Lovey Love

It's no secret that my kids are addicted to their loveys.  Laney's lovey devotion is so notorious that Liam has ended up with no fewer than 11 of them to love on.  Laney herself has 4 that she cuddles with, but her exclusive favorites are Doggy Lovey and Pillow (also known in our house as Plovey since they travel together).

Plovey goes in the car, but has to stay in the car to take naps while we shop.  Plovey goes to bed and cuddles with Laney and can only be left at home on the rare occasion.  Don't worry, if Plovey stays home then Bunny Lovey, Elephant Lovey, or Ella (2 separate elephant loveys) get called up from the minors to pitch the big game.

Liam has become really attached to his loveys (currently with yellow froggy, blue monkey, blue doggy and others in heavy rotation) too.  He gets to cuddle them at naptime and bedtime.  In fact, you can accurately predict whether puttting him down for nap will be successful by how he greets the lovey in his room.  If he pushes it away, you are in for a fight.  But if he breaks into smile, you can guarantee that he will gather it to his face and gleefully begin to chew on a lovey limb or ear as you tuck him into his bed.  The cutest reaction by far is late at night during his dream feed.  I feed him a bottle then gently put him back in his crib and tuck a lovey into his arms.  He smiles in his sleep as he gathers that lovey back to him.

Thank God for loveys and security blanket/pillows.  We all had them.  Everyone I have met had a special toy that they cuddled until it fell apart.  Mine was a pillow called "dees".  It is now in tattered shreds but I can still recall the feeling of the ruffle gathered in my hand as I sucked my thumb and comforted myself.  Patrick had a special blanket, my sister dragged "bankie boy" around with her.  I can't wait to see what Plovey and others look like 30 years from now as my children tuck their own kids and loveys into bed.