Entourage

Carmen does not travel lightly these days...she has a full entourage with her at all times.  And I mean, at all times!  This very special inner circle includes: Lamby, Lamby's blanket (hand crocheted by Grandma Skurski), her own blanket, a pink stuffed dog who answers to 'doggy,' her new Valentine giraffe (who she loves so much she won't let us take the tag off), and a book of her choice.  Sometimes it's Curious George, sometimes it's Dr. Seuss or a book of another variety, but always a book, usually one, but on occasion it's two and yes, I almost forgot, last week there was the toy car she wanted too.  Oh, and the birth announcement of a friend's baby she found claiming it was 'her Maxy' and she's been sleeping with it for the last few nights.  And, then there was the 'treasure mat'--the place mat we have on the dining room table that she thinks looks like a treasure map.  She rolls it up and unrolls it carefully pointing and saying 'x marks the spot.'  I have no idea where she learned about a 'treasure mat'...

All of these items accompany my dear daughter everywhere.  I can not tell you how many times a day I cart these things around--upstairs, then downstairs, then upstairs again, then to the car, in our bedroom, in her bedroom and the list goes on.  For some reason, she just likes to know that these special things are around her and close at all times.  She will be playing and out of the blue will say "I miss my Lamby" and she must interrupt what she is doing to get her beloved Lamby.  She doesn't need to play with Lamby, just makes sure that Lamby is watching and is within arms reach. 

We also travel with the entourage daily in the car too.  She's not allowed to take them out of the car, but we ride with them EVERYWHERE.  Work mornings are simply the best when I have to get Carmen and Max into the car along with her backpack and toy bag, Max's diaper bag and milk bag, my pump bag, my lunch, my work bag and of course...the traveling zoo.

This is our daily exchange.

"Carmen, it's time to go now.  Ok, Mama--Lamby, Lamby's blankie and doggy and giraffe too.  Hold it Mama, its heavy.  My book too." 

My favorite is when I'm holding Max in my arms and Carmen starts handing me her precious gems.  Although, she prefers to carry Lamby and occasionally Lamby's blanket but leaves the rest for me.  How very thoughtful of her to help. It's amazing that I've never dropped Max as I'm buried beneath her lovies.  She must think that I have extra arms, but I somehow manage to schlep it all.  We'll see how long this phase will last or how long I will last with this phase!  Ah, my Carmen James...

Carmen and her crew