Once upon a time we took a family vacation to Yellowstone. While on this trip, Grandma Connie and Grandpa Brent got Colson a stuffed animal wolf. We are really creative with names so this wolf became Wolfy. At first, Wolfy was just like the rest of Colson's stuffed animals. Just kind of there. Sometimes played with, sometimes not. After a whilie, Wolfy started coming to naps and bedtime with Colson. Then he would come on walks with us and occasionally to a friends house. Eventually, Wolfy was a must have. He didn't come to Hawaii with us because we didn't want him to get lost. But other than that, Wolfy came everywhere. He moved with us to Nebraska and he and Colson started having lots of adventures here together. Wolfy came with us to the library, the grocery store, the doctor, the dentist, swimming lessons, the park, to play with friends, church, you name it. If Wolfy got left behind, tears were shed. Until one day something unthinkable happened. We decided to go out to dinner with my family when they were out after Hunter was born. Unbeknownst to us, Wolfy came to the restaurant with us. And at some point early after our arrival to eat, Wolfy got set down. Before we left we realized that Wolfy had come in with us, but not out, so we went searching. And searching. And searching. The whole family was looking. But no luck. Wolfy was gone. Tears were shed by both Colson and his mommy. That was not fun at all. Wolfy was Colson's best friend! What were we supposed to do!? So we set out in search to find a new Wolfy. Luckily we knew where he came from and were able to find a replacement from Yellowstone pretty quick. But when that one got here it was actually quite a bit bigger than old Wolfy was. Not feeling okay with that, we hurried to find a Wolfy that was the right size. We found one, ordered it, and then thought that the colors in the picture looked wrong, so we found another, ordered that one, and then waited. Meanwhile, Colson was doing okay but would occasionally have meltdowns because he was missing Wolfy. So we talked a lot about how it was okay to be sad. And how we could miss old friends and still make new friends. So finally after three new Wolfys, we had just the one to give to Colson. (Turns out the second and third ones were exactly the same and just right, but that's okay. We just really had to make sure.) He was so happy to have another Wolfy. He knew it wasn't the same one and we didn't want him to think it was. New Wolfy came with a letter. He said "Dear Colson, I'm sorry Wolfy went away. I know you miss him and he misses you. Wolfy and I are friends and he sent me to be your friend too. I love making new friends. I hope we can be friends and I hope we can have as many great adventures together as you had with Wolfy." So now we have another Wolfy. Colson loves him and they are having adventures together. He still comes quite a few places with us, but not quite as many. And he stays in the car. We are being careful. We are happy he is with us again though. Wolfy is just like a part of the family. And we love our family. Colson still sometimes says he misses old Wolfy. But he is happy to have his new friend too.
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| Colson and Wolfy's first day together. |
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| Getting to know each other. |
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| Hi Wolfy |
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| Wolfy at swimming lessons |
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| Best friends at the dentist |
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| Cuddles at bed. |
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| New Wolfy |
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| So happy he's here! |
