the journey of a giraffe

When I was pregnant with Amelia, I looked at every baby item i could find. I would veer off any road to any store, big or small, to look at their baby items. At one of these stores I found a super soft, plush lovely lovey. It was made by a company called little giraffe. It was perfect for a baby to have with him, hold onto, be their lovey.

i bought it for her. I read the tag and it said for the parents to sleep with it so the baby would latch to it easier. done. threw it in our bed for 2 nights before she was born and packed it for the hospital trip. After she was born, we kept it near her, covered her with it while feeding, etc. As she grew, it was evident it worked. She HAD to have it to go to bed. Don't try to sneak her into her crib with out it, she would loudly vocalize her displeasure.

After Amelia became mobile, there were many nights that we had to search high and low, in closets, under couches, in cabinents and behind animals to find that blanket. At some point I decided that I should go back and buy her another blanket because she loved it so much. I washed the second one, we slept with it too and it worked! we had a spare.

When Amelia was approaching 5, we noticed the blanket was disintegrating right before our eyes. Originally, the blanket was velour and chenille. It was the velour side that she loved and it was falling apart. It has been sewn back together about 12 times, but it was clear this time it was simply not going to happen. And I had one sad girl on my hands. I had tried to get her to like another blanket, but they were not as soft, not as plush, just not her lovey.

What's a mom to do? I had to do something so while in Springfield, we ran across a "big girl" version of her blanket. it was velour on both sides with zebra trim. I asked her if she would like that lovey and she said no. so we compromised. we took her lovey and attached it to the new lovey. we (know when I say "we" in any sewing capacity that i mean Lori Dale!) put the chenille side up, and then took every scrap of chenille we could muster from that blanket and put it on the top. so it was kinda tripled layered. It has held her over, but even still, the chenille is falling off. Luckily she is OK with the new side now. Here are some pictures through the years of her giraffe blanket.