Build-A-Bear

Last year, Tia Josie and Tio Nick took Madeline to Build-A-Bear.  She made Buddy and got him car shoes and a boombox shirt.

This year, she went with Ethan and excitedly picked out a rainbow bear.  She knew exactly want she wanted.

She named her bear Gabriel, but since the bear looks like it came out of a rainbow, I named her Gabriela when filling out the birth certificate.

Ethan went first and made Denny, a camo bear.

Then Madeline stuffed her Gabriela.

And washed...

And dressed her in a Disney princess shirt.

After Build-A-Bear, we went to the mall play area to kill some time before lunch.

It was a really nice afternoon with my sisters and Ethan.  

Madeline has since treated Gabriela just like I treat Gabe. Gabriela was getting the royal treatment until Madeline discovered a baby doll, who has now usurped the rainbow bear's place of honor.  What I've noticed is that Madeline is not only pinning for my attention again, but she's also mimicking me now more than ever. Naming her bear after Gabe was her way of being more involved.  As Gabe has become more mobile and interested in Madeline, she's becoming more annoyed with him :)  I, on the other hand, enjoy seeing them interact, even if it's Gabe following Madeline around and Madeline putting toys just out of his reach!