Annabel has all varieties of toys – musical instruments, robots, balls, objects with wheels, dolls, and things that make noise. She has always been very into the loud toys, much to my dismay. But hey, that’s why they invented headphones.
On her birthday she received a few dolls. I had them still in the packages, ready to put away to slowly dole out to her, when she saw one and went nuts. She was practically clawing through the plastic, yelling BAYBAY! BAYBAY! Well, OK then. Out the baby came.
She is OBSESSED with the baby doll (which has been named Mimi). She has Mimi with her constantly.
It’s hilarious to watch. She cradles the doll (excuse me, Mimi) and even sings to her.
(notice the cast-off dolls surrounding her)
The thing that cracks me up is that Annie will stand up, then bend down to grab Mimi to come along with her.
She gives the doll a kiss and even hugs her! Cuteness overload.
It’s so cute to see her being loving and gentle with a toy. I’ve chosen to take advantage of the situation by having her gently hug Mimi and then gently pet Rigby. It seems to be working really well so far.
I know the fickle nature of children (especially mine) so who knows how much longer she’s going to want to cradle and sing to her doll.
What I’m dreading the most is when she figures out Mimi is an object she can throw over the fence of the gated community, and suddenly I have to decide to either fetch the doll and risk becoming a player in a twisted baby mind game (a-GAIN mama!), or if I leave Mimi on the other side of the fence to teach Annie the “don’t throw your toys” lesson.
Ugh, this parenting stuff. I know Annie understands.
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
Good chance she will stay a “little mommy”. I have two girls and based on what I see w/them & their friends, it doesn’t seem to have a lot of gray area. It’s not totally black & white, but typically it seems that they are into baby dolls or will only play when someone else forces the issue. (I got two Little Mama’s BTW, which is a pricey endeavor in the age of American Girl dolls. But that’s what Grandparents are for, right?)
mamaspeak´s last [type] ..Full Blown
Awwww! You know, she might not grow out of it. My 2 1/2-year-old has always been that way about “Bayyyybee”s
Mind you, she will toss them down when she’s tired of them, only to pick them up later and cuddle them and murmur “poor baby”.
Mimi looks a lot like one of the bay-bees we have, too!
Kate @ UpsideBackwards´s last [type] ..Don’t shoot the messenger
Adorable photos! That’s the same baby doll we bought for my older daughter when we told her that she was going to be a big sister. She was never that interested in it, but her little sister who will be three next week sure is. She’s as fickle as the next toddler, but she’s been interested in her babies for a solid year now. I like to eavesdrop on her play and listen to her talk to them.
She is so “grown up” & big!! It’s no wonder every person adores your little ones!!! They’re adorable!!
Annie looks just so huggable and snuggly. She’s amazing!
Rebecca´s last [type] ..The Big News
My advice (and I’m very serious here) if she continues with the love of Mimi, is to go to a store and find a doll that looks exactly like Mimi. Put that doll in a box and tuck it away.
One day, if that doll gets lost of wrecked somehow, you will be super glad you have a back up. You can claim Mimi can home from the spa.
Friends of mine lost their daughter’s bunny on a family trip and the drama and sleepless nights that followed were hell. I learned from their mistake for sure.
Heather´s last [type] ..Full ‘o drugs and ready to roll
Don’t just buy one extra Mimi…buy TWO! You will not regret it if this turns out to be her alltime favorite! Trust me…run out and buy more Mimi’s NOW!!
My kids both chose their favorite lovey right around 1 year old. Thankfully for me, there are eBay sellers who specialize in selling “loveys”. We have had to buy multiple replacements of my kids’ loveys due to wear and tear. (We’ve only actually ever lost one lovey.) I think we have had a total of five Lambie’s and four Guy’s. I have always alternated two of the loveys (secretly switching the dirty one for the cleaner one) but have had to completely replace them eventually due to them being loved to the point of having holes in them!
So sweet to see Miss A being a mama to here Mimi.
This is the first time I have ever left a comment and I have been reading your blog for over two years.
My daughter has the same doll but she is called “Pink baby”. Pink baby joined our family on my daughter’s second birthday and has been with us for twelve years ! She still holds a cherished spot in my daughters heart. Mimi may be around for awhile.
I just want to say that I admire your courage, thoughtfullness and heart, you make me laugh, cry and truly be thankfull. Thank you for sharing.
