Leave it to Beaver
Bobbin got a fair amount of attention when she was dragging a stuffed cow around town with her everywhere she went. But Millie Moo ain't got nothin' on Beaver.
Ginger and Spicey gave Bobbin a stuffed toy beaver for Christmas. Bobbin had been talking about beavers for a while but had never seen one... I had introduced them to her one morning in the car when she said she wanted to eat the tree outside her window and I told her she'd need teeth like a beaver for that job. "Mommy, what's a Fever?" was her response. When I gave her a description - furry, big oval flat tail that looks like a waffle, two long front teeth, and chews trees - she looked rather incredulous... and skeptical.
So when we... er... ginger and spicey... saw one at Ikea, they just had to buy it for her.
Beaver goes with us everywhere. It's actually an odd looking toy. It's about a foot and a half in length, not counting the tail. Brown mottled fur, beady little black eyes, these two big yellow-white (yes, they actually tried to go realistic with the tooth colour) teeth sticking out of its yarn mouth, and some rather flimsy whiskers (think teenage boy trying to grow a mustache) drooping from each side of its mouth, and you have Beaver.
Beaver's name is Beaver. He is apparently a girl, although prefers to be referred to in the third person masculine form, and he is Bobbin's baby sister. He's learning to use the potty, he loves fruit and really loves soccer. All her words.
But I think the best thing about Beaver is the reaction that Bobbin gets when we're out and about with Beaver. People think it's interesting. They scrape their brain for any amount of beaver relate trivia they might have come across at some point in their lives. They engage us in deep conversations about Beaver's dietary preferences, and whether we have to brush his teeth for him, and whether he's learned yet to communicate with his tail. But even funnier than that is our normally introverted little Bobbin is more than eager to talk the head off of anyone who initiates a conversation with her about her very favourite animal in the world: Beaver. All you have to do is say "Hi! Is that your Beaver?" (all of you who are friends of Tim's can just get your mind out of the gutter right now, thank you) and Bobbin is all smiles and happily engages in an animated conversation.
Beaver came with us to PCC tonight for dinner. He had a pear that Bobbin picked out for him, and he sat in his own highchair, next to Bobbin's (with the understanding that if another baby were to come along, Beaver would have to relinquish his seat). Bobbin had to start his pear for him because despite those beaver-teeth, he just wasn't able to make a dent in it.
Beaver rode around in the little mini shopping cart that we used to collect some groceries after dinner. We stopped in the soda aisle several times because Beaver "weawy woves soda". we brought home a can of organic lemon lime soda just for Beaver.
Beaver shared Bobbin's car seat with her, but he has to be told repeatedly to sit down and be safe during the car ride. Eventually though he does as Bobbin asks.
Beaver sleeps with Bobbin too. And frequently Beaver and Bobbin will engage in some make-believe, where Bobbin pretends she's "Mei" and Beaver becomes "Totoro".
It's kinda fun having a Beaver in the family. We definitely stand out in a crowd! I'm a little concerned about Millie Moo though. She hasn't really been out of the house since Christmas and is looking a little forlorn and out of her element huddled in with Elephant, Tiger, Koko Gorilla, Leopard, and Baluga Whale. But I'm sure she'll be just fine.
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