I remember back when you had your choice of I think three or four historically "accurate" dolls, and yes, Samantha was clearly the best and oh how I wanted her. Oh to be a little girl in the Victorian era, like Samantha. My parents also did not spring for the crazy expensive doll. All of which is to say, HOW CAN THEY NOT MAKE SAMANTHA ANYMORE?

I too crave the eventual granddaughter who will be so overwhelmed with things from her crazy granny. Take notes, boys...you owe me.

I think my MIL feels that way. She loves both her boys, but then the oldest went on to have two boys and now her youngest is expecting a boy. I wonder if she has a doll stashed away in hopes that our next child has some estrogen.

Um. My Kirsten doll (which they ALSO don't make anymore, WTF?) is safely tucked away at my parents' house. With all her precious clothes and accessories. I saved up ALL my babysitting money to buy EVERYTHING. And I was 12-13. Oh god, now I want to go over there and change her clothes...

Don't feel too bad. It's entirely possible that a daughter would be just as destructive as your sons to doll-like things. I know that my daughter, at age five, would not be allowed within 10 feet of any doll that expensive, especially an heirloom. She has 50 million Barbies (and Barbie accessories OMG), and when they are not "marrying" the one Ken doll in her collection, they are usually dangling by their ankles half-naked playing "circus". Half of them are missing limbs. One has a chewed-off toe. One has no head. So, girls can be destructive too.

My parents surprised me with a Kirsten doll for Christmas at age seven. I was floored, absolutely floored. I had the books, but did not expect the actual doll herself. She remains among the best Christmas presents I have ever received.

I have the same problem, 3 boys and no one to give my grandmother's ring and necklaces to! No dolls though, I was always a teddy person. My boys are allowed to play nicely with my big teddy(FROM AMERICA)(TO NORWAY)(I think it needed it's own ticket on the plane). We need granddaughters.

I had Molly. She was made of defective plastic and had blue spots all over her limbs like a clumsy person. When my parents called American Girl, they said they would send a new one if I sent her back. I HAD BONDED. So I still have the very bruised Molly doll.

Never had an American Girl doll, I just had Barbies, Glamour Gals, Rose Petal dolls, Strawberry Shortcake, etc.

In 2001 I had a little girl and lo and behold she wouldn't touch a doll with a 10 foot pole. She's not fond of pink either. We get the American Girl catalog (how? why??) and the even creepier "My Twin" catalog (the company will make a doll that looks just like your daughter).

Sometimes we sit and laugh at the My Twin catalog together, I consider that good bonding time.

Lately she's been plastering her walls with the latest posters from Tiger Beat of her favorite boy band, so I'm not missing out on ALL the fun girls stuff. ;)

I guess i'm the only one that thought Samantha seemed like a total bitch? I don't know why I had that particular judgment but it stuck with me to this day. I was a Kirsten girl all the way. I'm pretty sure she is safely tucked away in my parents house. My younger sister was the example of a girl who maybe should not have been given such a preshus leeetle doll. Her version of playing with Molly involved ripping off her head.

I love my Samantha doll more than anything and desperately hope to one day have a little girl to pass her down to. My sister has a daughter who will, no doubt, inherit her Molly collection. Maybe my barren womb is my niece's good fortune and she will get TWO discontinued American Girls? (I'm assuming Molly is discontinued too... along with Kirsten, the original three. So sad.)

I have 4 boys. Totally understand. I love them all, I'm a very good "boy mom", but every once in awhile...

You make me laugh! That pic of Ez and the caption is priceless!

Such perfect timing, Amy! My parents came to visit last week and brought my old Molly doll to give to my 6-year-old daughter. I didn't have any of the other outfits for her, but I did have the locket, eyeglasses, purse, embroidered hankie, and 1942 steel penny. I won't lie, while she was at school yesterday, I went up to her room and made sure all the pieces were there, Molly's hair was brushed, and her shoes were on the right feet. Amazing how those dolls captured us Gen X women and haven't let go yet!

