Meet Ian Sterling

I got a new Build-A-Bear... yes, for me!  Most of you won't understand why I'd spend money on a bear for m and that's ok. But I'm happy about it.  lol.  For Christmas Michael gave me money to go to Build-A-Bear.  He earned extra money by doing lots of extra jobs during December.  Like I said, I'm sure most of you won't understand my love of Build-A-Bear, and that's ok.  But Michael knows how much I love that store so he gave me a Build-A-Bear  for Christmas.  I was so touched by how thoughtful his gift was.  Normally I like going there because I like seeing the kids have so much fun.  But I'm also a stuffed-animal-lover, and especially bears!  So I got to go build my own bear and I had a BLAST!!!  It was so fun!!!!  I think the employees thought I was crazy when they asked why we were there and all my kids said, "For mommy!"  I decided my bear would be a boy bear since I love boy clothes and because all my girls ever buy are fancy dresses for their bears.  I don't like fancy dresses - for me or for bears.  I like coveralls and polos and cute little athletic shoes.  I finally got to buy the bear that I love (the one no one ever picks every time we go there, even when I point out how cute it is).  And of course I bought him coveralls that are absolutely freaking adorable!  I also bought him Sketcher shoes and a tuxedo and black shoes.  So, yes, I have a bear/stuffed animal obsession.  I also have an obsession for names, and (much to the excitement of his mom)  Michael also shares this obsession.  (I love how many things Michael and I have in common.  We understand each other.  ;) )  I gave Michael a name book for Christmas because he's always printing name lists from the internet.  And he's always writing some story or something where he needs a name.  He LOVES his book (and I'll admit to stealing it from him from time to time too).  Since I love names and since I will never again get to name another baby, I settled for the next best thing - naming my bear.   Michael and I browsed his book together and decided we both liked the name Ian.  But I still have this need to use the name Sterling - I love it.  I wanted to give Caleb 2 middle names - Caleb Isaac Sterling - but Blake said no, only Caleb Isaac.  I figured since I got my favorite name for a first name, that I better not press my luck.  But I still love the name.  And I even call Caleb "Caleb Isaac Sterling" sometimes... just to bug Blake.  And Blake, in turn, named the vacuum Sterling... just to bug me.  Ugh, that guy!  He says the vacuum is out so much that it's part of the family and should have a name.  Anyway, so all that to say I had fun naming my bear and named him Ian Sterling.  Michael didn't want to go to the actual store with me - he'd rather stay home playing video games.  I tried to get him to go with me and he said, "But mom, I gave it to you so you could go have fun.  I didn't plan on going with you."  lol.  When I got home and showed him my bear and told him all about it,  he was beaming.  I wish I had a picture of that smile.  It's a smile that says, "I understand my mom and she understands me."  He gave me a big hug and told me he loved me.  And he liked my bear too.   So I'm sure you won't understand my love of Build-A-Bear, or why I wrote such a long post about bears.  But Michael understands.  Thank you Michael!  I love my bear, and I love you!

Ian Sterling in his coveralls:

And in his tuxedo: