Of Babies and Long Long Ago...

Long long ago in a time far away from now there lived a boy of two and his little sister of one.

Their mommy was expecting a new baby. They knew all about babies, as they were practically still babies themselves.

Yet the mommy wanted them to be prepared, as life would be much different for them when a new baby joined the happy chaos.

So, like a good mommy should, their mommy talked to them a lot about what they could expect when the new baby came.

The little sister got a doll for Christmas so she could have a baby to take care of while mommy was taking care of the new baby.

The children got the Fisher Price nursery set. In it was a baby! This baby was SO well loved. He was talked about as if he were a member of the family.

He was named "Baby Brady" because that is what the new baby was to be called. When Baby Brady wasn't going somewhere with the two year old, he was hanging precariously out of the mouth of the little sister (don't try this at home, as these little people are now considered choking hazards).

The mommy failed to remember that it was the daddy's turn to name the baby. Even though he got to name the little sister, he still insisted on naming this baby, too. The mommy got to name the first baby, after his daddy.

Soon the baby arrived, with a different name. The toy Baby Brady remained a favorite. But, somehow, in the business of life he got lost. Once, he spent the winter buried in the snow and mud in the driveway. He never would come all the way clean after that harrowing experience. Yet again, he got lost. This time never to be found.

Travel along many years. Many many years. The little sister (and now a big sister) has a real baby of her own. Without any recollection of the Fisher Price baby she liked to carry in her mouth, she names her baby the very same name! Of course, she does not give him the nickname of Brady, but the name remains the same as was chosen for her baby brother. She has no memory of this, or of ever hearing the name before.

Come on the journey seven months from the naming of her baby.

The old mommy cannot sleep. She receives an email from that once two year old boy who sends her pictures of Lego men he is bidding on at eBay.

eBay!

A quick search for Fisher Price Little People, and YES!, the baby is there! Of course, the one on eBay is clean and new looking, but give it time, and surely the REAL Baby Brady (who is NOT repeat NOT called that, except by the former two year old) will fix him up good.

The mommy intends to keep a close eye on this baby. And the other one too. Even the grown up ones, as they allow.

And maybe, in a time long long to come and far away from now, those children will gather together and talk about how Baby Brady finally arrived safely to their family. And the toy one, too.