Teddy by Jennifer Lapidus
TEDDY
As a child of less than 2, my father gave me my lovey - “Teddy” the teddy bear. Teddy was (and is) my most precious possession. If there was a house fire, besides the people and pets, Teddy is what I would rescue. I just turned 51.
When my oldest daughter Madison was also 2 years old, I gave her Teddy. It was the most meaningful gift I could give to the person who means everything to me. I don’t know if it is the magic of Teddy or all the years of love that bear has received, but Madison has always loved Teddy as much as I love him, instinctively.
When I went to college at the University of Alabama, Teddy went with me. When Madison went to college at the University of Alabama, Teddy went with her as well. She just finished her junior year and is turning 22.
Teddy has been well-loved. If you’ve ever read The Velveteen Rabbit, this bear is as close as you can come to loving something to make it real. I grew up reading that book and there is a line in it that I’ve always believed to be true: “When a child loves you for a long, long time, not to just play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become real.”
Lovey The Bunny Blanket by Victoria Cole
LOVEY
There once was a little girl
Whose very best friend in the world
Was her lovey.
She was with her night & day
And she wouldn't have it any other way!
In the bed or on the go
Evie James always had Lovey in tow
Lovey sometimes got dirty, or worse sometimes lost,
Mommy soon realized we would need more no matter the cost.
This particular lovey could no longer be found in a store.
So off to eBay she went to find her some more!
After competitive bidding
And spending more than is worth admitting
She won three more
Ready for backup stashed away in a drawer!
Many years later the little girl is much bigger
But you can still find Lovey always with her!
My daughter Evie James is 6 years old and she has loved her little bunny blanket since she was about one. That dirty stinky lovey went everywhere with us. The particular lovey she attached herself to is one she received as a gift from her Lolly, my mom. I could not find backups of that exact one anywhere and she would not cuddle with any other stuffed animal. So I turned to eBay where I found 3 more. I bid on each one & ended up spending about $80 in all to have backups. Well worth the cost because they eventually all got loved, whether one got lost or one was washing and we needed a backup! Eventually, the OGs all got lost, except one. Lovey has traveled the world with us, gone to the beach in the sand, gone to ballet classes, waited in the wings at recitals, gone to church, to the grandparents, to the pool & more. Now that Evie James is older, lovey doesn't come with us quite so many places but I think she will sleep with it forever. Which is fine with me.
Ryker Bear by Lacey Schoff
RYKER BEAR
There is a special place in our hearts for the lovey gifted to us from dear friends after the loss of our son Ryker, who died on June 20, 2020. At the time, we never knew anyone who had experienced a loss such as ours. Our isolation was intensified because it was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Eaton family, wanting to do something special for us, reached out to request meaningful articles of clothing or items that represented Ryker. It was difficult to do - gathering one of the outfits he wore in the hospital and other special items of clothing - knowing that they were going to be clipped and cut. But now, having our “Ryker Bear” and seeing it every single day is one of the most special keepsakes we have, bringing comfort every time we see and hold it.
The bear was made by Susan Leshinky, owner of Stitched by Susie, and is constructed of Ryker’s crib sheet and an alligator outfit that was purchased as a sibling set to match his big sister, Ellis. Every part of our Ryker Bear holds a special story; from the star nose (a reminder of the multiple shooting starts we saw the night he died), to the rainbow feet (a nod to the non-profit we began in his memory to support families who have experienced child loss, Ryker’s Rainbow.)
There is nothing more painful than leaving the hospital without your baby and the emptiness your arms feel is extreme. We find healing including Ryker Bear in family photos, Santa pictures each year, and holding it near when tough days arise. There is not a passing day that we do not long to hold our son again and dream of the Heavenly reunion we will one day have. It is comforting to have something so meaningful to cling to until the day Ryker is once again in our arms.
Nunny Bunny by Blair Newman
NUNNY BUNNY
The connection with my lifelong lovey, Nunny, was immediate and has lasted over 43 years. He was in my crib when I arrived home from the hospital. As a child, I could not pronounce the word bunny, so I called my rabbit Nunny and declared him a boy.
Nunny and I have had a lifetime of adventures (in fact, he is with me as I write this), but I truly believe the fierce bond formed after I was diagnosed at the age of two with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. My mom remembers while I was in pain, her once outgoing child became shy and withdrawn, and ALWAYS had Nunny by my side.
At one point I was hospitalized at Children’s Hospital for tests and procedures. I was extremely upset and begging to go home, saying, “Nunny doesn’t like it here!” Nunny helped ease the pain and loneliness of my chronic illness - he is a treasured companion.
Seal by Elizabeth Fleming
SEAL
Sarah Laughlin’s lovey was not gifted or handed down. Sarah Laughlin picked out her forever lovey, Grey Seal, at a gift shop near Acadia National Park at the age of one and a half while on a family vacation in Maine. She has not let go of Seal since that fall day in 2017. Seal is about the size of a football, grey with black spots with the letters MAINE across his back. His eyes have lost their shine, but Seal remains precious in her sight. Seal brings her confidence in her activities and comfort when traveling. Seal has been camping in Kentucky, horse showing in Georgia, skiing in Utah and always makes the family beach trips. Sarah Laughlin, now seven, may not be taking Seal to school anymore, but Seal is by her side every night without fail! Seal is part of our family.
Lovey sometimes got dirty, or worse sometimes lost,
Mommy soon realized we would need more no matter the cost.