And Baby Makes Four?

Well what a difference a couple of weeks and a visit from Aunt Jerris makes.  Item #1 - Teddy has been located!  Daddy found him sleeping comfortably (buried and smashed) in the far corner of Lauren's sleeping bag.   Whew.  That was a stressful couple of days.

Item #2 - Aunt Jerris and family came to visit Valentine's weekend and Lauren had a very calculated plan by which to get her Aunt to buy her her first American Girl doll.   We all agreed...She's too young.  It's not yet her birthday.  This is a BIG deal.  Will she appreciate it.?  And what about the very large expense?  One look at these cute cheeks and all reasoning went out the door, so off to  the doll store we went.

The "doll of the year" is named Grace Thomas and she works in a bakery in France.  

So it was very important to first get into character.

Then, hug everyone in the family with excitement.  This might get you more stuff!

Aunt Jerris explained to the sales person that this was a very big decision for such a little girl, so we started out with four potential candidates.  How to choose?

Down to two!

We found the perfect doll.  

Not only does she live in Paris (where Aunt Jerris promises to take Lauren when she turns 18), but she looks quit a bit like Lauren and her last name is "Thomas".  

What could be better?

Packing up to go home with Grace Thomas (and an accessory or two, or four)...

The bag is bigger than Lauren. That's a good day of shopping!

We could't get home fast enough.  Lauren told her Aunt "I'm amped up!"

Sharing the fun with Cousin Sam.

Best day ever!  Thank you Aunt Jerris.  Lights out.

She's a little runaway

As we continue to scour (and I mean SCOUR) our house for Teddy, Aunt Coni suggested that I may want to look in all of our suitcases.  Reason being that the last time Teddy went missing, he was found in Bryon's suitcase as Lauren wanted Teddy to travel with her Dad.

So as I'm looking in the very back of Lauren's closet today, I came across a new suitcase that clearly was packed to the rims.

Rewind to last month, when I continuously asked Lauren where all of her underwear had gone as we were down to only a few pairs.  "Lauren, where are the brand new Frozen panties that Aunt Jerris gave you for Christmas?"  "Rebecca, do you have extra pairs of Lauren's panties at your house by chance?"  "Lauren, we are going to have to go and buy some new panties this weekend as I have no idea where they have all gone."

Back to present day, and although Teddy is still missing, 9 pairs of panties, 6 pairs of pants, 5 shirts, and 3 pairs of socks have been found.

Clearly she is planning to run away when we least expect it!

MISSING

When you first become a parent your smart-parent friends will tell you "If your child has a favorite blanket or stuffed animal that goes with them everywhere, comforts them in times of need, and that they must sleep with every night, then get TWO of them".  Because inevitably on a cold winter's night, when it's late, and time for your child to go to bed, that favorite item will go...

That's right.  Teddy has been missing for the standard 48 hours and now we're sending out a search team around the Thomas house to find him.  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we find him before another sleepless night.  The reward is getting bigger!