PS Annie was born on my mom’s birthday and since she has passed I celebrate the day thinking of both of them.
Annie will most likely be interested in babies if she has shown the interest so young. My oldest has never wanted anything to do with babies, she was a string and box kinda gal, always trying to find something to build. My second picked up on babies very young and still at 6yrs old loves playing babies with my 2yr old. Who as well has loved babies for about a year now. So I think you have a young mama on your hands, and it is so darn cute to watch them the motherly instincts are crazy!! On a side note I have always wondered about your gated community, ( I always gave my kids free range of the house so I don’t understand it.) I see nothing wrong with I was just wondering??
Our condo is NOT built for a new walker (or a child, for that matter). There are steps everywhere and lots of places where a baby could get hurt if she fell. So, this way, she’s in an environment where we know she’s safe.
I’m with the others, my daughter did not get into dolls until much later, even though I had bought a few for her anticipating she would like them at a young age.
You do have a little maternal one on your hands : )
Amanda´s last [type] ..Christina-Taylor Green
Awww, that is so cute. Sweet little mama Annabel!
Lisa´s last [type] ..Heading Down Under
That is so cute and so sweet! Did she name the doll? Do you think that she thinks that it is little like her? Me-Me? haha! Well, at least little like she USE to be – she’s growing like a weed!
…I may be looking a little too much into the vocab of a one year old…! LOL!
Erin M´s last [type] ..Lazy Days
That is so cute. Her love of her doll may last a long time. I played with dolls from Annie’s age until I was about 10, and believe it or not, none of them had electronic components or an online counterpart. Now it seems like little girls outgrow dolls in favor of ipods by the time they’re 6 or 7, which is sad. It is also great to hear that she is being loving and gentle with her doll, especially with a pet in the house. My poor dolls suffered so much physical abuse. Emotional abuse, too, with all the bad haircuts.
OMG that hair! She has better hair at 1 than I do at 25!
She’s so cute with Mimi!!
My Matilda is doll-crazy. She is 22 months old, and for Christmas, the grandparents got her a baby pack and play and stroller…she puts her babies to bed, puts them in the stroller, tells them night night and wake up and more…after two boys, I totally believe this just comes naturally to little girls!
PS-Annie is adorable.
PPS-My heart still hurts for you and your family and Madeline. Her smile is amazing…which I think every time I read your blog.
We got the same doll for our Annelise (just a few days older than Annie) for Christmas, and she LOVES it. She carries it all over the house, she hugs it, she won’t throw it down…just gently places it. It has to be the cutest thing in the world. She just loves babies. Glad Annie does too!
Liz Baker´s last [type] ..11 Months Young
That is so incredibly cute. And, I agree with Heather’s (the 6th commenter) advice. We had a book that was an obsessive , must have object like that. I ordered 3 copies (it was a paperback) of it off of Amazon and was so thankful I had extras around.
Kristin´s last [type] ..Ummmm- intersting is a kind way to describe it
Mea loves the baybies. All colors, shapes and sizes. We have nearly all the Baby Alives, (except for the pooping one, thank goodness.) She has always been a good little mama. She loves to feed them, roll the around in their strollers, all of it. It’s just so so sweet.
Kelly´s last [type] ..Monster Stompers
I think this is so cute! My daughter is 21 months and still doesn’t care for dolls. She has a Cabbage Patch doll (more for me than her, hehe) and she’ll be so sweet to it the first couple of minutes. Then she’ll take it and start bashing it into the coffee table or her crib.
I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come when she’s older.
Elle´s last [type] ..The fake accent
she’s so sweet. my (now 3 year old) has a bunny that she has been dragging around since birth. actually she has 3 identical bunnies – so i agree with the reader above – go get another one. or two. i rotate them so i can wash one – so they are all pretty much the same condition.
My niece, Mallory has that exact same doll…well, it used to look like that! She has had it for about two years now and goes NOWHERE without it. Her name is Tagatha since Mallory puts herself to sleep by rubbing the tag against her face. Tagatha has her fingernails painted, has had surgical restorations of her tag several times, and was once left in a Home Depot buggy….
It is too funny that it is literally the EXACT, SAME doll! Enjoy the newest member of your family! Mimi Spohr will be around for a while if she’s anything like Tagatha!
