If you have never visited a Build-a-Bear Workshop, consider yourself lucky.  Then avoid malls whenever you have a munchkin in tow.  For if they see a Build-a-Bear Workshop while you are out shopping, it is all over.

You will be dragged over to the display window, where a little nose will press to the glass while Ahs of pleasure fog it up.  Then you will hear it – that tiny little voice that says, “I need it.  Please, Daddy/Mommy/Grandma/Great Aunt Gertrude?  It is so pretty!”

Yesterday, as Dom and I ran a few errands at Fair Oaks Mall, I lived this experience.  I already knew it would be an expensive experience – I had been warned.  Luckily, though, I had a $50 gift card in my wallet, courtesy of a friend on Dom’s last birthday. 

As we walked through the entrance, Dom’s eyes widened.  He pulled away from me and started running around the store screaming, “This one!  This one!”  Finally, he settled on one bear.  A basic white teddy bear with slight blue spots in his fur.   

After we picked the bear, we had to choose the sound for his paw.  This is where we had our first glitch.  Dom wanted it to bark like a dog.  Finally, I talked him into a basic sound that plays five different boy-type phrases.  “Want to play ball?  Want to scratch yourself while we sit on the sofa?  Pull my finger.” 

Then Dom got to choose the bear’s heart…but he seemed to think the bear needed ten of them.  He counted three times, but finally the wonderful Workshop Elf-lady had him kiss one special heart to go inside of the bear. 

The bear was stuffed and washed…then it was time to choose his clothes.  My son chose the most expensive outfit in the store.  Then he chose the second most expensive outfit in the store.  Then he refused to choose between the two.  I did quick math, and I realized that the gift card was large enough that we could get both outfits.  Whew!  Crisis averted. 

I threw several names at Dom while we dressed the bear, and he seemed to love the name “Al.”  I figured it was a manly, belching-during-the-game type of name, so I put it on the bear’s birth certificate.  The second we left the store, though, Dom started calling him “Berry.  Like Strawberry.  Like Blueberry.” 

So, manly Al wears the Redskins football uniform by day, and Berry wears the pirate costume by night.  Hmm…2-in-1 for $56.