Ladybugs & Elmo

I don't think I took people seriously when they said their child was obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine or Minnie Mouse.  But now I know.  Despite a tremendous and expanding vocabulary, one word composes a good 50% of our daughter's speech and thoughts: "Elmo."

Elia likes Elmo on TV, Elmo in books, and undoubtedly will enjoy the company of several Elmo-themed toys after Christmas morning.  I have found myself trusting in the purported virtues of Sesame’s Street to know that Elmo is a good guy, because I can’t understand a word he says.  But he has stolen my daughter’s heart.

Other than that, we’ve been having a great fall and have slowed down a bit from the summer’s busyness (gaining the approval of our ever-pregnanter mother and wife) now that the sun is setting sooner and limiting outings and outdoor activity.  Nonetheless, we’ve enjoyed several outings, many to visit the local playgrounds and parks.  Elia enjoyed spending Faux-Fourth of July (in September) with Ella Thomas at a park in Green.

A Timken group organized an outing shortly before Halloween to the family-fun Maize Valley farm, where Elia enjoyed seeing horses, goats, and the many “Go’s” (which means “pigs”).  You see, at the NasHog pig race arena, Elia got her first good look (from my shoulders) at a couple pigs as we all chanted “GO PIGS, GO!”  And that’s what stuck.

This year’s trick-or-treating was much more enjoyable for our family now that Elia can walk and understand the process.  She definitely would have won a cutest costume award, dressed in this ladybug suit.  She loves carrying bags now, like mom, and squealed with joy when she started understanding and getting to put candy in her bag.  Imagine next year, when she figures out what candy is!

Aside: I had the pleasure of a daddy date with Elia in that same bug outfit to our Belden Village Mall's trick-or-treating event.  We had a great time together, save for the one moment when, in a missing-mommy panic, Elia found a nearby high school girl who approximated Mommy's appearance (when viewed from 2 feet off the ground I guess) and ran up to hug and cling to her legs far longer than anyone would have expected before she realized her error and settled for Daddy.  No shame in that one.  

We visited Greensburg in September when Timken sent me to two career fairs in Western PA, and Elia spent lots of time with Mimi & Grandpap and learned the ways of the indoor mall: 25-cent kiddie rides and plopping pennies in the fountain.

She got to see them again when we went on our “babymoon” (as they say) to Pittsburgh and had Mimi and Grandpap watch Elia for the weekend.  Mimi took her out for a fun tractor ride (a.k.a. trip to Schramm’s Pumpkin Farm).  She also loved Oma and Opa's October weekend visit--I just don't have pictures!

Meanwhile, between intermittent bouts of Elmo, Elia enjoys playing on her own for extended periods of time—building with Legos, pretending with little plastic doll figures, reading tons of books, and solving cutout puzzles like a pro! 

She was diagnosed with a double infection this week, so there were some pajama days.  She’s been just a little down and out, but the medicine is her favorite food and she’s feeling pretty normal again.

She and Amelia Jurica are becoming better friends every day (or twice a week, when Erin babysits Amelia), as the development gap shrinks between them!

And now she wears sweaters and jeans and poses for pictures like she’s going to college next week.  Seriously, she’s gotta be, what, 14 in this picture?  So here’s to hoping that the adjustment to a baby sister will be taken with the maturity and gentleness of a young lady.  Get ready for tiny baby pictures—again!