Elmo and Play Doh, Head to Head

Now that the teenager is here, getting online just about requires wrestling him to the ground and hog-tying him. The baby is wide awake tonight though, playing with the toys attached to her bouncy seat, and it's so late that even the teenager has gone to bed. Hooray! Alone with the computer at last.

Christmas has been pretty good so far. My husband took the rest of the year off (gotta use up that vacation time while we've still got it, after all) so we've got a full house. It's always so nice having the teen here. Everything feels complete, now. His absence during the school year is tangible, a great void that wanders the house and reminds us continually that someone isn't here.

I wish his mother hadn't chosen to move so far away.

Our living room carpet has a new design on it. The toddler got hold of a Sharpie, Christmas Eve, and did quite a number on the floor before I got to her. I don't even know where she got it from. This carpet is only 2 years old and cost us a small fortune. I'd waited for this carpet for years. Yes, I freaked a little when I saw what the damage was. It's especially bad if we have to move. Hard to convince someone to buy a house when you have black marker all over the floor.

Sanford's website recommends a product called Ammodex so I'll be calling them after the new year to buy some stain remover. I'd be glad to hear anyone's recommendations if there's anything better, though.

When the toddler hit the living room Christmas morning she didn't even notice the giant Elmo her daddy got her. She ran to big brother and hugged his legs, then hugged daddy's legs and only then noticed (after considerably prompting and pointing) the Elmo next to the tree.

Her reaction was not quite what we'd anticipated. She grabbed me and hung on for dear life, giving Elmo some very leary looks. I think she thought he was the real Elmo! After some coaxing, however, she calmed down, let go of mommy and cautiously approached Elmo. Within half an hour she was dragging him around with her arms around his neck and since then they've been inseparable. Elmo sits in the high chair next to her chair at all her meals and when she goes down for her nap Elmo has a nap too. He even says prayers with her every night and she holds his arms together to help him.

We've had to squash her attempts to feed Elmo, though. We caught her sharing her strawberry milk with Elmo that same day and since then his fur has already become rather stiff in places. I'm going to have to clean him up thoroughly, as soon as I can pry him out of her arms.

She got another great present a few days after Christmas when I hit the grocery store for some milk and Doritos. All the Christmas stuff was half off, of course, which included some Christmas presents. When I saw the Play Doh I couldn't resist. It worked out well. First thing she wanted to do this morning when she got up? To play with the "colors!"

It's so nice having a couple of toys that distract her long enough to keep her from destroying any more of the house.

Happy New Year to all of you! I hope you have a great one.