Let me tell you about my best friend

People, let me tell you ’bout my best friend
He’s a warm-hearted person who’ll love me to the end
People let me tell you ’bout my best friend
He’s a one-boy, cuddly toy
My up, my down, my pride and joy

People, let me tell you ’bout him, he’s so much fun
Whether we’re talkin’ man to man
Or whether we’re talkin’ son to son
‘Cause he’s my best friend
Yeah, he’s my best friend

-Harry Nilson

These words ring so true, when I think of Elliott. I genuinely believe he is one of the most kind, brave and loving souls I have ever known. From the time he was a tiny baby, he has always had a strong presence. I think he will take that with him wherever he goes, no matter what challenges in life he faces.

Elliott loves to make others happy. He will do anything to make you smile. He already has a personality that is witty and he loves to tease and to be teased. He has a laugh that you can hear from across the room and it is beyond contagious. It is the kind of laugh that if he gets going hard enough, it gives him the hiccups.

He finds the most random things hilarious too. Things like, watching Bentley (our dog) swim, watching Harper try new foods, getting tickled, or chased around the house, making up songs, or wrestle matches with Daddy. Any of these things, and many more, can bust him into absolute hysterics. His giggle is so very infectious for anyone who hears it.

E also loves to be around people. Anybody. This can be strangers at the park, my adult friends, his toddler friends, doctors, therapists, family members– he loves the energy. He gets that from his momma 😉 He is a bit shy at first and observes all situations before he jumps in, but once he’s in, he’s all in.

This goes, as I am learning, for relationships for him, as well. When he’s in, he’s all in. He will be your ride or die friend. He will be loyal and have your back, no matter what. I am seeing these traits come out already, as he has very seriously taken on his new role of big brother. He understood before Harper was born, that it was his sister in my belly and he would kiss her (me) all the time.

As Harper has grown over the last 6 months, Elliott prefers to call her Harpy, which she gladly responds to with eyes of adoration and love. She is bombarded by E from the minute she wakes up until the minute she goes to bed.

Every morning he runs into her room yelling, “Harpy, eye oh!” meaning “Look Harpers eyes are open, let’s play!”

Throughout the day, Elliott is constantly kissing and hugging on her, always by her side, giving her toys, helping with diaper changes and teaching her any words that he knows, at random. He absolutely adores her and it makes my heart burst with joy at the thought of what their relationship will continue to blossom into.

In addition to Elliott’s little personality quirks, he also has a fascination (um, obsession) with trash trucks. Tuesday is trash day in our neighborhood and it is a day he quite literally lives for. Every week, he counts down the days until Tuesday. Then, when Tuesday comes, he waits at the front window of the house until he sees them and then literally shrieks (screams) with joy as if he has never seen one before. After we watch the trucks dump out our trash cans, we get in the stroller and follow them around the neighborhood. It is quite the production. We know the drivers and the drivers know us. I have actually stopped booking doctors appointments on Tuesdays because this is such a simple joy for him that I just refuse to be too busy for it. Trash trucks are life for us right now.

So, on the days that we aren’t physically chasing trash trucks around the neighborhood, we are make believing that he IS a trash truck. Watching his imagination grow has been so fun for Nathan and I to watch. The cleanup of this newfound trash truck obsession is not my favorite, but I will chose to focus on the benefits it is providing his imagination, rather than the mess ;). Another one of his favorite imaginative games that Elliott plays right now is with his friend, Bia–the shampoo bottle.

Bia is a boy and he wakes up when Elliott wakes up, he has to get hugs and kisses from all of us every morning, he watches tv with us, goes to the park with us, he goes to bed when Elliott goes to bed, and you guessed it- he chases trash trucks with us. Bia has become a part of the family and we love him.

Toddlerhood is fun. Hard and very weird, but also so fun.

Speaking of toddlerhood, when Elliott found out I was writing this blog about him, he wanted to be interviewed, so I will end this with Elliott’s own personal take on….himself:

Who is your favorite Sesame street character?

Elmo

What is your favorite activity?

Park. Swing. Underdogs

What is your favorite animal?

Pink Pig

What is your favorite food?

Cookies

What is your favorite number?

One

How many brothers and sisters do you want?

Five (OKKKK, crazy kid)

What is your current favorite book?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, or “CataPalla.”

Who is your best friend?

Harpy

This boy, I tell ya. He is a force of nature, game changer, world saver, and as the lyrics say, warm-hearted person who’ll love me to the end.

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