Olivia & Bear

Olivia has a good friend.  His name is Bear.  Bear is a relatively new friend of Olivia's but Bear is not new to the Streit family.  Bear, previously known as Fuzzy Bear back in his prime when he was fuzzy, was born 32+ years ago when he was given to Geoff on his first birthday. While Bear has aged significantly in the last 32 years and doesn't look so great anymore, he hasn't lost his touch on how to be a great friend.  Geoff's mom recently shared with me that every summer when Geoff would come home from college, she would ask him if it was ok for her to throw Fuzzy Bear away given his life expectancy was well past.  Every summer, he would decline the offer saying it wasn't time yet.  I guess he must have known deep down or something that Fuzzy Bear would someday be a friend to his future daughter.

Olivia has really grown close to Bear in the last couple months.  It's been enjoyable and funny for us to watch her begin to treat him as a family member and be a little mommy to him.  Here are a few of the things that she likes to do with him:

• Give him hugs and eskimo kisses
• Put clothes or diapers on him
• Share her food or drink
• Make sure he gets his pretend fingernails/toenails clipped when she gets hers clipped
• Snuggle with him in bed
• Include him when we read books
• Take him on rides in her little shopping cart
• Buckle him into her highchair
• Do his hair (not that he has any left at this point)