BeeBee...

BeeBee is how Maddie refers to her baby doll...this doll is one of the most important items in our family...in fact I almost feel guilty in referring to this well loved baby doll as a item...something that could be thrown away or replaced...this baby has been with Maddie since the beginning...when I found out about the extra chromosome I bought nothing for her...I was so consumed with just trying to keep myself sane that I did not want to fuss about anything including bedding, clothes, toys, nothing...we were not sure Maddie would live...we were not sure of much and I did not want any reminders of her if she was to pass...and then one day near the time I was to deliver Maddie I went to my favorite shop here in town...Country Charm...a small local store that has meaning to me...and I bought a blanket for her...a pink silk and fuzzy one...it was perfect...Maddie was born and the blanket was placed with her from the moment she was born and is still in her bed today...so when we came home from Denver I had this strong urge to get Maddie a doll...not clothes or a bed....I had to find the perfect baby...I wanted one that looked like Maddie...one that she would love and keep her safe like I had when I was a child...so we looked all over the Internet, Denver, and then I found it at a locally owned toy store and it was perfect...the hair...the eyes...the smell...perfect...Maddie has had this baby since she was a baby and it has been through every hospital stay, every vacation, every night of sleep...this baby has been to DC and back...it often goes to therapy and camp and even the lake...every morning you can hear Maddie saying good morning to BeeBee...if she puts baby down and returns she always greets baby with a Hi BeeBee a hug and kiss...it is the first thing she seeks out when she returns from school...this baby has seen it all and has been thrown up and washed more times then I can count and still has the smell of when it was first placed in Maddie's crib...it is not something I will try to replace or take away...it is not something I want her to grow out of...the baby is a huge part of the family that even Max is careful to keep a watchful eye on it so it is not forgotten...the blanket and the doll mean more then a monetary value...the blanket was bought to wrap my baby in no matter the outcome....the baby was purchased to protect my baby and always give comfort...as Maddie has gotten older her baby has learned to dress it self, go potty on the potty, dance, do treatments with her and love to be a perfect sidekick to my girl...