Say it Ain't So!

So the TV was on the other day and a commercial came on for Busch Gardens theme park. As soon as the music starts playing, my child stops what she's doing, stares at the TV and starts saying, "Melmo? Melmo.. melmo!"  Just as I'm thinking, um, no that's a rollercoaster, there he is in all of his red fuzzy glory! He appears in this commercial for like .3 seconds (apparently some fool dresses up in a giant furry Elmo costume and walks around the park, I've never understood who would want to do that) and my child knows it by the music that's playing!

I can't believe this could possibly be happening to my tiny bebe girl, but I think she is becoming obsessed with Elmo!

Why does this surprise me? It seems like the Elmo obsession is practically a rite of passage for toddlers these days. He's cute, funny, bright red, and has that silly little laugh. What's not to love? He was clearly created to catch the eye of a toddler. I actually know very few toddlers who have not, at one point, been in love with Elmo.

Here's the thing... we don't watch Sesame Street. We don't have Elmo toys. We don't talk about Elmo. He appears in just two books that we own, but both are weird puppet books that I hate because they don't sit nicely on the shelf so they've been stashed. So where is she getting this Elmo crap?? I guess there are worse things she could be obsessed with- the Wiggles, Barney, Yo Gabba Gabba (eeeeek). I'm just at a loss for explaining how she came to know him so well and has seemingly fallen in love with him. How did she even learn his name? I just don't get it. How does she know him so well that she caught him in that Busch Gardens commercial and then associated the music from it with him?!?

All I can say is that it's a testament to the baby brain. We don't give babies enough credit. I think in general we use communication skills as a mark of one's understanding and intelligence (seen it 10,000 times in education) and it just isn't the case! My baby is clearly smitten with Elmo and has learned his name and memorized the music of the commercial he appears in (which does not mention his name, by the way, it just shows him dancing for .3 seconds) with very little assistance from anyone else. It's a little creepy. How much else does she understand and just can't verbalize?? I feel like enrolling her in a college class and seeing how much she retains for later! Ok, maybe that's a little extreme, but it certainly shows that if babies can pick things up with very little help or guidance, imagine what they're able to learn when an adult really works with them.

Anyone else's kid have a toddler obsession(s)? Do share :)