Don't call 911... yet....

*Photo by Ana

At this very moment I don't know the whereabouts of a certain brown monkey named (suitably) "Brown Monkey". This isn't just any brown monkey. This is my daughter Ana's Brown Monkey and it follows her wherever she goes.

Brown Monkey is her lovey that has reached levels of attachment I didn't know existed in a wee child. She wakes up with it, plays with it all day, brings it in the car (Brown Monkey isn't allowed out of the car for fear of losing it) and Brown Monkey goes to bed with her at night. I've actually had arguments with my husband about the care of Brown Monkey. I, for one, don't believe that you should allow him in the sandbox or washing machine. The care and lifespan of Brown Monkey is one of my top priorities in my life.

Say what you will. Brown Monkey means everything to my daughter, so he means everything to me.

My sister-in-law has a heart breaking story of losing Quinn's blanket lovey in a taxi in Mexico (you aren't finding THAT, again). She said that she cried as hard as Quinn.

When I couldn't find Brown Monkey this evening, I didn't go into my normal panic ("Did we leave him in a parking lot or lose him in a freak alien abduction?!").
I KNOW he is here somewhere. I just don't know where.

I kept Ana consoled as I put her to bed tonight. ("Hold on honey, I'll be right back... let me go look downstairs for Brown Monkey"). When I couldn't find him, I called my husband and my nanny. When I still didn't know the location, I walked into her room and acted as calm as I could.
I couldn't bring myself to lie to her and tell her that Brown Monkey is taking a bath or ran to the store (she would believe either). I just couldn't do it. I told her that I didn't know where he was, but we would find him tomorrow. I gave her Purple Monkey and Black Monkey (are we seeing a pattern?) and told her to snuggle with those monkeys tonight.

She went to sleep peacefully.

When I find Brown Monkey again (and I WILL), I will likely tell Brown Monkey the words I usually save for the most precious people in my life. I will tell him how much I love him. You see, he gives my baby comfort when I can't be there... and that is priceless.

***NEWS FLASH***
The next morning I found Brown Monkey sitting on the couch in my bedroom. I seem to remember my cat sitting there during my Brown Monkey search party. I remember him laying on the couch and asking the only question cats can actually ask, "What the hell do you want?"
As it turns out, Chad was lying on the monkey. He is *cough* quite large, so this isn't a stretch to cover up a small, brown stuffed animal. In fact, about 3 weeks ago I found the remote control... under the cat.