froggy and bunny

I've been meaning to do a post about these two for awhile but am only finally getting around to it. I think it's important that the girls know of their first love. 

Before the girls were born, Gramma found the sweetest, softest loveys to give them. She chose a froggy and bunny (because of the colors I think). Around the time the girls were 4 months, I decided I would give them their loveys to see if they could help comfort the girls. I'm not sure how I decided, but I gave Little Bird the froggy and Little Pie the bunny. 

They took to them right away and since then, they have been inseparable. 

While froggy and bunny were super soft and cozy in the beginning, the girls (and the washing machine) began to wear on the poor things. Gramma got a hold of a new bunny and a new froggy. The girls were young enough at the time to not really notice the difference (or else they didn't care).  But  soon, "new" bunny and "new" froggy were the favorites and "old" bunny and "old" froggy were banished to a drawer. 

"Old" bunny and "Old" froggy in their "new" home...the dresser drawer.

As the girls have gotten older, they have become even more attached to their froggy and bunny. They are really good about leaving them at home (so they don't get lost or dirty) when we are out of the house, but the minute they walk in, they head straight towards their loves.

Also as they have gotten older, they have become very upset when froggy and bunny need to go in the washing machine. There are tears. There is concern. It takes a lot of convincing before they are satisfied that froggy and bunny are just "getting a bath". The girls don't like to be separated from their "new" bunny and "new" froggy. Sometimes they will only calm down when I pull out "old" bunny and froggy. They always wait impatiently for the "new" to get clean.

"New" bunny and "New" froggy about to take a bath.

I'm sure you can't tell the difference between the two in the pictures, but the girls definitely which one is "old" and which one is "new". The faded colors and the lost softness are in fact noticeable. The girls have decided that "new" bunny and "new" froggy are "the ones". They tolerate the "old" but only when the "new" are taking a bath (or when they have thrown up on the "new").

Little Bird has definitely put "new" froggy through the ringer. She has started to chew on him which now makes him smell. Ew. Little Pie has put her fingers through her "new" bunny so that it has several holes.  Her pink bunny is now a dull shade of gray/pink. But, they still love the "new" ones the best.

Gramma was sweet and got the girls a third bunny and froggy. She gave them to them around Christmas. Unfortunately the girls were not interested. They did not want to replace "new" froggy and "new" bunny. There was no way we could convince them to take the clean, fuzzy, soft and cozy froggy and bunny. They wanted their worn out, but completely loved, froggy and bunny.

I've attempted to try and replace "new" froggy and "new" bunny with "cozy wozy" bunny and "cozy wozy" froggy several times, but am only met with such reactions as "not this bunny!!" and "not this froggy!!".

Today, I thought I had them convinced.

The girls excited about their "cozy wozy" froggy and "cozy wozy" bunny.

But as soon as I put "new" froggy and "new" bunny in the washing machine, both girls quickly abandoned the "cozy wozies" and cried for their "new" ones. Poor Little Pie was very upset and stood at the washing machine and watched her "new" bunny rolling around in the water. I was so sad for her, but that thing had to be washed!

Of course, I would prefer that they cuddle with their "cozy wozy" bunny and froggy (after all, that's who I would chose!), but why should I decide? The girls have loved their "new" bunny and froggy for as long as they can remember. The "new" froggy and bunny have always been there for them when they needed them the most, so to the girls, it seems impossible to replace their unconditional love.

I totally understand how they feel and will no longer try to force them to accept the "cozy wozy" froggy and bunny. If they chose to love their "new" froggy/bunny until it is just a tattered scrap of fabric, then so be it.