The Two Nights Baby Timmy Was Missing.

Two long nights.

For two very long nights Baby Timmy was missing in action.

Baby Timmy.

Otto’s precious sleeping/living/hang out blanket.

(If you’ve ever seen Baby Timmy, you know “blanket” is a bit of stretch for that tired, tattered bit of has-been blanket.)

But he loves it and we love Otto and so, by default, we all love Baby Timmy too.

(It’s funny, of course.  We worked to wean sweet little Mo-Town from her long-ago blanket addiction.  But young Sir Otto’s blanket affection has never even been called into question.  Some might say it’s because with Child Number Six parents are more lenient.  Or more exhausted.  Or worse at their jobs.  None of which would I say apply to the long-lasting-ness of Baby Tims – that’s his nickname guys.  The real reason Otto still has Baby Timmy dragging after him is not because we’re lazy or tired now.  It’s because by Child Number Six we realize that he will grow up at lightning speed all by himself and he will not be entering middle school holding a ripped yellow rag so there is absolutely no reason to come between a boy and his blanket.)

Now.

Where was I?

Oh yes – Baby Timmy was missing.

Two nights.

We’d searched the car.  The stairs.  Behind the beds.  Under sofas and tables and outside in the lawn.

Baby Timmy was nowhere in sight.

The first night Otto suffered in misery.  The next morning he woke up, padded down the stairs, leaned over the edge of the bed and whispered to me before my eyes were open – “Did you find Baby Timmy last night?”

Of course I had not.

The second night we offered Otto an impostor Baby Timmy.  Same basic size.  Same weight.  Same cloth style.  Different design, color and tag.

Otto wasn’t pleased but he did accept our offer.  He called the new guy Baby Jude.  Later he renamed him Baby Blackbird.

At some point the following day, I decided I should rewash the laundry in our washing machine for the second time, as I had let it sit in the machine overnight after the first wash.

Whilst shifting our clean wet clothes to the magic machine that dries said clothes, I yanked out a yellow bit of miracle.

Baby Timmy!

I shouted and rejoiced and the children came running!

Sounds of joy and jubilation filled the air.

It was a grand afternoon.

Welcome back Baby Tims.  Welcome back.