A Life Well Loved

In June of 2007 Ella received the baby on the left as a present. That baby has never left her side for the past three years. Wherever Ella is, that baby is within 30 feet at all times, sometimes much, much closer.

When she is very tired, she smells her baby and sucks on her nose. Now, I realize that “Baby” is very dirty. I realize that to you and I she does not smell good. At all. However, to Ella, Baby is perfection. She will absolutely, under no circumstances, allow baby to be washed. We have tried...many times...and failed.

A few weeks ago, I came across a brand new Baby. For a few moments I was unable to comprehend what I was looking at. It is amazing to me how vibrant, how soft, how odor free baby used to be. I bought it for Ella and when it came time to give it to her I took the original baby from her. I dropped it below the kitchen counter, acted like I was cleaning her, and produced the new baby to Ella. Confusion is putting it mildly. She looked at her. She rubbed her. She smelled her. She looked happy, but clearly, trouble was brewing underneath. Before the meltdown happened, I gave her original baby to her.

She plays with the new Baby from time to time, but O.G. Baby still reigns as queen. Every speck of dirt on Baby is earned through love. She might be dirty, she might be smelly, but she is the most beautiful baby doll I have ever seen.