Just Ducky

Jackson's Ducky (his "lovey") was given to him by his Nanee and Papa Wilcox when he was about four months old. I just now realized that means Ducky is two years old this month--Happy Birthday, Ducky! I remember the day Ducky came into our lives. Nanee and Papa had gone on a little shopping spree at Concord Mills in preparation for a two-month trip to Africa to check on their missionary projects. They got all the grandkids a few gifts, and Ducky was tucked into Jack's little gift bag. I remember dismissing the shiny, blue duck blanket as a little blanky that would probably be relegated to the bottom of the toy box. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I don't remember the exact moment or day, but after a while we noticed that Jack would find that little blanket every time he went down for a nap and at bedtime. It definitely had the soothing quality for him that pacifiers seemed to provide most other infants. When I'd put him down to sleep he'd tuck the duck blanket under his left arm and pop his right thumb into his mouth. He became a great, little napper with all this sleep paraphernalia.

It didn't take us too long to realize that Ducky (aptly named) was a hot commodity. I was very strict (at first), only letting Ducky out of the crib for long car rides or any excursion that would require a nap away from home. We got some good advice from "lovey" experts (experienced parents): find another Ducky--a spare--just in case...

We searched near and far, but Ducky was sold out, discontinued. We were resigned to make-do with just one duck. I hand-washed Ducky and let him air-dry. We took great care of him; he was the peacemaker and peacekeeper.

One day, we invited my friend, Charlotte and her son, Walker over to our house for a playdate. I had told her about Jack's new Ducky, and when she saw it, she exclaimed, "Hey, we've got that duck blanket! Walker got it as a gift; he could care less about it--do you want it?" Ummm, yeah.

So, original Ducky and alternate Ducky performed as a single Ducky--almost like the Olsen twins on Full House--you never saw the two together. To be honest, the one not being utilized wiled away the time in my underwear drawer. For over a year, we carried on this charade.

And then it happened...worlds collided. My much-wiser, more keen eighteen-month-old was holding original Ducky and saw alternative Ducky. Now that I think about it, what was Jack doing in my underwear drawer? He yelled, "TWO DUCKIES!" And it was over. We were found out! The world of two Duckies was pure bliss--more joy than a toddler can handle--his little body just shook with excitement whenever he saw his two favorite possessions co-existing in his immediate sphere.

You'll notice two Duckies in the picture. The one on the left has a band-aid tattoo (really, it's permanent), the result of a trip through a not-so-gentle wash cycle while wearing a Cars band-aid. Nowadays, at least one Ducky (usually the original, non-tattooed Ducky) makes it out of the house at least a couple times a week. He's more likely to share tattooed Ducky with his friends and Sam; it's amazing how early our discriminations develop.

This past week, we went to Jack's pre-school picnic to meet his teachers, and Ducky came along. Jack's teacher crouched down to his level to introduce herself. She told him all about the fun things they'd do at school together, and then noticed Ducky hanging off his shoulder. Who's this? Well, he can come to school with you! He can do crafts with us and sing songs with us and...Great (please note the sarcasm).

Rick and I look back now at the very early pictures when Ducky first came into our lives. He was so shiny--no tattoos, no thread hanging from his eyeball. That duck has been the target of my almost-endless gratitude and occasional disdain, but he's been a good duck, and I'm glad he made his way into that little gift bag and never found the bottom of the toy box.