Constantly holding things in her hands...

For the last month or so my 2 1/2 yo has started holding objects in her hands literally 24/7. She’s even falling asleep at naps and nighttime holding something in her hand. It’s the same fee select (and extremely random) items. At home it’s the boots off on an Elsa doll. At the babysitter it’s now a purple block, a car, and a train car. She never ever never ever lays them down. She finds a way to play other things while still holding them. This weekend we picked out pumpkins. She got a small one and refuses to put it on the porch with the others. She now takes it around to every room we go in. It’s too big to hold all the time so she brings it and lays it down next to her. What is going on?!? She’s happy, talking up a storm, and otherwise on track for milestones and such. She loves mama and daddy and talks about her friends and her babysitter all the time. The only other thing is that she constantly says “mama I need you” over and over all day long, even when she’s sitting in my lap or holding my hand. I always just lovingly respond “im right here with you”. But she says it a happy way, not like she’s scared or upset (even though I realize that by her saying that there’s some kind of message she’s trying to send). I’ve squashed my thoughts about the constantly hoarding and holding items for a while but it’s starting to grow and today the babysitter told me she’s trying to now hold even more items there. Help!! Everyone tells me it’s just a phase. What do you think??