My Friend's Best Advice about parenting

Over a year ago I did something on the advice of my friend Sarah and since I've been complimented on it so many times I have to give credit where it's due. I bought three of the same little plush toy donkeys (or horses) from Pottery Barn Kids for Norah before she was born. They decorated the little corner of the study where we put gifts and diapers before she arrived. For months after she was born they all just hung around on the bookshelf, coming down to join Toby's animal trains or to provide something for baby Norah to look at while I changed her.
After a while Norah was able to grasp toys and since there were three of this little donkey it just seemed to be where she was--in the crib, in the car, on the changing table. As a result, this was the toy that Norah attached to. "Donkey" or something like it will probably be her first word. (Although there are several people who would testify that her first words were "hot dog" I'm ignoring them) She goes to her crib and pulls them out to carry them around when she's tired. The donkey is the only thing that calms her down when she's in the church nursery. They end up going everywhere with her. We're down to two because one of the donkeys was in our luggage that got stolen in January.
My friend Sarah gave me this idea when she realized her daughter, Hannah, had attached to a toy from Pottery Barn Kids. Sarah wanted to go buy a back-up of the toy only to find out they had discontinued it. She had to special order that toy from two other stores to have a back-up. I figured I could go and pick something up and see if Norah attached to one; if not, I'd have two extra toys to give away as baby gifts. Thinking back, I probably should have picked out something cuter than the donkey (I think they had cows and monkeys at the time), but I had no idea that this strategy would actually work.
If you've seen our Christmas picture you'll notice Norah is holding her donkey. When I tell people that she has two donkeys they think it's so clever to have a back-up. I have to give all the credit to Sarah, who gave me the idea. Thanks, friend, it's the best little piece of parenting advice that I pass along to others!