Shortly after Barry come home from his mission we were visiting for a weekend at my parents house. Regan was just a little dude. Just recently two. When we got back home (6 hours away) I discovered a stow away. Regan had smuggled Soccer Bear home. We had chat about how taking things that don’t belong to you isn’t okay. It went right over his two year old head.

I called Barry (owner of Soccer Bear) and he said Regan could keep Soccer Bear for as long as he needed. Soccer Bear and Regan were inseparable during our visit to St. George and remained inseparable for the next FOUR years.

I would every once in a while remind Regan that Barry was letting him borrow Soccer Bear and that we needed to be very good about taking care of him. And he did. He made sure Soccer bear was always gently loved on. Except for that one time he wanted Soccer Bear to fly…

Several months ago at a friends baby shower I won a game and came home with another little beanie baby bear. Regan fell in love with the new guy who he named Lovey Bear. It’s brown and has a Read heart on it’s chest. And then there were two.

As we were packing to go to St. George for our emergency Grandpa is in the hospital visit Regan announced that he was taking Soccer Bear. I wasn’t surprised since Soccer Bear is his travel buddy and has been all over the country and back and forth between Phoenix and St. George more times than I can count. What did SHOCK me was his announcement that he planned on giving Soccer Bear back to Barry.For several days while we were in St. George I kept checking in on Regan’s plan to leave Soccer Bear. He stayed very firm in his choice. He was ready to let go.

It was me who wasn’t ready. It was like I did that thing. The thing they warn against…. I blinked. I blinked and my baby was suddenly a little boy who didn’t need Soccer Bear anymore.So Soccer Bear is now back with Barry. Being kept for future kids to love on. And Regan is happy knowing that the next time he sees his Uncle Barry he will get to cuddle with his old companion Soccer Bear again.