I don't know if OCD is genetic or contagious, but I do know that both the Toddler and I suffer from the affliction. For me, it means hours of digging around in the Saltwater Tank of Horrors. For the Toddler, it means fixating on a character and spending every possible moment relishing in the glory that is that character.

Since Elmo is SO two months ago, lately we've been on a Curious George kick. We read the same book over and over and over each and every night. Except that we don't actually read the book because it is one of those allegedly vocabulary building annoyances that just has lots of pictures with the appropriate label next to each one. I've never quite managed to entertain myself by reciting every kind of toy under the sun, so mostly we just look at the pictures and play a little hide and seek. I ask Alexis where various items are and she continuously changes the subject and asks, "Where's George?" and then finds him for me. We can't turn the page until she has shown me George at least eleventy bazillion times.

The kid is obsessed with spotting George.

A few days ago, we made a run to Coldstone for a little Rocky Road Trip goodness and were sitting outside, inhaling the world's best ice cream as fast as we all could. Alexis, for once in her life, was actually eating her ice cream at a pace that somewhat resembled normalcy. She might have even managed to get five whole bites down before it all melted if it hadn't been for a minor interruption. A Dad and his three kids came plowing through the place. Except, one of the boys was channeling his inner rebel and decided to stop a few stores down and stare at the piles and piles of empty boxes. His Dad called his name over and over and over, and each and every time he did, the Toddler freaked out.

"George! Come here, George. Now, George."

Every time the Dad said, "George," the Toddler's head spun round and round and she looked high and low for her most recent book crush. And then George suddenly came running to his Dad and in that moment, reality smacked the Toddler upside the head and she realized there would not be a cute little monkey joining her for a little ice cream.

I can only hope the sight of little boys continues to be such an utter and complete disappointment for the Toddler.