caaannndddyyy

Brian was getting ready for work this morning. Eliot sat on the bed watching TV. Pulling on a pair of pants Brian said, "Ugh! These pants are getting tight! I need to quit eating all that candy." Eliot's face lit up, "I'll eat the candy!!" Then, his voice lowered an octave or two, and he quietly said to nobody in particular, "I yike the candy.." His voice deepened even more and he grunted, "caaannndddyy..."

Christmas pageant

Eliot's school Christmas pageant was last Friday. His class sang Frosty the Snowman. We were supposed to work on lyrics, which we did. He knew the words all the way up through, "... And a button nose..." but it was foggy after that. Until, of course, the "thumpedy thump-thump" part. I asked him all week if he was going to sing. "No." "Are you sure? It would be fun!" "No, Mommy. No singing." Well, it's true. He didn't sing. None of the kids did - they are too young to know all the words (duh!). BUT... when Eliot's class was up he was the first one on the stage. He pushed past all the other kids and ran right to the middle of the stage in front of the microphone. As soon as the music started he commenced dancing and didn't stop. He did all of the hand motions (touching his nose on "button nose" and touching his head when Frosty dons the magical hat). And on "Thumpedy Thump Thump" he patted his legs according to the complex choreography. Then he was the last kid off the stage when the song was over.

I have to admit that the pageant was something that only a mother would love. It was pretty chaotic. Really, it was a mockery of a pageant. But still, it was fun and funny and very festive! So, go see the pictures of the Star of the Show. They are not great pictures, but you can get the idea. =) I'm so proud of my little star!!

He doesn't like it.

"I don't YIKE it!" I hear this several times a day. Cheese? "I don't YIKE it!" Washing hair? "I don't YIKE it!" The new toy that vibrates when you pull the string? "NO, Mommy, I don't YIKE it!" But, as usual, right when I was going to deem him incurably Two... we were rocking in the dark at bedtime. I rubbed his back softly, singing a quiet song. Half-asleep, Eliot whispered, "Mommy, I YIKE it!"

books

We've started reading books before bed. Until recently we've been hesitant to read before bed because Eliot thinks of reading as an active activity, not a quiet activity. I'm thinking now that we've made a mistake because the new routine has stretched bedtime out by about thirty minutes. We have a stack of books next to the chair in his bedroom. He hunckers down and peruses the books thoughtfully. It takes forever for him to decide on one. Finally, after reviewing each one individually, he'll settle on one to read and announce it with conviction - "THIS one." Eventually I'll have to say, "ONE more book, Eliot." He'll confirm, "one more time!" But he never remembers. I always have to cut him off. His current favorite is Where the Wild Things Are - he likes MAX!