ELMO

TJ has entered the "terrible two's" a little early. So on Monday I heard him scream "ELMO" in the living room at the top of his lungs for 5 seemingly endless minutes. The entire time I periodically suggested that we eat spaghetti first, and watch Sesame Street after dinner. After leaving the room, taking my place at the table, and beginning to eat, he finally gave in and acknowledged that he would need to eat before watching ELMO!! Score one for mommy.

After three obligatory bites of spaghetti TJ began a different approach (and a common one in our household these days) "All done mommy...All done mommy....All done mommy....ALL DONE!" I swear he know that we are trying not to engage in food battles, so by exclaiming that he is done, he will be excused, and he is ready to head straight for Elmo. Its about 6:30 at this point.

He loves Sesame Street, and really does not watch much TV, so one favorite program is plenty. But, I need to start recording these, because the 5 available episodes on the DVR are getting old to mommy, and we have seen every one at least 3 times. We sit down and start to watch and play. Enter Daddy.

The Reds are in first place in the NL Central (in case you don't know), and St. Louis is hot on our tails. Daddy is a huge Reds fan, and even recently taught TJ to cheer, "Go Redlegs!" when they are on TV. "Baseball" is also one of our clearly spoken words. So...Daddy comes in turns off Elmo and on the heavily anticipated Reds-Cardinals series on TV. I try to intervene.

"YEAH! TJ gets to watch baseball with DADDY!! Yeah TJ! Go Redlegs!" (with my fist pumping motion and all). TJ however was not buying into mommy's fake enthusiasm.

"Elmo all gone?" TJ asks. "Yes, Elmo all done, " Daddy answers without missing a beat. "Elmo all done?" TJ asks. "YES." Daddy responds a bit more emphatically this time. TJ looks to mommy, who is still jumping up and down yelling about baseball and cheer leading from the couch. TJ shakes his head and states, "Daddy NOT nice!" as he saunters over to mommy. "Elmo all done...Daddy NOT nice," he repeats, in case we didn't catch it the first time. Apparently Rosie Red loses out to Elmo in the 20 month old market!