Mickey Mouse is my first love.

As a baby, my Aunt Laura’s mother (not my real aunt) sewed me a Mickey Mouse doll.  It went with me everywhere.

When I was about five I had my tonsils out and had to stay at the hospital.  Mickey got his own hospital bracelet and stayed with me the whole time.

When I was about 10 I was asked by the Northbrook Public Library to display my Mickey collection.  They had a space where kids were always displaying what they collected.  I was so excited and gathering all up my Mickey stuff and it was on display for about a month.  I was super proud.

I even had a Mickey Mouse Birthday sleeping bag.  And yes, I still have it today and it still looks pretty new.

My Mickey Mouse Sleeping Bag!

In junior high school, my friend Heather’s mother had to sew him because he was falling apart.

He even went with me to college.

During college, I had to stop sleeping with him every night.  It’s not that I didn’t want to.  It’s that he was falling apart.  It wasn’t even something you could fix.  He fabric was literally disintegrated.  Here’s a sad, sad picture.  Shield your eyes.

My poor, sad Mickey Mouse. He’s very loved.

I still have him – but he lays flat at the bottom of one of my dresser drawers.

In college, while Scott and I were dating, I went on his family trip to Disney World and bought myself a new Mickey.  I still sleep with him every night.

For our wedding, we had a Mickey-theme.  It wasn’t over-the-top Mickey, but subtle Mickey.  I love looking back at all the pictures of every wedding guest in Mickey Mouse ears.

My Mickey Mouse-themed wedding invitation.

The bridal party mickey ears!

Of course, my kids had to have a love for Mickey from early on.

The Cook boys celebrating their favorite mouse.

We even have a whole Christmas tree decided to MICKEY only – no one else is allowed to appear!

My Mickey Christmas Tree.

So today on this birthday, I just wanted to share with you my love for the mouse.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICKEY!!!

P.S. – You should also know, I don’t like Minnie.  I don’t like her one bit.  She’s so mean to Mickey and I don’t like that the majority of options for little girls and even grownups is clothing with Minnie on it.  I want to wear Mickey.  Enough said.