Mr. Pig

Oh how I love this pig. I told Ty that it is one of my most treasured possessions. It encompasses so much of James and who he is and there aren't many objects that I have had that I have ever felt that way about (pictures and journals are important, but different). This pig goes everywhere with us. Because it has started to really go EVERYWHERE, he gets washed more frequently than ever before. Whenever Mr. Pig is in the wash James will ask for him and it is pretty sad.

James is so affectionate with his pig. He hugs him, kisses him, and loves him to pieces. Mr. Pig is often being chewed on or hanging from James's mouth. Mr. Pig joins James on his wiggle car rides and in the seat of the fire truck he rides around the house. James constantly reminds us that Mr. Pig is "mine". Other "friends" come and go but Mr. Pig is the only real constant. James usually has a little entourage of the day... a group of toys that he carries with him everywhere for a few hours, but that changes from day to day while Mr. Pig is always there.

Last week the pig came swimming with us and ended up in the pool. After we were swimming I told James maybe his pig was tired and needed a nap. James laid the pig down on the concrete then put his finger over his mouth and said, "shhhh".

Mr. Pig has gotten very good at folding his arms for prayers and usually participates in lots of family things like that (he watches movies with us, takes naps, joins us for meals, etc.). He is also good at moving his arms to go swimming. Anything we do...the pig does as well.

Lots of times James will ask for something specific to eat (cheese, crackers, raisisns, etc.) and then feed whatever I give him to his pig before feeding himself.

He has recently started using the pig as a pillow when he is sitting at the counter on a bar stool, or James will just smother the pig with tight hugs.

On Saturday we were at the cabin and the pig was with us. Ty was throwing it up in the air and it got perfectly stuck in a very tall tree. It took a long time to get it down and it made me nervous. I can't think of a sadder thing than losing that pig. As soon as Mr. Pig was down James helped him catch up on all the fun he had been having by smothering him with blackberry juice and dumping him in the creek.

I love that pig and how much it means to my little boy...the roughest toughest 20-month old I know who can't go anywhere without his beloved pink pig. It is pretty funny.