fact that I was about to be mother of a little boy was sinking in. I didn't have a "lovey" type item for the baby, and this one was so soft. . .and blue. It's one of those that when you pull the tail in the back, classical music plays. I'm not sure why I can remember buying this elephant so clearly (Sears in the Santa Maria mall, must have been June). In many ways, I guess it was the first gift I bought for him. Clothes, crib, diapers, blankets -- those are things baby needs. A stuffed blue elephant -- I bought that just because I wanted the little boy I was carrying to have it.
I remember many a sleepless night with Nicky, laying in bed with him, pulling the little tail, desperately hoping the music would soothe him to sleep. It worked. . .once, maybe twice. Most times it didn't, because the music only lasts 10 seconds. Pulling the tail a hundred times a night was soothing for no one.
Not so long ago, he saw me packing it away. I have a small plastic box for both children with a few firsts -- the outfit they wore home from the hospital and a few other small soft things. When I was packing the elephant into the box, I told him how we used to lay together and listen to the music. (I left out the part about Mommy being beside herself, stressed and near tears, with a baby that wouldn't sleep through the night).
He didn't want me to pack it up, and that night I found him curled up with it as he slept.
Awww, Mickey - both the picture and the description are SO sweet!
ReplyDeleteEspecially because he is a little boy.
Elliana is more of a girl - she sleeps with 5 stuffed animals - and all are white. Very funny that all are white, but they are. I love to see her snuggling with them, though, and the two kitties (her longest favorites) are now flat on the one side - a sign of true love.
Thats precious! My son has an elephant that was actually bought for his older sister but she didnt care two its about it, so i almost cry every time i see him holding it when its bed time. Being a mom is so emotional, lol! We grew into big wussies!
ReplyDelete-h
Flat, bandaged stuffed animals are the ones that are loved most.
ReplyDeleteI used to sleep with ten stuffed animals lined up along the wall. They kept the bad things from coming up between the wall and bed. :P
Yeah, there is something about boys and stuffed animals. I guess it's so cute now, because there is nothing cute about a 40-year-old man curled up with a blue elephant. :D