Sleeping Companions

As some friends may know, Shanna sleeps alone in her own room.



But not really alone - she has a favorite stuffed toy that she sleeps with every night. He requires no introduction.



Yes, it's Mickey Mouse.


We hardly have any pictures of Mickey with Shanna as we keep him confined to the bed/sleeping time only, hence this picture taken when Shanna was hospitalized last year.



But it appears that he is frequently on Shanna's mind.

While we were outside, Shanna: "Nana go back to Pearl Garden to see Mickey."



After she fell down and scrapped her knee, Shanna: "Nana go home let Mickey kiss Nana's knee, then all better."


One uncle drew a picture of a mouse for her that resembles Jerry (from Tom & Jerry).
Mummy: "Oh look, that's a mouse."
Shanna: "It's not mouse, it's Mickey!"

Truly, he is her favorite friend now.


There is another companion that resides at her babysitter's house (we don't bring Mickey over). This is Shanna's introduction of him:
Mummy: "Shanna, Mickey is at home at Pearl Garden. Who do you sleep with at Ah Mah's house?"
Shanna: "Dog. His name is 'Hu Hu Gou'.
Mummy: "Oh, that is his name? "
Shanna: "Ya, dog's name is Hu Hu Gou. My name is Shanna Lee!"




One Monday morning, when leaving the house to her babysitter's,
Mummy: "Shanna, do you miss Ah Mah? You want to see her today?"
Shanna: "Ya, Nana go to Ah Mah's house. See Ah Mah and Hu Hu Gou!"

Two completely different sleeping companions, but to Shanna they are both equally useful. With Mickey, she likes to put his tail into her ear, into her nose (comforting gesture). With the dog, she puts his little red tongue into her ear and into her nose. Of course, we never taught her to do that.

I will sometimes complain when I see her putting Mickey's tail in her nose, that is 'chou chou' (smelly). Depending on her mood - if she's happy, she will look very embarassed and take out his tail and put into her ear instead. If she's tired, she will start sobbing.

The good thing is she's very willing to let me wash Mickey (I washed it so many times that there is pilling now), and I know her babysitter washes Hu Hu Gou too.

I wonder when she will outgrow them?


~ Audrey