Disney World couldn't get this reaction

In deciding to make some changes around our house, I thought it would be fun to spend some time alone with each child this summer before I went back to work.  We would do something fun, of their choice, with a limited dollar amount for the day. 

Rhianna is getting her tonsils out on Tuesday (July 17^th) and I know how she loves stuffed animals to snuggle.

That is why Build a Bear was suggested and chosen.

She was so.very.excited to go and get a bear.

What she didn’t know was that she got to pick it out, stuff it and dress it.

I wish I had a picture of her face when she realized all that was involved.

Friday morning came and we did our chores.  At 1:30 we took the boys to Grandma’s house for the afternoon and just us girls took off for the day. 

We were going to Build a Bear and then to Aldi to stock up on as many frozen treats as we could for the painful week ahead.

We walked through the mall and Rhianna was so worried we would never find the shop.  I wish I had a picture of her face when I pointed to the sign and she walked in the store.

She knew she wanted a bunny and not a bear; it was just deciding which bunny to choose.

She looked a bit and then decided to look at the outfits first.  She went up and down the row at least a hundred times trying to choose. 

After looking a bit and choosing a cute little outfit, she went back to the bunnies to pick one.  She looked down into the bin of the ‘skins’ of the animals and said “This one’s eyes are begging me to take her.  I know this is the one”

That’s what I love about this girl.

Her imagination.

Her loving nature.

She picked up the empty bunny and took it to the lady working the store.

Her name was ‘Julie’.

Julie took us over to the ‘stuffing machine’ and showed Rhianna how to push the peddle to make the stuffing come out the tube and into the bunny.

 As Julie was manipulating the cotton into the extremities of the bunny, the little sounds coming out of Rhianna were priceless.

She was so excited she couldn’t even speak.

All that could come out was little squeaks of joy.

It made the fact that, I was spending money I shouldn’t be spending, worth it . 

Disney World couldn’t get this reaction:

After the bunny was stuffed, Julie gave the bunny to Rhianna for a ‘squeeze test’.  To make sure that the bunny was just right.

After it passed the squeeze test, Rhianna was told to pick out a heart to put in the bunny. 

She had to rub it on her head, to make the bunny smart.

Rub it on her side, so that it would always be a friend who stuck by her side.

To rub it on her heart, so the bunny would love.

Then the heart was placed in the bunny and Julie sewed her up tight.

After the stitches were complete, Rhianna took the bunny to the shower for an air bath.

 She giggled the whole time.

Still not speaking a word.

Only squeaks and giggles.

I on the other hand wanted to cry. 

I am so thankful that it doesn’t take much to make my daughter this happy. 

It’s the little things in life that bring joy, and she knows that.

We went over to the dressing table to dress the bunny.

Once she was fully clothed, Rhianna showed her in the mirror what her new outfit looked like.

Then we were headed to the computers to create her birth certificate.

The naming of the bunny was to happen here.

Oh my.

What a tough decision.

I guess we as humans have months and months to choose our child’s name.

Rhianna was only given a few minutes.

‘Becky’ was the final choice.

Once we were finished, the certificate was printed and it was time to pay.

Rhianna still hardly spoke anything at this point.

Ribbons were put on Becky’s ears as a complimentary gift.

Then it was time to go.

I told Rhianna to stand at the front of the store and hold up her bunny.

I walked across the aisle for a picture.

A group of women walked in front of me and noticed Rhianna standing there alone.  They looked at her quizzically and then happened to notice me.  They smiled and laughed and I heard one say “Isn’t she so cute…with her new bunny”

 We walked out of the mall.

Rhianna still hardly speaking, just grinning from ear to ear, with the occasional skip.

*Special Request:  I would love it if you would comment and leave a note of well-wishes for Rhianna.  (Even if you don't know her personally, she would LOVE to hear from you!!!) I will read them to her when she is in recovery.  It would pass the time and make her feel special while she is beginning to heal from her tonsilectomy.  I know people have had problems commenting in the past, but I made some adjustments that should solve the problem. Please leave your first name and where you are from. (If we don't know you :o) Thanks in advance!!*