"Guys" is a blanket term for any of the stuffed animals that Lexie transports/plays with/throws when she is mad. A comprehensive list of guys would probably have 25-30 entries. But for all intents and purposes, when you talk about her guys, you're talking about what I like to call "the fab four" (side note: I don't like the Beatles, so I'm actually referring to Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy).
1. Toby : Toby is a turtle who came to us via Build-A-Bear when her Aunt Cindee and Aunt Dawnie took her there shortly after her first birthday. Toby is Lexie's go-to guy. He has traveled many miles with her, and has a habit of saying "I love you" when you push his arm. Toby would be like Mickey in my analogy; he is the front man of the band. When we were watching Toby being "born", I had no idea how much Lexie would be attached to him. He has certainly been well loved...and shows signs of how well loved he is. Toby had to have some minor surgery with the Build-A-Bear plastic surgeon about a year ago, but he had a 100% recovery and is still going strong.
2. Bunny: Bunny is the original member of the entourage. Bunny was a shower gift from Auntie Missy and as I think about it, has been with Lexie since her first day at home. Bunny is one of those 12" square soft blankets with a bunny head attached to it, which made it perfect for Lexie to cuddle with from day one. When she got a little bit older, there was a certain way that she had to hold Bunny, with one finger tucked underneath just so. Bunny has actually been given to Toby, and sleeps with him always (I guess this shows how much Lexie adores Toby). Bunny is the Minnie of the group. She is attached at the hip to Toby, always at his side.
3. Doggy: Doggy is similar to Bunny, except he obviously has a dog head instead of a bunny head. Doggy came into our lives in a most curious way. One night, when Lexie was not quite a year old, her diaper leaked in the middle of the night, leaving us with a wet crib sheet and no options. For some reason, we didn't have another sheet to put on, so I had to race to Wal-Mart for a 3:00 a.m. visit (which, by the way, is the ONLY time that it isn't busy). Bunny, unfortunately, was a wet casualty as well, so Stacie instructed me to find not only a sheet, but a suitable (albeit temporary) replacement for Bunny while he was getting clean. Easier said than done...YOU try replacing an icon. Doggy was the answer, and when I returned home we put her back to bed with dry sheets and a new friend. Lexie found room in her crib and her heart for a new guy, and once Doggy was presentable, she latched on to both of them, and they became a formidable duo; akin to those memorable buddy movies with Mickey and Donald.
Last, but not least-
4. Whitey: Lest you think that we are encouraging racial stereotypes on Lexie at an early age, Whitey is actually a white alligator. We were visiting Hogle Zoo one day, and at the end of the white alligator exhibit was a stuffed white alligator with blue eyes. Lexie took a liking to him, and he came home with us. In a shocking turn of events, Whitey cracked into the guy triumvirate of Toby, Doggy, and Bunny, and has been a solid #4 ever since. If Whitey had to be named after his appearance today, it would likely be "Dusty" instead of Whitey, because he is showing the mileage on his tires, but he is still beloved. Whitey is like the Goofy of the group; he is a integral part of it, but is prone to going off on his own adventures. He was missing for a day, only to be found behind the bed. Then, we couldn't find him for several days, only to have him turn up in one of Lexie's bags. These adventures never cause the panic that a missing Toby would, but when he reappears, it is celebrated with all of the joy of the Prodigal Son coming home.
The main impetus for my posting this was what I found in our living room this morning when I was fixing breakfast for Lexie:
Lexie was getting a tea party ready, and in her words "didn't want her guys to get cold", so she carefully tucked them in while she fixed all of the dishes. I really think that she will be a good big sister; especially if she takes care of him as well as she takes care of her guys. As long as she doesn't throw her little brother when she's mad, we'll be alright!
