Dollie... a friendship rekindled

Remember the blue feather last year?  Gracie wouldn't let it go for hours, holding it on the bus ride all the way home from school, through taking off her clothes, putting them back on and even in the car on the way to therapy.  Up until that day, she had never held onto a toy (or any object) in the car like that.  And she didn't do it again until September 17th.

It all started on September 16th.  Well, in reality, it all started years ago. Gracie got her Dollie when she was just a baby.  They were pals for a long time, as much as Gracie can be pals with a toy.  See, as loving and doting of a doll mom as Gracie can be (Dollie, Edna, a couple of babies...), she can go equally cold and distant and leave the her dolls behind, ditching them and even refusing to look at them!  Remember the kidnapping last year?!  (While this is meant to be funny and lighthearted, the truth is that there have been many days over the years where a particular toy - - no rhyme or reason in our minds - - will trigger a crazy rage with Gracie and she won't calm down until that toy is out of her sight line.  Dollie has, many times over the years, elicited that very reaction from her.)  Gracie hadn't played with Dollie in ages.  Other dolls and babies, yes, just not Dollie. 

Back to September 16th... I took this of the three kids together following Gavin's 7 month "green chair" pictures.

Immediately after, Gracie signed, "doll."  (It just so happens that this is the same as our sign for Dollie since she was Gracie's very first doll.)  She signed again, much more forcefully, which made me feel as though she weren't just signing "doll," but, instead, asking for her old friend.  I said aloud what I thought she was wanting and Preston ran off to get Dollie from the playroom.  In the meantime, I put away the camera (doesn't it figure?) and, as a result, I took this picture with my cell phone when Gracie happily took Dollie from Preston with look of sheer satisfaction.

She got exactly what (who) she wanted and she was content.  For hours.  Days actually.  Dollie was attached to her like a limb... she went everywhere for an entire day.  And, if Gracie hadn't started school on the 18th, I think it would have lasted even longer!

Once Dollie was in her arms, she remained there all night.  She scooted all around the house with her, doing laps around the kitchen island and in and out of the playroom area.  Gracie took Dollie to bed with her - - a first. She began playing with her the moment she woke up in the wee hours of the night. And, as the sun rose, she continued playing with her. When she and Girlie (her brand-new-at-the-time nurse), left for a walk, she continued holding onto her! (It was only then, nearly 18 hours after her initial request, that I busted out the camera and started documenting!)

Before the walk

After the walk (she her disheveled hair?!)

Closely watching Gavin to be sure he wasn't planning on snagging her friend from her grip!

This just makes me smile!
 

She held Dollie while Daddy suctioned her trach...

... and while he pretended to suction Dollie's.

And, without dropping her for a second, she managed to get her shoes, socks, shirt and shorts off all while scooting off the cube chair!

She carried her to the car and transferred her from one hand to the other while I got her belted into her car seat.

And she held onto her when I put her shirt back on and seated her in the double stroller to watch Preston's soccer practice.

Later that night, she brought her to bed...

And, she fell asleep by her side!
(Yes... Gracie is asleep!  Yes, her eyes are open.  No, she can't close them all the way!)

And this is her at 3:43am, happily playing with her old friend.
(Her first day of school was only a handful of hours away!)

Later that morning, she held her as John carried her to the bathroom for a bath!

And, two days later, she held her tight as she got ready for school!

Had she not started school, I think Gracie would have continued hanging out with Dollie. They have, over the last few weeks, bonded several more times, but nothing as intense as their nearly 48 hour reunion! It just proves the point that, no matter how long between visits with old, true friends, it's easy to pick up right where you left off!