Awww Mimi!! She’s too cute with the dolly.
She is sooo adorable!! She look like she is a little snuggler and I could just hug her to pieces!! :0
We’re a baby doll house. My oldest daughter has Baby Sarah (a cabbage patch that was mine a child) that she packs around everywhere – she’s old and ratty and homely looking but B loves her and that’s what matters. Our youngest has her comfort Teddy that travels with us, but there is always a baby in tow too. It doesn’t matter what kind, she just loves babies – and you can hear her singing quite often “Everyday! Everyday!” over and over to the baby in a high pitched squeal. It’s cute and eardrum damaging all at once
Ashley´s last [type] ..The Push and Shove at Costco
My granddaughter’s first doll was this same one. She loved her the minute she was out of the box. Her name is Abby. To this day, 2 years later, she still prefers this doll over her other ones, although she does play with all of them (6) her favorite is Abby. She also sings to her, cuddles her, takes in her stroller, and is totalling being the perfect mommy, she even gives her a time out when she’s naughty. It’s so fun to watch her interact with the doll.
My daughter has that exact doll – she’s called Baby Elizabeth. She got it around her 1st birthday and it’s definitely gotten its use! She doesn’t carry it around everywhere like she used to, but she still plays with it when she’s playing with her other dolls. I’ll never, ever part with it!
So cute! I had beloved dolls when I was a kid, too, and passed them on to my cousins as they got older. I’d say I still have that maternal streak!
Meg´s last [type] ..Rainy day reads- Can your books make you depressed
Annie is so cute with her baby. And I’m sure she’s a good mama to Mimi (she’s learning from you)!!!
She’s such a great lil’ mama!
Em just recently became obsessed with her babies. There’s at least one in the car and two strewn about the living room. We’ve also incorporated a daily walk around the block with one in a baby stroller.
I had to lol because that exact doll is the fan favorite in this house. She was my daughters favorite for years so much so that she now is a dingy brown color – that’s saying a lot too since she has upwards of 10 dolls at any given time including a *gasp* American Girl which still ranks a distant second.
Then one of the boys became obsessed with that doll, bringing many battles, and he got one (in yellow) from Santa and he carries it everywhere. To me it’s not a gender thing boys can play with dolls too … but the exact same doll is a favorite with two kids in this house. It must be spiked with something in that baby powder scent!
Is there a magic little baby girl doll timer somewhere. My 17 month old showed no interest in anything doll related and shortly after her first birthday and then bam! Babies. She pushes them in a stroller, gives hugs, etc. I wonder if that is maybe when they really start understanding affection or something. Although Charlotte gave hugs and kisses on her own way before that. Hmmm….
Baby girls with their babies are so sweet.
-whistles- I think somebody wants a siiibling! (;
What a beautiful and sweet mommy she is
I will cry if Mimi gets lost over the fence!
Oh how I hate the throwing objects game. If I get the object, she’s going to throw it again and again, but if I DON’T, meltdown! Do I teach a lesson or prevent a meltdown? Usually, I’m choose preventing a meltdown. Babies are trickly little things!
Awww! She is a sweetie pie Heather!! I want to just kiss her cheeks!!! What a sweet ‘little mama’ she is! I always giggle and remember the ‘gated community’ you have there because we did just that for our Twinadoes!
Works GREAT!
Did I miss the blog post where you told us Annie has switched from baby to toddler?! She looks so grown up all of a sudden! And cuter than ever.
Jen @ Freckle on the Nose of Life’s Complexion´s last [type] ..Recapping
Cuteness overload indeed!
She is absolutely adorable. Buying a replacement Mimi will ensure that she never loses it, that’s for sure. It’s what happens to me! Good thinking with the gentleness and petting connection. If only I could teach my cat to be gentle…
Sweet, “Little Mama.” <3 She reminded me of my cousin in that last photo. =o)
Little mommy dont eat your baby’s head hahaha…she really love her doll as we see she is enjoying.
Oh I love this, so cute to see them with their babies.
Neeroc´s last [type] ..Twitchy trigger finger
I had my niece (Boogie) staying with me a few years back and she kept chuckin stuff on the floor. Research said (yeah I am a dork, I reasearched it) that it builds trust when you retrieve the item thrown out. hrm. She is sooo cute!!