A Tale of Two Lambies

(My apologies to Charles Dickens.)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of cuddles, it was the age of tantrums, it was the epoch of cuteness, it was the epoch of naughtiness, it was the season of climbing, it was the season of falling, it was the naptime of hope, it was the bedtime of despair, we had Lamb E. Lulu before us, we had no Lamb E. Lulu before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities (including Olivia) insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison of lambies only.

Olivia and Lamb E. Lulu are the best of friends. While Olivia continues to grow and to become more beautiful each day, Lamb E. continues to shrink (from her frequent baths in the washing machine) and look more disreputable. We (Mom and Dad) don't like to take Lamb E. Lulu out in public because she looks so disgusting--even fresh out of the dryer.

Olivia has become so attached to Lamb E. that she can't sleep without her. After enduring a naptime and bedtime of incessant screaming and no sleeping (by any party) while Lamb E. Lulu was temporarily unavailble (hey, she takes long baths), we decided to take action. Brigham found Lamb E.'s twin online and invited her to come live with us. When she arrived, Olivia took one look at Lamb E. New Lu, who looks exactly like Lamb E. Lulu looked once upon a time, shook her head, and held Lamb E. Lulu even tighter (with hands and teeth). She's no dummy!

We've tried to integrate Lamb E. New Lu into Olivia's regular activities. Olivia doesn't usually fight the intrusion, but certainly doesn't go out of her way to include her.





Lamb E. Lulu




A close-up of her shiner. Olivia is partial to sucking on this eye.




Lamb E. New Lu




A side-by-side comparison of the "twins."