elmie

Baby G has a rather endearing habit of adding -ie (or -y, depending on how he spells it) to the end of many of his words. If something is cold, it's "coldie" or "freezy." His hammer is "hammy," his uncles Adam and Ben are "Andy" and "Bendie." Juice is "juicy," medicine is "medicie," and balls are "ballsy." And that's just naming a few. 

Naturally when we introduced him to Elmo, Baby G quickly took to calling him "Elmie." Makes perfect sense. When he first learned of Nemo, Baby G also called him "Elmie." I tried and tried to get him to say "Nemo," but it has always been "Elmie." I realized that "Elmo" and "Nemo" sound very much alike, so that explained why Baby G thought of them as the same name. So even though "Nemo" doesn't really sound like "Elmie," it is an understandable and forgivable nickname. 

But then there is Baby G's cousin, Logan. Ever since we started having Baby G try to say Logan's name, he was "Elmie." At first we thought he wasn't understanding what we were asking, but then it became obvious that "Elmie" meant "Logan" when Baby G started pointing at pictures of Logan and confidently labeling him "Elmie!" So it has stuck. We have absolutely no clue how "Logan" became "Elmie," but nonetheless, it has. We even try to break up the syllables to get Baby G to say, "Lo- Gan," but he outsmarts us by replying, "Lo-Gan, ELMIE!" So that's that, I guess. Elmie it is. He speaks in sentences and amazes us all the time by the funny little things that come out of his mouth, but for some reason he just can't seem to get past the idea that Elmo, Nemo, and Logan are all "Elmie."

 

Elmie and Baby G are getting along really well lately (Elmie is 4 months older and he used to like to beat Baby G up), and it is so much fun to know that they will grow up together and be best buddies. 

But old habits die hard, and occasionally some of the rough behavior from days gone by return, and Elmie decides to try and squeeze Baby G's hand off instead of just holding it gently. I love both of their expressions in this picture-- Elmie is in attack mode and Baby G is wide-eyed and surprised by the sudden violence, but not too concerned.

Elmie turned two a couple of weeks ago and we went for a swim to celebrate. Elmie is adventurous and brave so he had to teach the more timid Baby G the ways of water splashing, but they both had so much fun there together once Baby G warmed up.

I love this picture. Love it. Love the water splashing, love how hard we're laughing, love that it is me and my boy.

The expression on Baby G's face is pretty awesome.

I have a feeling this is only the beginning of hundreds of pictures like this one of these two little boys playing together.

Brave birthday boy Elmie jumping to his daddy.

Another party guest, sweet little Maggie. I just loved her little closed mouth smile and sparkley eyes in this picture.

Birthday boy and his mommy.

Grandma taught Baby G how to "swim." He was proudly doing the breaststroke all around the pool and the next day in the tub he started practicing again and said, "Swimming wif Gamma."

Thanks for the fun, Elmie. Please don't be mad when you are 16 and we still call you "Elmie," okay? It is here to stay, I'm afraid.