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day 30 - meet Special Bear. I had no idea what to do for today's photo... josh did construction work out the back with his daddy and gramps, I spent most of the day wandering aimlessly around erina fair with sam to avoid the noise and the heat. Then, as I watched my 'big boy' sit enthralled by a 'kiddie' tv show late this afternoon, it struck me that Special Bear was indeed special... he was a catalyst between my 'baby' and my 'big boy'.

Josh has had Special Bear (he named him...) since he was born. I don't know where he came from, I have no idea who gave him to us. He's a little, blue, inconsequential fluffy toy with "It's A Boy" written on the front of him, so obviously we got him right at the start. At some point early on, Josh chose him from the menagerie of fluffy animals in his possession as The Chosen One. Thus, Special Bear has never since been further than arms length from him. He's been on holiday, he's been to playschool, he's been on sleepovers to Grammie's place, he's been grocery shopping... Special Bear has been part of our family for as long as I can remember. I've even sewn dress-up outfits for him... Super Special Bear had a cape! Even now, I ask "is Special Bear coming with us?" whenever we venture out. Sometimes he joins us, sometimes he needs 'a rest' apparently. He joins Josh in bed every single night, he can't sleep without him, so I'm told.

Special Bear is so special, several years ago I went and purchased another, surprisingly similar Special Bear, to be kept as the Spare To The Heir..... just in case....... occasionally I swap them so Special Bear 1 can have a much needed Spa Treatment in the washing machine lol....

So today, as I kiss goodnight my little boy before sending him on his way to Big School in the morning, I'm feeling kind of fond of Special Bear. Josh still holds him dear, I just tucked them both into bed. That bear has seen him through all the big events of his life so far.. even his first soggy camping adventure, his immunisation needles, his first sleepover (a night I didn't sleep a wink!) and now his first day of school. Bears aren't allowed in big school, so I'll be looking after him tomorrow, but he'll be with us at 3pm when we pick Josh up, for sure....

So this little, blue fellow is the link between my baby and my ever-growing son.... may he stay with us always.

breakin' in the new 'big school' shoes... a whole new stage of life starts tuesday.

day 28 - I don't know what's more disturbing... the position he's chosen to watch a bit of television or the fact that he's watching Dukes of Hazzard.........