And…done…

You know when you’re planning a party or decorating a room or envisioning a fabulous date night, there’s always one little piece of the plan that if you had it, everything would be perfect. Like the perfect dress or the perfect throw pillows.

Not having that piece doesn't mean the party or the room or the date wouldn't be absolutely fabulous. Nothing like that. It would simply be the icing on top of the world's most delicious cake.

Or maybe that’s just me.

Anyway, this past weekend I finally got that one last piece for E’s nursery.

Huggums.

My very first doll was a Madame Alexander baby doll. Huggums. I adored her. Mom even made little clothes for her. As I got older, she, along with my Holly Hobby kitchen, went to live in my grandmother’s attic.

Until my grandmother’s house burned down.

Sweet little Huggums was lost.

Several years ago, I ran across some Huggums’ at a Tuesday Morning. We were not yet trying but I knew we would be soon so I bought a doll and hid it in the top of my closet.

By 2008, I gave that doll to my mom so she could send it to her 3 year old niece for her birthday. I wanted it and everything I’d purchased for our future children out of the house. It felt like if I closed my eyes and listened really hard I could hear the blankets and the doll and the vintage handkerchiefs laughing at me.

Now here we are. Waiting for our miracle baby girl. Huggums-less.

I’ve been stalking Tuesday Morning for months. They’ve had all kinds of other Madame Alexander dolls but no Huggums.

Until this past weekend.

There were so many different types! I opened all their little boxes, laid them all out on the floor and narrowed it down from maybe 20 to 5. Then I just stood there debating which of the five I would bring home for E. Came down to this sweet little thing in a knit dress with yellow daisies and the adorable baby in a pink footed sleeper.

And here’s my selection:

Isn’t she precious?

I cried when I picked her. I cried when I carried her to the register. I cried in the car on the way home.

Now she’s sitting in E’s crib just waiting for a little girl to love her.

As far as I’m concerned, that was the last piece of my perfect plan for E. Had I not found the doll, I would have just kept on searching. It’s not like a newborn is going to play dress up or tea party anytime soon. But having the doll makes it all seem complete.

Now, I just hope she actually likes the doll. For all I know, she might prefer a baseball glove to a tea party. And if that’s the case, I will find her the prettiest baseball glove around and we’ll go outside to play ball.