October Rose

We had a special visitor with us over the weekend. Elizabeth brought home October Rose, her 'baby think it over' doll for her Child Development class. It was Liz's responsibility to take care of Toby (what we called her) just like a newborn, and the doll was programmed to perform a lot like a newborn would.

Elizabeth got to name her and chose October Rose, nicknamed Toby. "Toby from Nairobi" "the Tobster" "Tobalicious"....ok, that's probably enough.

Toby was set on "random" which meant that she could be easy or tough for different periods of time. Liz was looking for as real an experience as she could get and has come away not only sleepy (Toby got her up at least two times each of the three nights), but appreciating a bit more just what it takes to care for a newborn. Of course there wasn't a way to replicate the hormone craziness and the physical recovery that's needed (not to mention the RAVENOUS hunger that comes from nursing) after giving birth, but for a doll, Toby delivered a pretty life-like experience.

Elizabeth was very conscientious and took great care of Toby. She raided the doll clothes and the baby clothes, so Toby was a very well-dressed little lady!

Toby had to be fed and changed and soothed at various intervals. Liz kept track of her eating schedule and her diaper changes on paper all weekend.

All of Elizabeth's sisters had a little turn caring for Toby (so Liz could shower). Emily learned to say "Toby", which was so cute. Not sure just what Em thought of the doll that everyone was making such a fuss over. She didn't seem to mind when mommy held the new baby, which is considerably different than what happens when mommy holds Nathan in her presence.

We were glad to have Toby with us, and since she was programmed, that particular doll and setting doesn't really exist anymore. When Liz turned her back in on Monday, she said she could hear a baby crying at different points during the day. She thought she was going through 'mommy withdrawls'. (though I don't think she missed Toby so much on Monday night when she got to sleep the night through without interruption)

At not-quite-15, Liz is definitely not ready to have a baby (not that she was running out to make that happen any time anyway...). But she had enough 'fun' with Toby that another baby is coming home for another weekend soon (for extra credit).

Liz came up with quite a tale regarding where Toby came from, just for fun... A story that included a honeymoon to Africa and poison darts and an abandoned baby in a Moses basket.... quite an adventure!

xoxo