The Cookie Situation Edition

I grew up watching a couple episodes of Sesame Street. It wasn't my favorite show. I much preferred Mr. Rogers or The Muppet Show. I knew who Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie were. For some reason The Count was always my favorite. Could be the voice. Could be the cape. I'm not sure.

I know it wasn't the bats.

Zoe doesn't much care for Sesame Street. She likes cartoons and claymation more. However, we have three books that include baby characters from the Street.

One of the books is called Nighty Night and it shows her all the different things the puppets sleep with. Bert has a blankie, Elmo has a bunny and Big Bird has a teddy bear.

Cookie is her favorite. He sleeps with cookies. Quite honestly, he's a monster after Zoe's and my very own heart.

Because we're working on counting, we know he sleeps with 7 cookies. Minus the crumbs, that potential midnight snack routine sounds like pure heaven.

Except if you're a dentist.

My mom also has a Cookie Monster game. You put the cookies in his hand and then try to get Cookie to put them in his mouth. It's similar to that drinking game quarters.

Or so I've been told.

Anytime we read Nighty Night, Zoe gets some of these game cookies to hold onto. She wants to be a kindred spirit with Cookie.

Last night she put one in her mouth. Vertically. Her jaw wouldn't open any farther. The cookie was wedged in her mouth.

This is what law enforcement would call a "situation."

We had to wiggle that cookie out of her little mouth and I'm sure it wasn't comfortable for Zoe. She's such a trooper, she didn't cry or freak out. Unlike her mother.

Once the "situation" was taken care of, Zoe rested her little head on my shoulder and wrapped one arm around my neck. As I went to hug her, she squeezed my neck.

I know we're heading down our very own street of independence, but it's nice to know she still has time to give her mom love. Because I have all the time in the world to give it back.