Steering Wheels and Tail Pipes

I know there wasn't ever any doubt that Mr. Eli is ALL BOY, but he just keeps demonstrating how thoroughly boy he is. His latest obsession is steering wheels and tailpipes. Our morning constitutionals are peppered with conversations like this:

eli: mumble mumble mumble
me: remove headphones and ask him to repeat his comment
eli: WOW, Buick Hotrod, tailpipes, steering wheel!
me: Wow, good eye dude!
eli: Ford truck tailpipe, Chevy truck tailpipe, Daaawwwdge (Dodge) tailpipe. Cool dude! Awesome!
me: Good job!
eli: So smart. Funny, noisy kid, huh!
me: You sure are!
eli: Sure are!

In every book that we read that has any type of motor vehicle, and there are many, (thank you library!) he points out the tailpipes with great enthusiasm. When playing with his plethora of little matchbox cars he loves to show me the steering wheels and tailpipes on all his cars (this is getting to be a shamefully large collection - cut him off, Mom! You know you are going to have to pick up one more little matchbox car at bedtime while singing the Barney song about cleaning up while Eli either just watches me and sings along, or tries to out perform my little ditty with a roaring display of his tantrum expertise). I guess I can't help myself. They are only $. 98 and he gets so excited when he gets a new one to love and cherish. He loves to hand it to the cashier and then for about a week, he holds his new car with a smile on his face and says "Thanks, Lady!" (I am pretty sure he is referring to the cashier, but I can pretend he means me!)

Eli truly loves each of his little cars and they all have a special place in his heart. He knows the make and model of each of them. I think he feels somewhat like the Savior in the analogy of the shepherd and his sheep. When one of Eli's flock is lost, we leave the ninety-and-nine (that number isn't much of an exaggeration) and everything in our house ceases until said car is found.

Oh, there is great rejoicing when the lost is found in our house. Tonight, one of his flock has remained missing. It is a yellow Ford F150 with flames painted on the front and sides. I really hope we find it soon! Honestly, how does a 2-year-old know when one of his many cars is missing???

Xander has started smiling and giggling when I smother his face with kisses. He also loves it when I put him on his changing table. There is a shelf above it and I stuck some cute pictures of animals I cut out from a gift bag on it for Eli to look at when he was a baby (ghetto, I know -but no one can see them except for the one about to get their bum changed). Xander sure smiles at that cow, sheep, rooster, and pig! Nothing makes your heart want to absolutely burst like a baby's little giggle and smile!