Natural

Bria is inherently nurturing, which I love to see. She loves to hold her doll and gently pat her on the back and then put her to bed, cover her with a blanket, and say "night-night." I haven't ever taught her these things-- it comes naturally to her. Even tonight, I gave her a towel to wipe up some water she spilled, and the next thing I knew, she had balled up the towel, was rocking it and patting it, then she put it to bed in her kitchen chair and said "night-night."
Bria loved our Christmas nativity (particularly Mary and Jesus) and would frequently put each piece to bed by putting it face down on the carpet.

I knew she was going to be pretty sad when we put the nativity away, so I had her help me. As we put it into the box, I had her give each piece a hug and a kiss and say bye-bye. She closed her eyes and lovingly rocked Joseph, Mary, the shepherd, baby Jesus, the angel, and each wise man and bid them farewell as I packed them away. She still asks for Shees (Jesus) and May-ey (Mary) every day, and will often go to the closet and point, saying "tee-ee?" (nativity). But then I remind her how we said bye-bye, and they went away until next Christmas, and that answer seems to satisfy her.