Madelyn's Love For Animals

Fake ones, that is.

A little background. When Madelyn was a year old we were at Marshall's. She found this cute brown teddy bear that she then carried with her through the store. I mean, she was ADORABLE being so tiny and carrying this teddy that was almost as big as her around the store. Well, I caved. I had to buy it for her. I knew she and this teddy could not be separated. He was later named Papa Bear.

Another time we were at Target (she was almost 3) in the dollar section (BEST THING TARGET HAS EVER DONE!) and she picked up a little stuffed dog. She was playing with it and when I was ready to move on I told her to put the dog back. She did and before she walked away she gave it a little talk about how she had to go, and on and on in a cute little way that only little girls can talk to stuffed animals in, before she then came over to me.

Now, the thing is, she was fine with leaving the dog. She had said her good-byes and then just skipped over to me ready to go, but I could not get over the fact that she was so sweet with the dog! We had to go back and get it. It was only a dollar! I used my card for $1.06 that day at Target b/c I bought nothing but the dog that she had already told me would be named Bambi.

Let me tell you, both Bambi and Papa Bear have been big parts of our lives. For a long time she had to sleep with them. I can't believe how much Bambi has been loved being that she is a dollar section dog from Target, but don't mutts from shelters make the best dogs?

Well, we were at Marshall's yesterday and she picked up this stuffed dog. There are a lot of cute stuffed animals, but I have to be honest here and say that this dog just was not cute. It was a dalmation looking dog, but it had funky eyes, like really big eyes or something. I don't know, but something didn't sit right with me and this dog.

Anyway, she had just bought a fairy barbie with her b-day money thankfully because she then wanted this dog. I don't even know how much it was, but I was able to tell her no because she just bought the barbie.

She carried the dog with her for the rest of the time in the store. When we were going to leave she said, "Oh, I have to put the dog back!" I told her I would wait for her and looked at some fun (too expensive) coats while I waited. When I turned around to see if she was coming I saw her walking, but turned back gazing at the bin where she had to leave the dog.

Oh my. If that dog hadn't been so ugly I would have been tempted to buy it for her right then.

I didn't say a word though because I could tell she could cry over this one. So, I just reached for her hand. She grabbed my hand and laid her head on my arm. I still said not a word. I could not believe she was so smitten with this dog.

Meanwhile, I'll be driving back to Marshall's tomorrow and buying the dog. It can be a Christmas gift right? I mean she probably won't even remember it, but I'll feel better.

Bambi is the little dog right near her face. Cute huh?

You'd think she'd be just as smitten over live animals, but she's not.