Favorite Ornament

 

kewpie doll ornament

The older daughter, second child, (almost 44 now) found (okay, I showed it to her) a rubber Kewpie Doll ornament that came on a package or maybe I bought it. She was only 5 months old and suddenly very mobile when that doll appeared on her radar!  It was cherubic and cute--her and the ornament. I showed it to her. She took the doll ornament from my hand and chewed on the shock of hair on top of its head.

She was a peaceable child, not given to temper tantrums. But, for this doll her wrath grew each time she was denied it. I was really afraid she would swallow hair. I am sure she did.

She had her first tooth at four months, so the hair on the kewpie doll was being used to break other teeth through her gums.  She spent many hours with this Kewpie doll.

hair styled by mouth

 

 

appealing smile

Putting it high on the tree the next year just made it more dangerous in my mind. She did not like the tree's feel, but I never knew when she might give the tree a good yank and pull the tree down to get the doll down. The doll stayed down that second Christmas and she only chewed the hair a little bit. Finally, one day the kewpie doll "disappeared." I have kept that raggedy-headed kewpie doll because of the strange hairdo my baby gave it by chewing vigorously on the hair and drooling. It still makes me smile every Christmas. It's a precious memory.

Yes, it goes on the tree right along with my assortment of ornaments--kindergarten-made, pom pom ornaments to Christopher Radko.  It brings back baby memories.

Your turn
Do you have an ornament, worthless by the world's standards, that you have kept over the years because of the connection to your child? We are not talking connections to your family as you grew up, just something worthless that brings a smile or tears, reminding you of your precious baby or child. We will talk about ornaments with family memories later.