Elmo

It's elmo-pa-looza at our house. Elmo cds in the car. Elmo videos on the tablet. Elmo books. Taking Elmo. Singing Elmo.This little red monster has become the most beloved character to my toddler. Elmo is driving the rest of us a little crazy...but to my son...Elmo rocks.

Elmo is some-kind-of-famous. I mean, who else has on-screen song pull with the likes of Katy Perry, Will.I.Am., Feist and more. (yes, I have watched all of those Elmo-tastic music videos...they are on perma-loop here).

My son refers to Elmo as "LA LA" because...if you know Elmo...you know his song "...la la la la, la la la la, Elmo's Song." La La is the only toy baby boy calls by name.

See up there? That's my boy's Sesame Street My First Plush Elmo doll and he ADORES it. If my son is going for a nap...Elmo has to go "night night" too. If my son is being belted into the wagon for a walk...Elmo has to "sit" too. My once-quiet son is raising his voice (with his little one-word-per-command vocabulary) to communicate what he wants. This little doll has helped him with so many developmental skills—from physical things like hugging Elmo to learning routines "night night". Elmo might get under my skin but he is certainly in the heart of my kid.

I even got my big kids into the Elmo-act by making, together, 3D Elmo badges for Heather Hamilton's "Elmo 4 Zack" fundraiser (her passion is Zack's Dream Room which honours her son Zack by creating a Elmo room at York Central Hospital). While my big kids connected with Heather's family because of their loss...my baby connected with the character theme of the event.

Elmo is a special little monster. He teaches. Imagines. Entertains. Inspires. No wonder why we adore him so.