The Proper Care and Feeding of Your Monkey

Let me start by saying, if you are a regular reader of my blog, you will probably recognize the little beat up lovey in these pictures.  Kee has been Maggie's companion since she was pretty little.  The other day, she spent a good 20 minutes with both Kee and Monkey (his newer twin) going through a pretty detailed routine.  I took pictures I wanted to post here, but it made me think, just how far back did her Kee obsession go? 

The first picture I could find him in was in January, but we think he was her companion a few months before that.  In the beginning, the monkey was supposed to be Ben's.  Maggie and Ben had been given a monkey and a hippo, and I wish I could remember how long ago she claimed the monkey instead of the slightly girlier hippo.  I want to say it was even P.C. (pre-crawling).   As I went back through pictures, I realized how many he is in because Maggie is clutching him or on the fringes of because he is always near her.  It was probably around her first birthday when she started taking care of him.  I see familiar routines that I do with them.  Kee frequently gets diaper changes, with a cloth wipe usually, or just on her lap.  She lifts up his legs, wipes, says "diaper.  Kee diaper" and "wipe".  She also gives him kisses and hugs saying "Aww".  I put together a bunch of pictures to show you the proper care and feeding of Kee (according to Maggie). 

They will be in whatever order Blogger feels like, I have been trying to do this post for days.  Hey, this is a good one to start with.  I kinda feel like this about the new Blogger uploading system.   

Otherwise known as, bring your best friend to your birthday party. 

Here is the first picture I spotted where Kee was cuddled up with Miss Maggie.  Who is double fisting binkies back in January.  Notice how Kee has a clearly defined mouth and nose?

This is probably where the mouth and nose started to go.  We would find her chewing on his face all the time.  It is part of his look though, so she must have had a plan. 

It is important to take your monkey to the zoo so he can see his friends.  The first animal noise Maggie started making was her monkey noise.  She uses it frequently when talking to him, or talking about him to us. 

You should teach your monkey patriotism from a young age.  He enjoys the parades and the flagwaving.

Make sure he gets a chance to ride the turtle statue too when you are on vacation. 

 Carefully set him down and pick him up when you are playing outside. 

 Always let your monkey ride on your toys.  Forwards, backwards, sideways if they want. 

Find your monkey cozy places to hide in.  This box was a favorite for awhile, she also likes to pile him into their nightstand drawer with other lovies and books and things.  I think it is like his crib. 

 It is never too early to start reading to your monkey. 

 Show him the yummy desserts when you are out to dinner. 

Proudly wear your monkey pajamas to show him how much you love him.  In fact, make the monkey noises a lot when you look down at your pajamas to help him. 

 Give him rides in the dump truck. 

Snuggle him when he is feeling unsure.  

This is Kee Junior.  Sometimes he has to eat too. 

Take him to church, even if it is just your cousin's baptism, and you are running around the pews eating pretzels. 

Give him hugs, and make sure he knows you love him even if his nose and mouth hang off of him now. 

 Introduce him to new friends.  And their humans. 

 This is the sequence I caught on Sunday.  Gather the diapers and the wipes while Mommy is stuffing them. 

 Comb Kee's hair (and yes, that is Kee's twin also getting the same treatment today).

Find him a diaper to wear. 

Give him something to play with while you are changing his diaper so he will behave. 

 Of course, every proud Mama likes taking pictures of their monkey. 

 And when it all comes down to it, even if you are not hungry, make sure you properly feed your monkey. 

  Kee likes frech fries.  And vegetables.  And anything Maggie doesn't want to eat.  She puts it up to his mouth, will tell him to eat, say "Yummy!" and make small piles of her food in front of him on the tray.  This is why Kee gets frequent baths. 

Take time out for the fun things too, the little things like swinging.  Share your favorite activities wih your monkey, and he will show you all the joy in the world. 

Maggie, my little monkey, this post is for you.  I love watching you mother him, and I love watching you do the things to him thtat I do to you.  You have a caring, loving soul, and I am proud to have you as my daughter, and Kee as my grandmonkey.

***On a blogger sidenote, if for some reason you are dying to follow my blog and you get some message that you have been blocked that is untrue!  It is happening to one of my friends and I don't know what the problem is.  If the same thing happens to you, please let me know!  I want to get this fixed, but I don't know if it is an isolated problem, or if Blogger has turned away mobs of people who wanted to follow me.  Cause, you know, in my head everyone loves me.