Olive's First Build a Bear

For the past few months we have been working with Olive on some things. First was staying in bed at night time. There was awhile where she would get out of bed probably 10 times after we tucked her in. She would think of every reason under the sun to get out of bed to talk to us. It meant that most night ended with us frustrated and Olive crying. For around a month she would also come up in the middle of the night and sleep on our floor. So, we started doing a sticker chart. She could earn up to five stickers a night if she stayed in bed. Every time she go out of bed she lost a sticker. Sometimes she would calculate "I only want 3 stickers tonight" so she kinda beat the system a little bit.

The other chart she could earn stickers for was her "Happy Chart". We are working on having a pleasant attitude.  If I asked her to do something and she responded quickly and in a happy, positive way without any whining she would earn stickers. We would try and give her as many opportunities to earn stickers every day and she could earn as many as she was happy for. It was pretty good incentive.

Eventually she was able to fill up both of her charts. We decided that since this was a very difficult task for our 3 year old that her reward would be to make a build a bear. Olive didn't know what that meant exactly, but once she got there she thought it was wonderful.

 

We are big fans of the newest Muppet movie around here (we listen to the sound track almost daily) so Olive chose a Ms Piggy puppet to stuff as her bear. Here the clerk is helping Ms Piggy come to life with stuffing.

 

Olive was very careful and thoughtful as she chose the heart that was to be Ms Piggy's. Then she rammed it with all her might into Ms Piggy's tummy. She might of gotten mixed up on which part to be soft on.  

 

Then it was bath time. They also fluff them off with a machine that blows air.

 

As is probably obvious to many of you, Olive was instantly settled on chosing the bride outfit for Ms Piggy and didn't want to waste her time looking at other clothing options. Look at the concentration on her face as she dress up Ms Piggy.

 

And then the tongue comes out and you know things are getting serious.

 

Olive was ecstatic at the way bride Ms Piggy turned out.  She told me about every detail:

 "This is her ring mommy" 

"this is her boquet mommy"

 "these are her wedding shoes mommy" 

"she doesn't need undies mommy, she already had some on!" 

It made me realize that Olive is at the perfect age for a build a bear.

 

Then is was time to make her a birth certificate and send her home. Olive loved that she got to travel home in a little house box. She insisted that we keep it so Ms Piggy has a place to live.  Ms Piggy has been well loved since coming home. Olive hasn't slept a Night without her!