Ensa

This is Caroline's "best baby doll," her favorite toy for about a year now. Her name is Ensa, which Caroline told us is short for enchilada sauce. More recently, she's told us that Ensa's full name is Ensa Encha Ladasuce. Ensa used to take turns with Piglet, Pooh Bear, Purple Maymay, and other stuffed animals as Caroline's companion, but now she is always chosen first before all other animals and dolls. She rides in the van with Caroline every time we go somewhere, and she sleeps with her at every nap and at night. Caroline sets Ensa up with her own dishes before dinner most nights, she carries her in her doll sling, she nurses her when she's hungry or sad, she checks her up with her doctor kit, and she bucles her safely into her carseat before she "drives" anywhere. Ensa's sisters vary from Gianna (Bath Baby) and Busy Baby to Heart Cat and Amber Maymay, and her age varies from "a baby" to age three. Any time Ensa has to be left alone, she "cries silently." In fact, she's been silent for a while now... she used to make noise when she was squeezed. Her batteries began to die, and she made increasingly disturbing sounds. Under her clothing, there is no way to get to the batteries besides cutting the cloth open and then sewing it back up. I only did that once. Caroline doesn't seem to mind the fact that Ensa no longer laughs or cries when squeezed. She loves her unconditionally, the way all mothers love their babies.