7.19.2009

a special friend...

George has a special friend. His name is Ben. Ben the snuggly sheephead. He's kind of like a sheep ghost, a floating head with no actual limbs. He's incredibly soft, and a fantastic sleeping companion.

Here's George sleeping on our bed - you can just see a little bit of Ben.


Here's a good shot of Ben and George. We first started putting Ben with George when George was a newborn. Just a bedside companion. Now that George can move around and snuggle - George really likes the company.


Ben has an incredibly soothing effect on George. When we try to get George to sleep... if you put Ben on George's face George will almost immediately get heavy eyelids and start to drift off. Normally Ben is like a stuffed animal ambien. He looks peaceful now, but today George had Ben in a headlock and was punching him in the face. Fortunately, Ben appears to be quick to forgive.


I don't remember having something to snuggle like this. Could this be a lasting relationship - or just a flash in the pan fling? Are we setting ourselves up for some sort of disaster-tantrum when Ben goes missing or the eventual waves of nausea when becomes so tattered that he looks like an old dishrag from Red Lobster?

Not sure... sleep tight George...

6 comments:

Unknown said...

So sweet! What a cute little guy. I love sleeping babies snuggling with things. Lane had "white blanket" and I really thing she chose that one to be the magic blanket because of the satin edges. We decided to go for the satin again, except use one of those little "floating heads" with a bunny. She loves her bunny and says "oooo" and gives it big hugs whenever we say bunny. She loves it. And they aren't quite as big as the blankets, is what I figure.

Johnny said...

You are definitely setting yourself up for a long-term relationship. Anything your kids always do when they go to bed, they will always want to do when they go to bed. And both of your outcomes are virtually guaranteed.

To avert the first scenario. I suggest you go get a couple more Bens of different varieties (like the bear, etc), and consistently rotate them. Just tell George he is too young for a monogamous relationship. That way if you are in a pinch with no Ben around George will be more ready to accept a new sleep buddy. Also you need to get more so that you can keep rotating them and avoid the dirty rag. Plus you don't want to lose Ben when George is 3 and go to the store to pick up the new one only to find they have been discontinued. Having a comfort blankie for our kids has been great, especially when we are traveling, etc. But I am glad that we had a set of blankies, because it has averted disaster many times.

P.S. If you end up using time outs for discipline you will find your arsenal rendered useless when George is acting up at bed time. "If you don't go to bed, I am going to get you up and have you sit somewhere," just doesn't seem to be a problem for my kids. But if Ben had to sleep in Dad's room tonight, that can be a very potent weapon. Although I doubt you will ever need to resort to such baseless tactics as your kids will always just listen to you.

Anonymous said...

George is looking so big. He has grown in the few weeks since I have seen him. He's keeping up with our tomato plants. They have doubled in size-just kidding. It is so cute to see him snuggle with the lamb. It makes me feel like I am sort of giving him a hug too. Could you just fed-ex George to Grandma's house for an in person hug? Love, Grandma Potter

Dawn D. Lion said...

how increadably cute! my babies never had just one attachment object, but it seems pretty handy to me, ie, benefits outweigh potential negatives.

MF said...

Cute kid David and Ashley. When I first read the part about the floating head, my mind immediately sprang back to The Godfather. Glad to know that it's harmless sleeping buddy rather than a message from an angry mob boss.

Blythe said...

I second Johnny's advice. Boy were we glad we had "fat bunny" when the "real" bunny got left behind on the Algiers Point ferry. Are you setting yourself up for a long term relationship? Potentially. Scarlett still sleeps with the fat bunny, and she's seventeen. Only now he is just bunny. The funny thing we discovered in recent years is that many of her friends born in the early 90s have an equally loving long-term relationship with a good night moon bunny.

For those of you who don't know, Abigail's security object was legend: a Victoria's Secret negligee she called "nightie." There were a few of them over the years, but the first one was bright red and lacy. The strap had broken, so I threw it in the costume box. Abigail discovered it before she turned one, and enjoyed wearing it. Around her neck. In public.