My older sister had Molly, & I started with one of the babies. I also got Samantha at some point. And I played with them for a loooooong time. Longer than I should have, probably. We got our money's worth, which is good because my parents spent a boatload of money on that stuff. The baby had to be sent off for surgery at some point because a friend of mine shook her hard enough to mess up her eyes. I still think it would be cool to go to the giant store in Chicago (I think?) & I'm 23. The dolls are, of course, stored in the closet for future generations.

So I have two tabs open on my browser right now, and one of them is the Star Wars section of thnikgeek, because I'm looking for something for my nephew. The other is this. I get that it's all sad and . . . stuff . . . that the doll has to languish, but I have found something perfect for your no artificial colors diet and your boys and summer:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/eea5/#tabs

Seriously. Light Saber popsicle maker. That is pretty dang awesome as well. I offer this as a blow-their-minds Easter basket possibility.

Girls here but neither was ever interested in more than a regular old nasty ass peeing Baby Alive. And the boy plays with those dolls like they were only meant to be drawn on, driven over, and harassed by Hulk.

Felicity was hands down the best, and of course, they don't make her anymore either. WTF American Girl? Oh, for the hours I spent staring at that catalog (it used to be bigger too, now it's just all regular magazine size) and wishing for a Felicity doll, her horse Penny, and the green riding habit. Sigh. I can't even force a love for Felicity on my future daughter because they apparently discard the classics like old trash. I bet all of their parents are languishing in nursing homes.

I also got the catalogue as a child and wanted a Samantha doll sooooo much! I never got one, sadly.

I'm 37 and I don't think I'd even heard of these dolls until I was already in college and they had stores and whatnot. Wikipedia tells me they existed when I was young but I never even heard of them! I had Cabbage Patch dolls, Barbie, Rainbow Brite, My Little Pony, Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake and many others. Still confused.

I don't know, even if you have grandchildren you might not give her up.
My mom: "You need to come get a bunch of stuff out of your old room- I need the space for my quilting rack."
Me: "Oh I can take Kirsten and all her stuff for R" {7 yr old daughter}.
Mom:... "Uh. Nevermind. I'll figure something out."
She still changes her hair and outfits for the appropriate seasons and does the same with my sister's Samantha doll {who was pretentious, Kirsten ALL THE WAY :)}.

I have Samantha, too. I have a daughter, but I kind of doubt she'll ever want to play with her - I absolutely destroyed her pretty hair. (When I was a child! Obviously! I hope.) Anyway, you can actually order replacement parts, including new heads, but now that they don't make Samantha anymore I guess I'll just have to deal with her ugly hair!

I got my first American Girl catalogue when I was ten. I fell love with the entire collection, which at that time was only Kirsten, Samantha and Molly. I wanted all of them but I especially loved Kirsten because she was a pioneer girl and I already had a Laura Ingalls obsession! My parents couldn't afford any of it then but I never stopped wanting it. I finally got Kirsten when I was 14! Too old? No way. I loved her dearly. When I was 18 I got two more dolls. In college, I started making my own doll clothes. When I began working, I spent all my spare money on buying AG stuff.

Now I am 33. I have 23 American Girl dolls. I have oodles of outfits and accessories. The historical dolls each have their own hatbox full of their things. I change their outfits for different seasons and holidays. When my nieces are old enough to take care of them, they will have their pick! I also hope and pray for my own daughters to pass some on to.

But my original Kirsten will always be mine! And my original Felicity. Oh yes I have Samantha and Molly too among others!

I would be thrilled to have a child with no interest in the American Girl rip-off machine. We have one doll and some knock off clothes, but I recently broke down and got Kit's dog, after many pleas from my daughter. I was in shock when the $35 dollar dog arrived--and was simply a plain stuffed animal smaller than a Beanie Baby. Never again, American Girl. We are done.

