Spot and Bunny

When Sam was just a few weeks old, a lady from church gave him a little stuffed dog. Although Sam has liked several different stuffed animals over the years, this dog has been his favorite. When he was about one or two, he made the connection that his dog looked like the character Spot in the children's books by Eric Hill. We've called his dog Spot ever since, even though he doesn't have a dark spot on his body like the book character.

Spot and Sam's "blankie" have been his special nighttime companions for years and years. Whenever we traveled, we would bring Spot with us. And, over the past two or three years, Sam has diligently slept with Spot every night. Sam even brings Spot when he has occasional sleepovers at Bop and Gram's house.

When we found out that we were going to have a new baby, we told Sam that he could be in charge of choosing a blankie and a new stuffed animal for the baby. After all, Sam is the expert in our family on blankies and stuffed animals. He has carefully inspected the blankies at Target a few times, but hasn't found the one that he wants the baby to have. His own blankie was made by Carter's, and it has a silky side and a fuzzy side. We have yet to find a similar one; I think Carter's stopped making them a few years ago.

Sam has found a stuffed animal, though. When we were at Target earlier this week, he saw a little white stuffed bunny with floppy ears. This bunny will be his first gift to his new sister. We hope she loves it as much as Sam loves Spot.

After we selected the bunny, Sam and I held hands as we walked through the store. He said in a thoughtful - yet excited - tone, "A brother or a sister is a friend that lives in the same house as you." I agreed with him. I hope he and his little sister are as good of friends as Sam hopes they will be.