Movin' On

I sucked my thumb.

A lot.

I had a crib sheet that I carried day and night until I was three. Here I am in a peaceful slumber, 'sheet' in tow. (mouth open and drooling, to be sure, as well)

(Did you have this same pillow case? I've seen in often at garage sales and what not. Still have it.)

When I was three, my dad had had enough. He was going out of town on business, and by the time he came home, "it had better be gone." I walked over to the trash-masher (compactor) and threw it in.

That was the end of "sheet," and my thumb sucking.

Roo sucks her thumb.

A lot.


I made her a blanket, pink, soft and cuddlie, before she was born. Here she is napping at Minky's one evening last fall. Her "bebow" on her head. She loves to have it on her head to sleep, and will only suck her thumb with this VERY blanket.

Three weeks ago, I "threw it in the garbage." Not really of course. But she thinks so. She was terrificly sassy, one too many times.

So to the garbage with her blankie! (I know, I'm a very mean mom. I know)

She looked for it in each and every can in the house. I told her it was out in the big can outside.

"oh."

She has asked for it one time since then. After she saw a picture of it in her baby book.

Thats it. And guess who has totally quit sucking her thumb?

Yep. 'Lil Roo.

I think you can see here the problem. It became such a habitual crutch for her, that I felt it time to help her move on. She has picked every last tie out of it. (I have a couple saved for later laughs) All of the badding has been smooshed to the corners and it's actually gray now, dirty, and VERY, VERY loved.

She would get her "beh", put her thumb in, tickle her ear with the blanket, and her eyes would roll back in her head. Like a fantastic piece of the worlds greatest chocolate cake dancing in your mouth. "Ohhh, sweet heaven."

I'm sure many of you think I shouldn't have gone to such extreme measures.

But, the time has come.

Don't fret my friends.

I made The Roo a new blanket. Oh sure. She thinks it's pretty and the like, but it's not 'beh' and I know it. But I think it will be something she treasures.

My grandma sent home a piece of pink satin with my mom recently. She lives in Boise and once in a while I get a little piece of fabric, or a pattern here and there. I think I'm one of the only grandchildren that sews very much, so I get bits and pieces here and there.

The pink stripe trim is from Ruby's crib set that I made her when she was born. I quilted the blanket with flowers, dragon flies, leaves, and even put her name in the stitches.

The top of the quilt is fabric, sent again from grandma, but this was fabric that she and my mom made my mothers bed spread from in 1972. I've had this piece for several years now, and haven't known what to do with it.

But now I do.

I feel like this ties four generations together, just a bit.

I hope Ruby comes to love and cherish this blanket. It's a little bit of her, her mom, her grandma, and her great grandma. I hope in years to come, in lonely times, she'll feel the love of women who want the world for her. Who know that she can be the most amazing person. Who believe in her more than anyone. And that when she feels that no one loves her, as we all do, she'll know that she is loved.

And if all else fails, I saved 'beh' in my hope chest for her. She can get her trusty old friend out from her own hope chest, one day, and have a snuggle.