Mickey

Caelan is not one for stuffed animals.

Nothing like his big sister, Darcy, who loves them all. 

He tolerates them at the foot of his crib, most nights.  Although sometimes even that's too close and they get pitched out.  Other nights they each get a quick kiss before being booted to their place at the bottom of the crib.  He never played with them and never had any interest in any of his stuffies or his sister's most beloved possession (her stuffies).

Well, that was before he fell in love with Mickey.

It's funny because when we were in Florida and he met the Mouse, he was terrified and couldn't get away fast enough.  Now it's like he can't get enough of him.  He loves watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on television.  He even covers his trach to sing along at the beginning of every episode - Miska, Mouska, Mickey Mouse! You have to know what you're listening for though because it comes out more like ee-ha, ou-ha, ih-hee, ouh... Try pronouncing it without any consonants and obviously it would help if you knew the tune too!

Anyway, we're all about Mickey.  Not only do they go to bed together and wake up together, he asks for the Mouse regularly throughout the day and drags him about all the time.  He makes Mickey dance and he makes him sign.  They give each other High Fives and they watch cartoons.  Mickey goes for rides on Caelan's ice cream truck and gets crayons for colouring.  Mickey goes on errands and always has to wear a seatbelt when travelling in the car.  You've seen Mickey being fed and being read stories. 

Dancing "hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog!"

This was very hard for Darcy, because Mickey belongs to her and she loves him.  She wasn't sure she really wanted Caelan to love him that much.  She was willing to share on a short term basis but it wasn't long before this clearly was turning into a 'long term-24 hour a day-all day-everyday' kind of sharing and she wasn't too thrilled about that.  Now granted Darcy has tons, and I mean TONS of stuffed animals, surely she could let her brother have one, right?  But this particular one had been getting major playtime and beditme snuggle time on her part too... It was a tough situation.  It was difficult for her to relinquish Mickey to Caelan with no strings other than he had to play Mickey Mouse with her and the rest of her Mouse family every now and then.  I am very proud of her. 

I hear she's been putting the word out to Grandparents and anyone who'll listen that Caelan would like his own Mickey Mouse for his birthday.