Quintin and Elmo

Quintin LOVES Elmo! We read the Sesame Street books from "Aunt" Sarah and "Uncle" Nick every day (A birthday gift from last year, the large set of tiny board books came in a box shaped like a Sesame Street house. Quintin loved pulling the books in and out of their little home -- experimenting with the ways they fit, like an enormous puzzle -- so much that it completely disintegrated a few months back! We still read the books several times a day).

Nana turned on Sesame Street during a visit just over a month ago and watched it with him. We'd not let him watch television before then, but she reminded me what a terrific show it is -- one of the few we were allowed to watch as kids. It was definitely a nostalgic experience to hear the beloved voices of Ernie and Bert and Big Bird and Grover, along with all of my other early childhood heroes! I got a solid hour's work done at the computer, and he and Nana had a great time! He already knew the characters from the books we read, and was absolutely fascinated to see them come to life on the screen! He also has several Sesame Street themed toys, from "Aunt" Teresa (his godmother) and Nana. Now, he regularly points to the television to ask for Elmo, and does not understand why Elmo is not on it 24/7! (Sesame Street comes on at 10:00 a.m. -- If Quintin had his way, Elmo would have a much bigger contract!).

We sing during the commute to and from St. Petersburg (I work at the family book store on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with Quintin in tow, and Mondays, we go to St. Petersburg to help Grandmother Slicker run errands, etc.) -- Quintin now sings "Elmo" to whatever tune we happen to be singing (the Itsy-Bitsy spider sounds like, "Elmo, Elmo, Elmo, Elmo, Elmo, Elmo!") The first Homage to Elmo was sung quite solemnly. He's figured out how tickled it makes Mommy, and now sings with a grin and some added gusto (A little showman!).

Publix has a huge Elmo balloon it keeps prominently displayed, and going to the grocery store with Great-Grandmother Slicker has become a bit of a nightmare -- Quintin has fallen in love, and cannot understand why Elmo can't come home with us! I'm currently searching Craigslist (online classifieds) for an Elmo doll -- Hopefully we'll find one soon, and will finally be able to go to the store in peace!

UPDATE: Last Saturday, Quintin and I were running late to work when I passed, just a few miles from home, a blur of red fur, and immediately turned the car around to investigate further. Indeed, there sat an ENORMOUS Elmo, part of a yard sale, with a $1 price tag stuck onto his nose! I am embarrassed to admit that I did not have even one dollar with me, and got ready, instead, to write out a check. The woman running the yard sale smiled and said that I could just take Elmo!-- I found, however, $0.85 to give to her by digging through the lent ball at the bottom of my purse :-). Quintin was, of course, ecstatic! He spent the ride to St. Petersburg happily chatting with Elmo, happily patting and naming each of Elmo's body parts ("Elmo's nose! Elmo's hand! Elmo's eye! Elmo's belly!"), and making Elmo "dance" to the radio. I felt like Mommy of the Year!