It's funny how somebody so young can get so attached to some random inanimate creature who's goofy expression never changes. Maybe that's half the charm of Todd.Todd made his debut in our lives from an old colleague of Jason's when Lily was born. He wasn't necessarily the cutest stuffed toy, nor the most cuddly, but somehow remained one of the few stuffed animals ever-present in Lily's crib as a wee babe. I think it was mostly because he best matched the rest of the decor in her room.
Todd is a frog - aptly named by Lily's Aunt Shelley. He has a disproportionately large head, beady little black eyes, and a tuft of green wool projecting from the top of his head. He smells like baby powder 100% of the time and has a little rattle in his head. We often hear Todd's head rattle before we hear Lily wake up. Like a rattlesnake's warning before he strikes.
Her attachment to Todd developed slowly. First he had to be in the crib with her in the morning when she woke up. Then she couldn't fall asleep without him. This turned into Todd coming on Every. Single. Vacation. this past year.
Todd, Lily and Mookie on vacation in Edmonton - Oct 06Naturally Todd became 'Dirty Todd' - after umpteen camping trips and dirt baths followed by numerous 'let's see if Todd can swim in the lake' experiments. And naturally, the pressure was on to find another Todd because:
1. DT was starting to look like a Street-frog and
2. life would positively end for Lily if Todd was lost.
It's a funny thing - mat leave. Sometimes there's not much to do during the day. So having a *Quest* can be exciting, exhilarating. (believe me). My quest to find more Todds was exhausting. I contacted Jay's colleague, who couldn't remember where she'd bought him. I checked every toy store, toy department and mall kiosk in the lower mainland. I checked online. I phoned the Manufacturer. No Todd.
Finally months later, on a random outing to Coquitlam Centre, I found Todd - in clearance, at the Bay. I quickly bought up the remaining stock (2) and headed back with my freshly scented Todd booty.
Lily of course, had no clue there was three, because I always hid the other two. When it became apparent that she didn't care if she had one or one hundred, Todds started appearing in various locales around the house; the trunk of the car, laundry baskets, underneath the couch, in bags, the crib, the fridge. It looked like aftermath of a bloody war of Todd's in our house, with lifeless mint coloured frogs strewn everywhere.
The omnipotence of Todd has had some lasting effects on her because now, not one but at least TWO Todds have to be with her at all times. She can only fall asleep with two Todds*. Todd has to be squished up to my face when I'm carrying her around while out and about. And we must pull over the car if Todd accidentally falls out of her carseat.
It's imperative that Todd be in the high chair with her, and she loses her shit if Todd isn't hanging on the shower rod while she's having a bath. Lately, she's been difficult to even get in the bath because she wants Todd in there with her, and screams if we take him away!
Mourning the 'No Todd in the Bathtub' rule - 12 months
I personally think it's sweet. And handy. I know when she wakes up by his rattle, I know she's tired when she starts pulling at the tags on his bum. And I know that calmness will ensue once she has Todd in her arms.
Most importantly, I know that the consideration and love she's showing for Todd is something she learned from us... And I'm reassured that her attachment is not too 'Fatal Attraction' by the fact that her first words were 'Mama' and 'Papa'.
And not Todd....
M+D:1 vs. Todd:1499
L
* I just had to stop writing because Lily woke up screaming for her second Todd.
