Beloved Frog

Sam loves his frog. My mom got it for him as one of my shower gifts. He WILL NOT go to sleep without it. It's very soft and the perfect size for him. He started a ritual a couple months back at bedtime...when I ask him if I can have a goodnight kiss, he always has me give Frog a kiss first. It's very cute. What is not cute is how he will not sleep without Frog. If Frog gets snot on him, a leaky diaper gets too close, or some other dirtiness, it is Operation Wash and Dry Frog before the next nap/nighttime so that he has it back in his crib in time. To avoid this problem, my mom tried to get a second "backup" Frog (a.k.a "Frog 2") about 7-8 months or so ago from the same company. Well, they CHANGED Frog!! It's really only slightly different. Didn't think Sam would notice. He was about 9-10 months old when I slipped it in his crib and hid the original Frog. He picked it up, looked at it from different angles, and promptly pitched it into the corner of his crib. Then he looked at me as if to say, "you really didn't think I'd be fooled by that imposter, did you?" I tried a few more times with the same result. Frog 1 would be tucked under his arm and Frog 2 would be tossed aside, under a blanket. Two nights ago, I decided to give it another try. Sam has to start a new school in a few weeks, and I wanted him to have something to take without taking Frog in case we forget it or it gets lost. This time I put in Frog 2 and while he seemed to recognize he was different, he still accepted it! I was so excited. I slipped in his room later that night to see what he did with Frog 2. He was lying there fast asleep with a Frog under each arm. Success! Of course, I had to run out to get my camera and take a picture. Now he has 3 items he loves to sleep with: Frog, Frog 2, and his special blanket Ben's mom made for him and gave me at that same shower.