Max

This is Max.

Max became part of our family when Mya was about 6 months old. My mom gave him to Mya for her first Christmas.

He was a nameless friend for quite some time until one day she started calling him Max and we couldn't figure out where that name came from. She doesn't know anyone named Max...then it hit me that she had been watching a lot of Little Mermaid and there just so happens to be a big dog named Max.
He soon became a very important part of her sleep and comfort routine. Max and blanket were essential for bedtime and wake up time. Her morning routine was snuggling on the couch with these two loveys and her milk. Max traveled with us; Lake Powell, family reunions, Disneyland, to the doctor when she broke her leg, and anywhere else she could convince us to let her take him.

He was a comfort to her when she was sick. Sweet Max even took one for the team and got puked on during her flu bug this summer. We discovered that Max tolerates a 'bath' in the washing machine very well.

So, I wonder why I shed more tears than she did when he got lost last week.

We went to Costco and I was weak and gave into her request to take him in with her. Somewhere between the veggies and the deli Max jumped ship. It was maybe 5 minutes before I started retracing our steps looking for our little Max. But, despite an extra hour spent in Costco searching, asking multiple employees and checking the lost and found we went home empty handed. Me trying not to cry while she asked where he was and me trying to explain that Max was lost and maybe another little girl needed him and he went home to live with another family. It broke my heart to hear her parrot back those reassurances to me and then ask me to 'Make a new Max?'

Poor Cody listened to me cry about loosing Max and Miss Mya even hugged me and told me it was OK and that accidents happen. Seriously, who is the mother?! I realize how silly it is to be so emotional over a toy but it was her little lovey and I felt like it was my fault or in some way a part of her had gone missing. No one warned me about all these weird emotions that come with being a mommy.

I checked with Costco again the next day and still no little brown dog. The only thing I can think of is that someone picked him up and took him home. Since he hadn't turned up, and to help myself feel better, I decided to 'make a new Max'. I started looking back through pictures to see if I could find out what brand he was. Of course he had to be a Ty beanie baby. I searched online and found a picture of him pretty quickly. I was so excited until I looked at the price. Our little Max is selling on EBay for $30 - $90! Yipes! I love you Max but apparently I can't afford you.
Mya of course is fine. Like I said, I'm taking it worse than she is. She still asks for 'Max -uh-blanket' but then catches herself and tells you 'Max is lost'. Pluto, who came home with us from Disneyland has become her new bedtime pal. I checked Costco again today with no luck so I have finally accepted that Max, our long time pal, is really gone. We love you Max, thanks for being such a sweet friend.