All I ever wanted was Samantha, because yes, she was the best. I have a much-younger-than-me-sister and right about 8 she started asking for American Girl dolls and my other sisters and I may have complied in a slightly-obsessive, living-vicariously sort of way. Ahem. I have a two year old girl and she will be getting an American Girl doll a few birthdays from now. She already has 10 other babies and she plays with the very nicely, and she's played with her aunt's (now 10) AG dolls pretty well. Sigh. I can't wait for her to get her own.

Oh good! I'm glad I'm not the only 30something with dolls packed carefully and stored in the closet, a) because I have no daughters and b (I can't bring myself to give them away. There they will remain until... Uh. I have no idea until when.

I actually do know people that work there as American Girl is based in Middleton, WI (just down the road). I could tell you to take them off the list, but you would be sad. I get the catalogs too, have a daughter, but just let her look at the catalog. They are just soooo expensive. She hasn't asked for one yet, and I'm not going to push. However I did receive some free clothes from one of my friends. Fortunately, they fit on dolls we already have. You should come for American Girl's annual sale where they have deep discounts. You have to buy tickets to get in.

Like Zoe above I recycle that magazine the instant it arrives. I don't even bring it into the house, it goes directly to the bin. I have two girls and one thinks she wants an AG doll but I'm pretty sure it's peer pressure, not actual desire. They never really played with dolls..so I refuse. Way too expensive, it's crazypants.

My mom possibly sold a kidney to get me the Molly doll for Christmas when I was 10. Oh how I loved her. Found her in a box last weekend and she's been through the ringer, but she's in pretty good shape despite being moved a dozen times. For a second I considered sending her in to be cleaned up and whatever they do at AG hospitals (yes, it's a real thing) but then I smacked myself in the head and moved on.

I do have girls and I swear to you my oldest got a catalog the second she turned two. Not sure how, but it had her name on it. AT TWO YEARS OLD! It's wrong and expensive, but wellllll we love them. Ha. There are five in this house. My one and each of my girls has one historic doll and one of the odd new ones.

OMG! I had Samantha, too (although I got her at a slightly more appropriate age) and she WAS the best. Because she was the fanciest. I also had Kirsten, and they don't make either of them anymore.

I recently ordered some American Girls stuff for my little sisters and I'm now on their mailing list, which means yes I spent an hour the other day looking at all the new dolls and critiquing (none of them compares to Samantha obvs) and mainly pining and planning for the day when my new little one will be ready for one of these. She's a month old today, so . . . what, like a few more months or what?

How can they not make Samantha anymore?

I had a Samantha doll when I was little. That doll was magic.

My 8 year old daughter absolutely agrees that Samantha is the best ever - and whoever is responsible for discontinuing her is beyond crazy. And probably stinky.

OMG, we could not love those catalogues more.

Omg are you telling me I missed out on my chance to buy a Samantha doll??? Ack! I mean, I know I'm too old for the matching nightgowns but come on! I don't want a gymnast, I want a tiny Victorian !

After reading this I so desperately want to go get out Felicity, brush her hair, and make sure her clothes are seasonally appropriate. I took her absolutely everywhere, even proudly displayed her in my college apartment. I hope I have a girl one of these days to pass her along to.

You and I are the same age so normally I am right there with your 1980's popular culture references. But somehow I missed American Girl when I was growing up. (Which I guess is a good thing since they are stalkers, apparently.)

My son got a tiny twin who looks like him for Christmas when he was four. At seven, he still sleeps with "Dude" (but don't tell his classmates) and uses the doll to play the bad guy in his Lego battles & to run his other Bley blades. Its pretty cute- & Grandma loves! Making & buying stuff for the doll... Although I see him being put away soon -- but 3 yrs is pretty good ;)

I was also too old for the American Girl doll but their accessories were AMAZE-BALLS!

(I have a BS in Textile and Appareal...maybe this is why I was/am fascinated).

Wait, WHAT?! They don't make Samantha or Kirsten anymore?! WTH?!

I am jealous. I can't get them to stop sending me the catalogues because I never buy anything. Not only do I not girl children, I don't have any children.

