Formula One

singing

For a while now Otto has really enjoyed it when you sing to him.  Now that he can talk to so well he does not hesitate to ask me to sing him any number of his favorite songs at any minute of the day.  Eric calls me his personal juke box.  It is fine with me, at this point in my pregnancy I would more than happily sing him a song (something I can do sitting down) as opposed to playing hide and seek or the "see-saw game".  Both of which I tell him to wait until daddy comes home to play. He has an interesting list of favorite songs, "I've been working on the railroad", "Go-Go-Go for G", "ABC's" and now "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".  Twinkle is new to the mix and to be honest I am not really sure where it started from.  Not that I don't like the song but I never really sing it to him.  I have a younger brother who learned to play the cello with the Suzuki method, anyone familiar with that will understand why I don't feel the need to get "Twinkle" stuck in my head anymore.  Not only does Otto request it often right now, he has also almost mastered singing the entire song himself.  There are a few words that he isn't sure of and just sort of glazes over, but really he has got the whole thing memorized.  He has also started spewing off large chunks of the alphabet as well.  He will out of nowhere say "H,I,J,K,L,M  PAUSE  W, X,Y,AND Z, PAUSE Next time you sing me..."  This all just seems rather advanced for a 21 month old little boy.  But really I have no idea.  

He also is recognizing melodies that he hears somewhat out of context.  Today we were watching Sesame Street and there was a really cute skit where there are paper birds dancing on what looks like both telephone wires and a music staff.  They bob along to the notes of the song.  The song was as I always think of it "Frara Jaca", when the skit was over Otto asked for "Runaway Song again".  It took me a minute to think of what he meant, but he is right, it is the same tune as "Where is thumkin..." in which run away is repeated many times.  Then tonight he got a huge kick out of me singing that song and doing the finger game.  I have never done that before for him.  They have sung it a few times on Sesame Street and his Wiggles album has that song, but until now he has never mentioned it once. When they say little kids minds are like sponges they are not kidding!

thanksgiving

So if carrying Otto for 9 months wasn't proof enough that he is my child, his love of apple pie seals the deal!

Somewhat patiently waiting for PaPop to play the railroad song

Running around like a train while we all sing for him

Ah, YES

For a while Otto was quite taken with the word "no", and who could blame him.  It often meant both "yes" and "no".  Just a little confusing for those of us not inside his head all the time.  Lately though he has really picked up "yes" and seems to be very good at using it appropriately.  The best part is the way he says it.  With such conviction and sheer joy.  You really can't help but laugh every time he says it. We have to catch it on video before the moment passes, because really it is just priceless.

Speaking of video, eric made a fantastic short of him over Thanksgiving.  Pa-pop (Ken) has made a new banjo just for playing Pete Seeger music for Otto, well that and he likes banjos and making them....  He can play many songs for Otto but all he wants to hear is the Railroad Song (I've been working on the railroad) over and over again.  On thanksgiving with the help of my Uncle Alan and Aunt Lee we all sang the song over and over again much to Otto's joy while he ran in circles saying "choo choo" being a train.  Eric caught us all in our glory and made a little video of it.  There is also some footage of my grandmother playing the railroad song on the piano and us singing while Otto dances which is pretty wonderful too.  

Some days I think he gets funnier all day long.  Yesterday when he woke up from his nap he was extolling the virtues of hot chocolate to me.  When I asked him if it was yummy he responded "oh yes, make Otto happy!".  The other morning he was telling eric about what must have been a dream since he was talking about his friend Isaac riding down the sidewalk on an elephant.  His mind is always going and more often than not he is telling you about it at the same time. 

I promise videos and more pictures soon, but for now an update will have to do.