I've been having a bear of a time finding the perfect teddy bear for Jack. I've been looking ever since I found out I was expecting. It's harder than you might think. I think there are several iconic styles and I can't find any of them. There is sort of the mid-last-century button eyed variety like my brother had. Then there is the more realistic stlye. My first choice would be J0sh the 0shk0sh bear in the engineer overalls. Unfortunately, he's been retired. My second choice for the perfect bear is the Dulcolax spokesbear. He has this great look of consternation on his face. Being the Dulcolax bear, you know it isn't because he's thinking real hard. He isn't available either. They are missing out on a great merchandising opportunity. He's only in the print campaigns now. Maybe once he gets his own tv spot they'll produce him like the fabric softner bear was. Unfortunately, fabric softner bear was recalled. Oh dear, he was a horror anyways, wasn't he?

As a child I had a P**h which was bigger than I was. It was the size of a tubby toddler. Jack has several P**hs including one the size of adult sitting cross-legged courtesy of his aunt, Marina, who spoils him rotten. (Marina was a great help to us all last year with shipping and her l33t nursing skillz. We can't possibly thank her enough.) I came across a P**h wrist rattle which, due to inaccurate sewing, is in dire need of a brow lift. It is 3vil P**h. You know I couldn't resist buying it. It has the same look my Dad would give us as kids when we'd done something wrong. If it could say Saaarrraaahhh Lyyynnne, I would run screaming from the room. But I still need the PERFECT bear. I've gotta get my hands on a Dulcolax Bear!

I also had a hard time finding a boy babydoll. I believe boys need a little buddy friend too. All the dolls are girls. It was really pissing me off. I wanted to rip the heads of all the girl dolls and stomp on them. It was probably just hormones. I could get a boy bear or puppy - which you knew was a boy because he wore a sports uniform. Don't even get me started on trying to find non-sport geared apparel. Could I get a dino or boat or something??? I will say the most clever outfit theme we came across was the 100 Acre Woods Forest Service ranger uniforms. They were awesome done in thermal and camo. The US National Park Service rangers should dress so well.

Piro and I think the 100 Acre Woods Forest Service is a brilliant idea. We did a lot of National Park vacations when I was a kid so i'm enamored with the concept. I always wanted to be a ranger. Their clothing designers have better ideas than their television show writers. It's much better than the new P**h and friends detective TV series with them tearing up and polluting the forest driving motorized scooters around. Ok, I admit haven't watched many - i simply can't stomach it - maybe they are hybrid,electric, fuel cell or rainbow engery scooters but I seriously doubt the writers even bothered to think about the eco message they are sending.

A big thanks to the readers and customers who stuck with us through the year! I can guarantee that we will never bring out a new book and run a big promotion while we are out of the country for three weeks while I am pregnant again. Thanks the for the support and all the good wishes.