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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

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.

14 comments:

  1. I wouldn't say it's worthless because other people have admired it, but I have an ornament that's a little doll. Her shirt says, Dear God, Did you know this is my very first Christmas here?

    My daughter's godmother gave it to us. It's my favorite ornament.

    Love,
    Janie

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  2. Janet,
    Awww, that is sweet. I have never seen that type "First Christmas" type of ornament.

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  3. No children, so no such memories. Family memories? Oh yes.
    And I do love that kewpie doll - it brought some mist to my eyes. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EC,
      It brings mist to my eyes, too. I will never get rid of the kewpie doll. My daughter wants in. You are welcome.

      Delete
  4. Yes. A pair of stuffed paper mittens my then 5 year ol son made from tracings of his own hands. They wereca school project, made to be gifts to us on Christmas. I will never forget how proud he was to see us unwrap this gift. These take a prized spot on our tree.

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    Replies
    1. Meg B.,
      That is precious. How old is he now? It is funny the things that just stick in a mother's mind.

      Delete
  5. LOLOL. You just gave me a triple A grin for the day! My favorite ornament was probably worth quite a bit of money before it got broken because it was an antique. The only thing that mattered to me was that it used to hang on my grandmother's tree when I was a wee girl. Every Christmas I lament it's loss.

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  6. Hi, Linda, it's been a week since I came here, but I've caught up on my reading this morning. :-) My favourite ornaments are glass bead ornaments in geometric shapes that my children's great grandparents brought to Canada when they immigrated from Denmark.

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    Replies
    1. Sue,
      Welcome back! Those sound like a wonderful keepsake. I don't have any ornaments that old. I hope you take pictures. Wouldn't that be your gg grandparents?

      Delete
    2. Thank you for a warm welcome, Linda. The ornaments belonged to my first husband's great great grandparents. I tried to give them back when we first divorced but he wouldn't take them. Now, I think I'd have a hard time parting with them. :-)

      Delete
    3. Sue,
      I see. It is a shame he did not care. Maybe you can keep a few when you give them to your children. I gave my children old ornaments and kept some for me.

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    4. I don't believe that he didn't care. He just knew they meant a lot to me. Our decision to divorce was mutual and civil. :-)

      Delete
  7. How cute is that? What an awesome memory. Now I'm gonna have to go look at my ornaments and see what all I have. I haven't unpacked them in years. Thanks for the nudge! ;)

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    Replies
    1. Janie,
      Maybe you could take pictures and make notes about what they are and where you got them and any memories. I think I have come to the point I figure maybe I should put things in writing for others....lol. It is not a morbid thought, but fun to recount.

      Delete

Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.