I have four American Girl dolls. My grandmother spoiled us. :) I learned to sew so I could make them clothes and spent every penny I got my hands on buying them things throughout my entire childhood. My grandfather made them furniture, my mother helped me make them clay and felt food. You get the idea. I still notice when I see things that are the right scale for them.

My husband and I have agreed that if we manage to have children who have no interest in trains then he gets to have a crazy old man model train room in the basement. If our children have no interest in dolls then I get to an old doll lady. (That's not creepy or anything.)

Gods of Sanity preserve us if our theoretical future children don't want to play with Brio or American Girl Dolls. /crazy

Also, Jason is adorable.

I HAVE a daughter and am still wishing for someone to look through such catalogs with me. My kid is a tomboy to the core and would rather have her eyes poked out than have to look at a doll magazine. Seriously - she'd cry if I made her look at it.

OH EM EFF GEE YES. Samantha, right? She was so the best, and I am an admitted doll-hater! I never wanted to have her, but I read her story obsessively and I totally had the $30 locket that perfectly matched hers.

And don't overestimate your love for your children. I would jump in front of a speeding bus for my two-year-old daughter.... but fuck if she's getting that locket. :)

Just FYI to commenters above...they are still making Molly.

Samantha is the best doll. I'm still unclear as to why she got fired from American Girl.

I desperately wanted Samantha until the day they came out with Felicity. My parents must have pawned something to buy her for me, but they did for my 12th birthday. I was too old to "play" with her per say, but I did enjoy brushing her hair and seeing what tiny things I could make for her since my parents could never afford the accessories. She is PRISTINE. And she is staying that way. When I became an adult I bought Josephina and started buying clothes, but my girls are never playing with Felicity and Josephina, they are MINE and they are staying perfect. The oldest just got her own and she can drag her around by her hair all she wants.

I worked at American Girl for 10 years. I was one of the editors on American Girl magazine (not the catalog but the bimonthly magazine that focuses on contemporary girls). I'm not much of a doll person, but I sure ordered a lot of them for my nieces when I worked there (employee discount!). AG was a pretty special place. When I started working there back in 1992 I'd just given birth to my first son. I was trying to figure out the whole nursing-while-working thing and was able to persuade the HR dept (with another co-worker who was a recent mom) to set up a nursing mothers area. Back then, nursing mother stations were pretty much unheard of. Cool stuff. I think the workforce at that time was about 80% women. It was inspiring and career-shaping to be around so many smart women who really believed in what they were doing to help young girls. I never get tired of hearing people talk about how much they love(d) their AG dolls and books.

I too have a Kirsten doll and all her lovingly-preserved accessories, furniture and clothes stored away for if I ever have a daughter. Of course, I'm 31 and not in a relationship that seems child-rearing-destined, so, perhaps I will die a childless spinster.

Anyway, I agree with past comment posters who are curious about your girl names. I'm (obviously) not pregnant but am very curious about your rejected names! Saw this in your archives:

"Jason always resisted the Name Discussions until AFTER we found out we were having boys, so we've never once really settled on a single girl name. Two names that I've always liked have unfortunately become tainted recently by various Hollywood and tabloid jackasses, plus I always get this compulsive need to wipe the name slate completely clean with each pregnancy, so our runners-up names from the past rarely resurface. Because...they're used names, now, you see? Hand-me-downs. Previous rejects, so giving them to a subsequent baby seems wrong to me, like "oh, this name wasn't GOOD ENOUGH for your brother, but we couldn't be bothered to come up with anything else for you, so here you go."

Brings back so many memories of poring over the original AG catalogs with my mom. Like you, I was just a little bit too old for dolls when AG first came out, and I have FOUR younger brothers. FOUR. Needless to say, my daughter, despite being not much of a doll person (sniff) has Bitty Baby and 3 AG dolls (Kaya, Felicity and a look like me). Mostly through the largesse of her grandmother. Lots of accessories and clothes too... those dolls have more clothes than I do. :) She is 9 and ready to give (horror!) or put them away now, while I still change their outfits with the seasons and brush their hair. LOVE.