Vuilli, the company behind the famous Sophie the Giraffe also makes a teething ring. Smaller and more supple, this version seemed to have a better chance of avoiding being launched from the stroller. The ring stays in Rhys’s hand so well that it seemed it might be tricky to toss. It has this intoxicating vanilla scent that is apparently supposed to aid with teething pain. I am not sure if it works or not, but I have to say, I love that it makes Rhys’s little face smells like a milkshake. (Then, in a mad dash in my mind, I am at the 101, ordering a malt… it’s so creamy, and frosty… and, oh. In my mind. Damn.) I digress.
I thought this little Sophie ring would surely be with us through the long haul of teething. Day after day, she was gnawed on by sharp baby teeth; smothered by swollen baby gums. This girl survived a broken leg, and all the while, smiling. We all adored Red Sophie. And then, just like that, she was gone.
A family trip to Home Depot gone wrong. Rhys in the Bjorn, gumming away at his little red friend. Ramsey and I distracted by power tools. (He wants a chainsaw, I want a belt sander. We bought neither.) It wasn’t until our arrival at the checkout stand that we realized Red Sophie was missing. We got out of line. We retraced our steps. Back through power tools, round the corner through plumbing supplies, back to garden gloves, down the aisle with all the tile. Alas, no Red Sophie. A visit to the customer service counter had me hopeful. “Do you have a lost and found?” “Yes.” “Did anyone turn in a small red baby toy?” “No, sorry.” She almost smirked at me. Sure, it may have sounded silly to her, but had she known this little Sophie, she would have understood.
Feeling defeated, we paid and shuffled back to the car. Oddly enough, Rhys was the only one who didn’t seem disappointed in Red Sophie’s disappearance. I like to think he was just protecting himself from heartache. And so, I ordered a new Red Sophie from Amazon. The listing read ‘colors may vary’. And vary, they did. Now, Rhys has what we call Kraft Sophie. She is the specific shade of yellow only found in powdered cheese. It’s mildly alarming to me. My beautiful son, however, could care less about her color and welcomed her with open jaws.
