When CJ turned one year old, she received a Panda Bear for her birthday.  It quickly became the bear she slept with, took everywhere, etc.  One day she got sick and threw up all over it.  I had to wash it and it didn't "feel" the same anymore.  So I grabbed another bear from the collection of stuffed animals.  When she began to talk, she named him "Brown Down" from one of her favorite books, Hop on Pop ("pup up, brown down, pup is down, where is brown?").  For the past 5.5 years she has taken Brown Down everywhere.  Before we leave, the question is generally asked "Where's my bear?"  Since turning 6, she has slowly begun leaving him in the car when we go places as we have had some near misses in leaving him places.  Well, yesterday, for the first time, we were going out to Target and she said "Mom, I think I'm going to try to leave my bear at home."  I was having a pretty emotional day anyway, but this made me tear up!  Here's a recent picture of Brown Down (notice that all the fur has been loved off, much of it was on the floor in the van when I vacuumed). 

Can only guess Brown Down was even more upset than I was.  My oldest is growing up:(

For a while now, I've been praying for the relationship between my "middles", AK5 & EF2.5.  Most of the battles during the day are between these two.  Well, yesterday I realized - gasp - they were actually playing together without my ordering it or cajoling it!!  I tried to pretend I wasn't listening so as not to disturb them.  I hear AK saying "Come on, dog.  Here, girl" and watched EF crawl along beside him.  They continued this play for a good hour or so as he ordered her around, gave her food & water to eat and drink(pretzels in a bowl which she ate without hands), etc.  It took everything in me not to laugh out loud.  Not exactly what I had envisioned, but I'll definitely take it!

-J