(26) For Betsy...

So today, as I do everyday, I checked my blog for updates and looked to see if there were any new discussions on a forum I am a member of. A lot of the women visit daily, if not hourly, and we are all brought together by one thing... but I guess that is why we visit forums. Duh, Meredith. Anyways, I lurked about and then came upon one that said "Tickle Monster... (long kinda)". Instantly I smiled... I have that book, I said to myself. Then I saw it was written by Betsy. And I immediately had to read it. She wrote about how she came across this book in her daughter's nursery the other night and it just brought her to her knees. You see, she used to read this book to her sweet baby girl in utero almost every night, pretending she was tickling by rubbing her pregnant belly.

It was then that memories came flooding back to me. I remember when I bought this book. December 2009. Brendon and I were downtown, shopping for Christmas gifts, and I spotted it in a cute little gift shop. I thumbed through and knew I wanted it. It actually comes with a little hand mitten that you can use while reading the book, but I thought it a little creepy. I like my tickles to be unadulterated. ;) I can remember sitting on the couch with my husband reading it to myself when he asked "Well aren't you going to read it to us?" So I started from the beginning and read it aloud. Brendon just wanted to make sure that I got all the different voices right so baby girl wouldn't get confused. That was a good night.

What is interesting is that Betsy apparently came across her copy the same night I happened upon mine. No seriously... if I am reading her post correctly, she did. I was in my craft room, making a copy of something, and while I waited I looked down to see some of my children's books. (My mom has been collecting children's book for me since I was in HS so I have them everywhere.) I thumbed through them, picked up one, then picked up TIckle Monster. But I couldn't bring myself to open it... until today.

This is for you my sweet, sweet friend...


"Now please don't worry and please don't fret, because TICKLE MONSTER isn't done with you yet. Here's one more thing before I must go... I love you so much, I want you to know!"