I Love You To Pieces...

Have you ever loved something to pieces, literally?  I'm not talking about a person or an animal, I'm talking about an actual "thing".  Well, I definetly have and now so has my sweet little Zoe.

The THING that we've loved to shreds is our "bankies". The blanket that my mom's best friend made for me as a baby accompanied me to bed every single night for about 22 years. When my husband married me, he also married my blanket.  Yes, seriously.  When that blanket had been loved to pieces and was hanging together by threads (it was actually tied together) I couldn't throw it in the trash.  I lovingly folded it up and placed it in my nightstand, where it still is to this day. 

The tears flowed as I folded up my faded, see-through, once was blanket to pack it away.  That blanket comforted me when I was frightened, sick, worried, and heartbroken. It calmed me the nights before a first day of school, dance auditions, job interviews and even the nights following the birth of my first baby. My blanket and I had seen every emotion together.  I used to say as a kid that if my house were on fire that I would run into my burning house to get my blanket.

Well, my sweet lil Zoe also found this comfort in her blankie, which she lovingly named Mr. Cozy.  Now her blanket was not handmade, so it has fallen apart many, many years before mine did (poor kid) :(  Mr. Cozy has been unraveling for a few months now and last week we knew there was no turning back...it was time.  We tried to explain to Zoe that the strands shredding from her blanket could be a choking hazard to her baby sister.  After a long, long hard cry Zoe was ready.  She folded up Mr. Cozy, gave "him" a squeeze and placed the blanket in her nightstand.  I think it was more heartbreaking for me, as she was having to give up her security blanket 16 years before I ever did.

The next morning as we were shopping I saw her staring at an isle of baby blankets with tears in her eyes.  I couldn't stand it, I asked her,  "Zoe, do you want to pick out a new Mr. Cozy?"  She explained to me that it wouldn't be the same, as it wouldn't smell the same.  I assured her that after time her new blanket with smell just as wonderful as Mr. Cozy (which Paul and I called Mr. Stinky behind her back).  She took her time and picked out a new blanket, which she has named Mr. Pinky.  Six-years-old is just too young to not have a beloved blanket.

On this Valentine's Day, may we all remember everyone and every "thing" that we love and could not live without.  Happy Hearts Day - Rae

Me with my "blankie" at 1 1/2.  Notice the vibrant colors!

Me at four-years-old.  I love this pic because I can see the backing on my blanket.

This is what my blanket looks like today.  No stuffing, backing.  Just a faded, tissue thin, most loved piece of fabric in the world.

Two month old Zoe laying on her blanket. 

Zoe and Mr. Cozy.

"Mr. Cozy" laying on top of what her blanket used to look like.  That's a lota love.

Roxie and her already beloved blanket.