Because I realize that nothing ever goes well when you are depending on it to, I will be happy if Hatchling can recognize it is Elmo and shout "el-MO!" in his own special way. Then I am sure my hours of underpaid labor will be worth it.

Hatchling has been shouting something else lately, too. He frequently spouts off with something that sounds awfully close to "OOOHHH GAWD!" Now, neither my husband nor myself believe in taking the Lord's name in vain. No one in my family says that. Nor does Hatchling watch any television in which that is featured. All I can think of is that he must be saying something else, but I sure don't know what it is. He shouted it at Wal-Mart today and I got a rather scathing look from a nice old lady. "I promise, I didn't teach him that!", I wanted to say.

I am trying to teach the boy to say "I love Mommy." Yesterday, he would repeat "I," then "love," and then he would shout "ELMO!" Oh yes, I know my place in his heart. Right below Elmo and bananas. I should remind him who it was that came to save when he accidentally locked himself in his room this morning. It wasn't Elmo's name he was shouting then, now was it?