The Chosen Ones

Now that Finley's closing in on being a toddler (yikes!), he's developed deep affections for two particular toys. One that he has been loving on for some time now and one that has only recently come into his good graces. We'll start with the former. Bark-Bark. Yep--against both Dan and I's joint disinterest in/dislike of dogs--Finley has taken to a canine. A small, plastic dog, mind you, but a dog no less. My parents gave Finley a truck full of animals and people months back and almost immediately he sought out the dog above the rest. We tried to push him towards the elephant (go Jumbos!), but the dog won out. So we named him Bark-Bark in a homage to Finley's Aunt Ellie's beloved Arf-Arf. Finley has stayed tight to Bark-Bark ever since. Each morning, I plop him down on the living floor and he makes a bee line for the truck and grabs Bark-Bark. Whether he is driving the truck or hanging out with the other misfits in the way back, Finley finds Bark-Bark with great ease. If, by chance, Bark-Bark wasn't put back into the truck the night before, Finley will scan the truck up and down and then let out a frustrated yelp. It's hysterical! I'll find the little red dog elsewhere and hold it out for Fin, who will come crawling over and snatch it.

Before he wakes up:

In action:

After:

Oh, joy!

Bark-Bark is so loved, he even gets to come along to visit one of Finley's favorite non-toys--the DVD/VCR.

Finley's new love is a penguin and we couldn't be more thrilled with this selection since we decorated his room in a cold-weather animal theme (polar bears, seals, penguins, etc.). This penguin was a gift from a Tufts friend, Stampey, who works at the New England Aquarium. He gave it to Finley back in February, but it wasn't until recently that Finley decided it was worthy of his time and devotion. Arty (the Antarctic Penguin) is more fun to snuggle with than Bark-Bark and Finley will crawl over to Arty, then flop down on his stomach to nuzzle the little black and white creature. He squeaks and squeals whenever he sees him and we play peek-a-boo with Arty, which Finley thinks is hysterical. Arty's beak takes the brunt of Finley's love, so it is already pretty mangled (and usually wet), but hopefully it'll last!

And what could be better than having two favorite toys in your life? Holding both of them at the same time!!

Yes, life at the Forseters is pretty good these days.