Friends

Because Eliza is so darn cute, I had to post about her latest craze.  I have mentioned before that she is a Sesame Street fan - this is still true.  She calls all of these characters her friends.  She reads to them daily, she invites them to play dates, makes and feeds them dinner, and puts them down for naps.  She  "performs" for them on the piano and sings to and about them.  She lets me know when they are sad, happy, tired, or just being plain silly.  She tells me what they tell her.  She has a difficult time deciding who to take with her in the car or to the grocery store because she is afraid one of them will feel left out or sad to be left behind.  She also watches Sesame Street with them, and will tell them what they are doing on the screen.  It is absolutely adorable.  The down side - they are literally taking over our couch.  There is no where for anyone besides Eliza to sit because her friends have to have a spot on the couch.

I have heard the following phrases come out of her mouth.

"Mom, Bert is being silly."

"Ernie wants a snack."

"Big Bird says we should play in the snow."

"Cookie monster is a big boy."

"Elmo needs a new diaper."

"Minnie Mouse says she is cold, she needs a blanket."

"Bert wants a blanket too."

"We are going to play with dolls not balls."

"Bert wants to play catch - catch him mom."

Yesterday as we were cleaning the living room, Eliza looked at me with all seriousness and said, "Make sure you don't move my friends mom.  We need to clean up the books, but make sure my friends stay there because they are sitting on the couch with me."  She is quite possesive of these friends.  When other real friends come to play, she will either hide them, or convince the other child to play with something else.  She is also picky about when and how Zaby is allowed to play with them.  Usually, if they leave the couch, it's because they are going to bed with her.  She is so sweet with them, and so imaginative.  Really, can you get any more adorable than this?

Well.... perhaps she can - she dances with them quite often.  At this point, she doesn't really have a favorite.  She plays with them all equally.  

Dancing with Minnie on my bed.

She always wants me to take a picture of her and various friends.