Puddy.

Now, many of you have seen the Puddy song video posted a couple of weeks ago... but if you're not around much you may not realize just how much Puddy the Cow means to my son. Puddy is very much alive, oh yes, he is! He converses with Matt in a high-pitched "baby-moo" language, has his own dance, prefers to be patted - on the head, with one finger gently please! - and sits in his very own "car-seat," which if you didn't know any better, you'd think it was a run-of-the-mill cup holder. He likes to eat hay, or sometimes Cheerios, and likes to drink his milk out of a baby doll bottle.

So last night at the beach cottage, after a fun day spent at a cookout at my parents house, followed by much fun running around at the beach, I was trying to settle the kids down for bed. It was at that time that Matt asked, "Where's Puddy??"

Oh no! Please God, tell me we didn't lose him out on the beach!! I franctically called my Mom hoping against hope that Puddy was accidentally left behind at their house. Thank the good Lord that that wayward cow was indeed in Pelham.

Matt was inconsolable. Picture those big brown eyes, not unlike Puddy's soulful stare, looking up at you from his pillow with tears welling over. I did what any good mother would do - I promptly made something up and then passed the phone over to Matt so that Pepere could console him.

Me: Matt, Puddy is having a sleep-over at Memere and Pepere's house.
Matt: I want Puddy.
Me: [Heart breaking] Here, talk to Pepere.
Matt: Hi Pepere. I want Puddy.
[Apparently Matt listens while my Dad tells Matt that Puddy is having a sleep-over]
Matt: [thinks hard for a moment] But... Does Puddy have his pajamas?
Me: [trying really hard not to laugh] Yes, Matt, I'm sure Puddy has his pajamas, and a teeny-tiny sleeping bag, too.

So then my Dad and Katy go on to reassure Matt that they'll take really good care of Puddy and that first thing in the morning Katy [who's my hero by the way] will bring Puddy back to the beach. We all have a good chuckle, I hang up with my parents and spend another 10 minutes convincing Matt that Puddy misses him, too, but Auntie Katy will take good care of him. I tuck him in and am walking down the stairs when I hear his soft, pathetic little voice:

Matt: Mom?
Me: Yes Matt?
Matt: Does Aunty Katy have a teeny tiny carseat for Puddy?
Me: I'm sure she does hon. Go to sleep now.