Looking for Buzz Lightyear

Chris took this photo. I love it for many reasons. 

• I love the big sunglasses on his t-shirt.
  
• I love the tiny book he is holding. 
  
• I love his new Nikes that he can put on all by himself. 
  
• I love that Jude is sitting next to figurines from Toy Story. 
• I love his fedora, that he calls his cowboy hat. He's Woody whenever he wears it. 
• I love my Mother's Day gift of TOMS shoes are in there too.
• I love that we are waiting to see one of Jude's amazing specialists, Dr. Drack. She is one of 10 in the nation working in her field. 
  

We recently watched the movie Toy Story as a family. It was one of the first times we've been able to find a movie that held Jude's interest (beyond Thomas the Train) and that we could all enjoy. The TV sits low to the ground, and we all enjoy the view of the TV around the back of Jude's head. We don't even realize it anymore.

I remembered that we used to have all the little matching Toy Story Toys. So I rounded them up as best I could, and I gave them to Jude. He loves to play with them now. All except Buzz Lightyear. That's because BUZZ IS MISSING. You have no idea how this drives me crazy. I have a little OCD.  I have looked in the toy room, in Lucy's room, in the basement, in closets--no Buzz Lightyear.

It's been a little bittersweet looking through all the toys. Most of them are Lucy's toys from when she was a baby, then toddler and now a big kid. I remember each stage with fond memories. I found a whole stash of Polly Pockets that Lucy used to call "Wolly Pocks" at age two. 

Some other fun Lucy names from age two:

• Skunks were Stunks. 
  
• Thunder was Thumber.
• Airplane was Hair Plane.
• Jump rope was Jump rote.
• Strawberry Shortcake was Strawberry Hortcake. 
  
  

When Jude was two, he didn't really talk or play with toys. So most of his early "toys" were educational and therapy-related. Most do not have happy memories. I remember I went to a book store around Christmas when Jude was almost three. A clerk asked what I was looking for. I said educational toys that involved cars and trucks. She asked how old my son was (he was not with me) and I said, "He's three, but he's developmentally behind." She said with a straight face, "Well if he's three, how behind could he be?"  It was hard to hear. The truth is, he was behind by more than a year in most areas. 

Jude is doing much better now. He's still behind, but making great progress everyday. He's doing imaginative play, knows his letters, numbers and colors. He is potty trained (there's a whole other blog to be dedicated to that process). 

So, now we are on a mission to find Buzz Lightyear. And every time I open a drawer or box in our toy room or container in Lucy's room, it looks like this:

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Lucy is apparently a hoarder! And I have been her enabler. No more. We are starting the process of decluttering, and we WILL find Buzz Lightyear! Stay tuned. To infinity and beyond!

Toys
Tiny, plastic
Out of control
I hope we find
Buzz