Only a parent can understand the sheer panic and distress when a beloved “lovie” has gone missing. Whether it’s a thread worn blanket, a cyclopsed bear, or a filthy dirty rag doll, that “lovie” often means sleep or no sleep, cry uncontrollably or peace and quiet, a glass of wine for Mommy at night or drinking straight out of the bottle when the kids aren’t looking. As a parent, part of our duty is going on frequent expeditions for that special friend. So when we lost my daughter’s significant other, I went all Code Red, Code Red this is not a drill. Repeat this is not a Drill.
“Baby” was dubbed with her unoriginal forename long before my girl could even scream at the top of her lungs “Where’s MY BABY?” Since she was a tiny peanut, she could only sleep if Baby was by her side, well to be more specific, Baby had to be across her face. When I would hear my infant fuss or cry in her crib, I would roll over to my snoring husband, shake him a few times, then jab him really hard in the ribs (you know, just to make sure he was up) and say “Go put Baby on her face.” Within seconds of Baby being applied to her face, silence. That silence was only broken by the other cry that meant “Where’s the boob at, Lady?”
Even now when I peak in at my slumbering gal, this is how we find her
There is a strict policy for all guests: if you are in her bed, you must have a Baby on your face too.
Baby must can also be worn in times of stress, anxiety, fear, anger, or just hanging out.
Learning from other mothers, I knew it was imperative to have backup Babies, but no matter how hard I tried, Baby 2 and Baby 3 never made the cut. Their fresh faces and pink dresses were turned away for the muted attire and reeking Baby she has grown to love.
Our nighttime ritual always includes bath, books, and a Baby search party. Usually my girl has no idea where she’s left her beloved and my patience runs thin as we all search for her. “Baby needs to stay in your bed,” I tell her “No more searching for Baby every night.” She nods and I nod, but we both know that tomorrow it will be more of the same.
So last week when Baby went missing, I assumed it was the usual game, but this time Baby was nowhere to be found. After tearing thorough every possible hiding space, we had to abandon our search for the night. I assured her that Baby 3 would suffice. With a little sob, she agreed and went to bed with Baby 3 on her face. Surely Baby would turn up tomorrow, but after four days and no Baby, I started to think she was a goner. Could I file a missing persons report for Baby? If the officer was a parent surely he would understand.
Slowly she was adjusting to Baby 3, but I was the one longing for the original Baby. Even though that toy smelled like old milk and dirt and I was afraid to wash her for fear of decapitation from lack of stuffing, it was my baby’s lovie and the one thing she cherished the most in this world. I envisioned someday sneaking Baby into her pillowcase when went to a sleepover with friends or Baby finding her way into dorm room when she heads off to college. I was CRUSHED but my daughter was dealing.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to find Baby. The day she disappeared, we had a marathon day of errands so I called every place Baby had been. I grilled each person that answered the phone about Baby’s whereabouts. Nothing. In an act of desperation I searched the house high and low one more time. Nothing. Just before I gave up I remembered yelling at the kids for making their own bobsled team out of the old crib mattress and bed in the spare bedroom. I swung the door open and started searching the room. And there, wedged between the wall and the bed was Baby. Her half-smirk beckoning me to save her. I hugged that dirty little doll, tried not to vomit from her smell, and raced up the stairs to return her to her sleeping owner. I tucked Baby under my daughter’s arm and breathed a sigh of relief. Mommy:finder of all that once was lost.
The next morning my little girl came downstairs shaking Baby “Mommy! It’s Baby! She’s back!”
“I told you Mommy would find her! Oh God get her out of my face. I might puke, and this time I’m serious. If you lose her again, Mommy is not going to find her.”
I will ALWAYS find Baby for you, but for real, get her out of my face. She stinks.
My oldest son had a stiffed sheep, “sheepy” and I always told people that sheepy smelled like a real sheep when he’d drag that thing around everywhere. It was true.
ON HER FACE?! Kids are so silly 🙂 Though I did appreciate Big A, the guest, with a baby on his face as well 🙂 Good find, Mama!
I am totally cracking up! “Go put baby on her face.” That is just hilarious that it had to be there, and hilarious how bad it stinks!
I know the pain.
we had “lovesy” and “one” which was short for other one lovesy… and my oldest- well, we tried the alternate lovies so in case one got lost…but somehow she found both at once and that was that. she’ll be 9 in july and both sleep with her in her pillow now. she didn’t put them on her face, she sucked their tails. OFF. seriously. neither has a tail left. kids are weird.
I will say, if you want to wash baby, put her in a lingerie bag and do a delicate wash cycle with very little detergent. she’ll look fresher and probably smell better. plus on gentle with a lingerie bag shell be less likely to get torn or something.
I so understand your story. Our granddaughter had “B” and we have been known to drive 120 miles to get him when her Daddy forgot to put B in car when we picked her up!
Bwahahaha! I about died laughing at the last line! However, I feel your pain. My boys had blankets they dragged around behind them like Lynus from Peanuts. If I washed them, they were mad as tigers in cage with meat hanging just out of reach. The things we endure for our children.
Love these pictures! And my sister had a blanket that she had to have, none of my kids had anything.
Awww-how sweet! Its so funny how they get attached. My older two never really had anything – but Kallie Jane has “blank” which is looking SUPER ragged these days. We got a new one for Christmas just in case….I was worried she wouldn’t like it, but she doesn’t seem to care if it is the new or old one!
Hahaha this is awesome! I love love love the way you write…and it’s so nice to feel normal when I read stories like these 🙂
This is great! I think we’ve all had that moment of panic when our kids have lost their best toy! (Or paci in my case!)
I went through that with my kids when they were younger. lol. I remember how they were stinky too. lol
We had back ups for Little Man’s puppy as well and now he just sleeps with all three, but he still loves the first one best.
Hilarious! It’s amazing what kids get attached to! So glad you found Baby!
My daughter had “Puppy,” a stuffed dalmatian. It was always terrible when she couldn’t find Puppy!
I feel sort of lucky that my daughter never had a lovie. I worked with toddlers and preschoolers in a preschool setting so yes, I can totally imagine the panic when it went missing! Glad you found it! =)
This reminds me of the time we lost a lovie on vacation in Galway, Ireland! I was devastated! Her, not so much. She was young enough that we got to replace it pretty easily. Cute post!
The pics of the lovey on the head and face are precious!
I remember going crazy trying to find a special toy that a child could not live without. Hopefully I am past those days.
The Things Mommy Does For Her Kids, Whenever ANYBODY Can’t Find ANYTHING They ALWAYS Come To MOMMY & MOMMY ALWAYS KNOWS WHERE IT IS!!! LOL!
Awwww I’m so glad you found her!! How sad 🙁 I love your pictures though!
Oh my gosh, she is adorable!!! My niece is like that too.
oh how precious, my kids have never took to a toy or blanket that they needed all the time. I always thought this was adorable though!
So incredibly cute! In our bed, all sorts of toys go on the face. Apparently 😉
Uggh..I feel your pain! My son totally took to a red Pooh blanket that was my oldest child’s. She never liked it and out of all the cute blankets he had..this “night-Night Binkie” is his favorite blanket. He sucks his two fingers and rubs it for comfort.