Two by two

Andy thinks he's Noah. Its either that, or he's got some of his Papaw's OCD. My vote is with Noah.

I should explain. Andy has a need to have matching pairs of everything. One fire truck isn't enough. If he has the little Tonka fire truck, he has to have the matching big Tonka fire truck. Same goes for the police cars. Not one fork, but two. Two pacis. Two blankies. This morning he got out the Little People airplane. Then he went on a great searh for the little airplane. He didn't play with little airplane, he just needed it nearby as he played with big airplane. Two soccer balls. Two footballs. Two teething rings. If Sitty plays with one, Andy finds the other and holds onto it until she drops hers, giving him the chance to complete his set. Two monkeys that he carries around. One makes noise, so I'm looking for a monkey-less home to send him to.

Perhaps of all this, Mr. Potato Head provides the best fodder. His favorite are the ears and the green hats, big and little of each. He'll settle for the "Elmo eyes" (thus described by Andy) or noses. My favorite are the mustaches, but that's because I like to pretend to wear the mustaches. Andy doesn't quite see the humor in his mom wearing a mustache. However, he does find it hilarious when I wear the big teeth. He promptly has to locate the little teeth to wear himself. So there we are, laughing at each other, from behind our Potato Head teeth.

Andy with Big and Little Mr. Potato Head teeth.

He's recently expanded his parameters for a matched set. He carried around the ladle and serving spoon from his kitchen set. They are almost the same shape and size. When he discovered the whisk had a blue handle like the ladle, he added that to the set. These objects served a dual purpose; not only could he satisfy his need for a matched set, but he could use the ladle and/or spoon to launch round objects. He's learned this from his Dad, who uses a shovel to scoop and throw the ball for Sam. Thus keeping his hands clean. Andy just thinks its funny. So yesterday, he walked around the house, launching a bouncy ball and Mike from the ladle and spoon. Mom loved this. Oh wait, no, actually, she didn't and did not share in his tears when the bouncy ball landed in Elizabeth's crib and thus, out of reach.

Mike, before he's launched.

Additionally, he's had a blue lid for a pot that he plays with in the shower. This lid has been there for months. I don't know how it ended up there as its not necessarily a traditional bath toy. At some point, he realized he has a yellow lid the exact same shape. One second he's playing in his kitchen, the next second I hear him running into the bathroom, the shower door open and Andy exclaim, "Blue other one." Shower door slams, pitter patter of flat feet and he's back, happy with his latest matched set. From this point on, if he sees one lid, he'll look for the other and won't stop until he finds it. Otherwise, he'll be in distress without the "other one, other one!"

Maybe this is how Mendel started. One thing is for certain, if there's a big flood and an ark, Andy is your man.

Some of Andy's matched sets. Big and Little Firetruck parking and Big Book and Little Book.