Sweeping the Clouds Away

We found our way to Sesame Street today.  Bailey slept until two minutes before the show actually started.  Perfect timing.  She awoke a little distraught, but interested.  Then the lights went out (and not in Georgia) and then came Bert and Ernie.  Suddenly, she was excited, sitting in her fourth row on Daddy's lap.  Her facial expressions changed and she immediately got into the production. 

 

But when Cookie Monster came out, now that was when the big smiles really took over.  She wanted him the entire show.  He was the ONLY thing she wanted.  Unfortunately, she couldn't have him as a souvenir. Anytime he'd make an appearance, she'd lunge forward in Daddy's arms, standing on his lap, trying to go after him.  A couple times, she even offered him her cookies from afar (cookies for Bailey are biter biscuits and wagon wheels).

 

She clapped and she sang.  When they did an alternative to Old MacDonald Had a Farm (Old MacDonald had a lunch) she said, "cow."  She did her "E-I-E-I-O" too.  She yelled "YAY" and she did her "oooh" comments.  She may have even said "wow" once or twice.  She behaved so marvelously.  We knew she'd enjoy herself, but we had no idea she would to this extreme.  It was such a splendid experience sitting next to this bundle of amazement.

 

We saw Cookie Monster do the river dance with sheep in kilts, and we heard a new version of "I Need a Hero," a song she loves from Shrek 2.  She loved the lights during "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and she liked the various kinds of light sticks the children around us had.  And she really liked Lady K, at least she seemed to.  She said "K" a lot after that.

 

Never would we have expected her to sit through the fifteen minute intermission peacefully and still, but she pretty much did just that.  She stood on the floor between our feet and moved a bit, but she didn't try to stray, which is unusual indeed.  She saw the Elmo balloons (which cost $8.00).  We expected to be suckered into purchasing one, like every other parent in the audience.  But, the opposite occurred.  She never requested one.  She just observed.  Her eyes lived vicariously through the other children, and never asked for one.  She didn't even say "balloon" or "what's that?" to any of the over-priced commercialized products.  She just ate her snacks with class and took everything in.  She was quite possibly the best-behaved child there.

 

I almost feel guilty for not buying her anything there, but the only thing she truly wanted was Cookie Monster, the live version, and we couldn't get her that.  The experience was memorable.  It was serene.