I’m beginning to experience something my parents and their generation never got to experience: watching new episodes of a TV show from their childhood with their children. Sesame Street is alive and well in this house, just like it was in mine when I was a wee one and I am SO EXCITED, but not in a Jessie Spano way and more like an Elle Woods way.

Everyone who’s met Madelyn knows that she’s a squirmy one. They know this because they’ve needed an inhaler from babysitting-induced asthma. Girlfriend does not sit still. She is so curious and grabby and move-y that she is not one to stop and smell the roses. She’ll plant ’em and water ’em and pick ’em, but stopping and smelling ’em? No. Not our Madelyn.

I’ve gotten fairly used to this, but it took a while since I, myself, am not a mover and a shaker. I can just sit and watch things for long periods of time. I’ve learned to up my stamina and keep up with Madelyn. But once in a while, I am exhausted and I just need a little cuddle time with my non-cuddler. I finally figured out what would do the trick: Sesame Street!

For the record, we are not leaving our kid in front of the TV and letting it raise her like Nana did with Peter, Michael, and Wendy Darling (seriously, what were those parents in Peter Pan thinking, letting a dog raise their kids?). No no, Mr. Sony is not a replacement for my mothering. But a handful of minutes of colorful and safe kids’ programming seems like a healthy and acceptable method of relaxing on the couch. I DVRed a few episodes so we’d have some relaxation inventory and I was so excited to cuddle with my baby and watch my buddy ol pals, Big Bird, Snuffy, Cookie Monster, Grover and Telly all come to life for Madelyn. And I was curious to see how Gordon and Susan and Maria looked after all these years.

My oh my, has Sesame Street changed since my day. Ohmygosh I just used “my day.” I am officially old.

The intro song — you know, “Sunny days, keeping the clouds away…” is basically gangsta rap now. After the first few seconds, I half expected a hologram Grover to show up and finish the song. There’s like a steady beat and some synth and it’s all very … not what I grew up with.

And there are so many new characters! Hardly any of the guys from my old crew were featured on the show we watched. Elmo made an appearance, but he was animated! Pssshhh. Cop out. And Oscar was on for a while, so that was refreshing. You know things are backwards when Oscar is refreshing. But Gordon? Daaaay-aaaamn. Gordon looked GOOD. That guy did not age at all. No other humans showed up and in one whole episode, Big Bird and Snuffy were totally absent. In their place, an orange monster named Murray and a magical fairy named Abby played big parts. Cute, but… not yo mama’s Sesame Street.

Madelyn didn’t know the difference, though, and was definitely fixated.

I was getting sad that my nostalgia wasn’t going to get satisfied in this new-to-me incarnation of Sesame Street. Madelyn was loving it, but I was looking forward to us sharing something from my past. A few weeks ago, I even bought her these plastic figurines that fit perfectly in her hands (and her mouth) and she loves to play with them. When I was at the store, I had a few different options, but I chose the two that I knew among the characters I didn’t know: Cookie Monster and Telly.

When they finally showed up on TV at the end of the show, I was so excited! Madelyn must’ve heard it in my voice and clapped for me! I got up and retrieved her Cookie Monster and Telly figurines and I wonder if she was confused about holding them in her hands and seeing them on TV at the same time. She watched intently and my heart flooded!

Today’s episode was brought to us by the letter Q and I know it sounds a little quirky, so please don’t be quick to judge, but spending quality time watching Sesame Street on a quaint morning under a quilt with my baby girl made me feel like quite the queen!

Don’t even get me started on the insane and probably very irrational feelings I have about our baby turning one in just 4 weeks. Yesterday, July 9th, Madelyn turned 11 months and I can’t believe we are pushing the 12 month mark. This year has been the fastest and most eye opening year of. my. life. Okay, okay, hold it together, Friedman! We’re not there yet. We’re just on 11. Deep breaths.

Madelyn just gets more and more fun! Watching her learn and take in the world around her is fascinating to me. I think all parents say this and I just can’t believe I’m one of them. Her personality is sinking in more and more each day and I can literally see the synapses in her brain taking place every moment I’m with her. She’s even gotten too smart for hair bows and rips them off when she senses them on her head. How is she my child??

This month, Madelyn…

• continues to stand on her own for long periods of time. If she’s distracted with a toy in her hand or watches something ahead of her, she’ll stand all on her own with really solid balance. I don’t think she’s going to be walking any nanosecond, but she’s definitely close and working on gaining her strength and confidence. Someone please overnight some Xanax when that starts happening. Or a tranquilizer gun. The Xanax would be for me. The tranq… well…
• flew like a champ to Seattle for a family vacation! She had her first taxi ride (ask me what it’s like to ride in the backseat of a taxi on the free with a 10-month-old infant on your lap. I would answer, “bizarre.” She is such a good traveler! We are so lucky we can take her places. Hey, she’s born Friedman — always on go, go, go! More on Seattle soon!
• pretty much eats anything! We share what’s on our plates with her, and she doesn’t seem to be too picky (seriously, how is she my daughter? Pulling out bows? Eating anything? Who is she? Is this a dream?). This month, she ate a lot of small chicken pieces (chickie), tons of blueberries, handfuls of strawberries, she’s a big fan of melons (so is Bryan. nyuk nyuk nyuk), enjoys meatballs, likes cucumbers, and loves pasta and bread (Carbs! THERE’S my daughter!).
• went on a few more auditions, but nothing booked! Old Navy and Garanimals had other things planned apparently. Like less cute kids or something. Whatever. No hard feelings. I’m just putting out a campaign to boycott those brands, but really, it’s fine. We’ll just keep going for the fun of it!
• sprouted one more tooth and I didn’t even notice she was teething until it was in and out for the world to see. We are so lucky that she teethes so easily. No fever, no moodiness, no pain. One day: gum. The next day: pearly white. I’m so glad for her that she doesn’t seem to be uncomfortable during what seems like should be an uncomfortable experience.
• has favorite toys that are not made by Fisher Price or Mattel. Madelyn is — two words — ob. sesssed. with our TV remotes and our iPhones. I think all babies are, but I still can’t manage to wrap my head around the fact that a singing “cell phone” with flashing lights and oogly eyes is less exciting than a locked iPhone 4. Not even a 4S. Madelyn, raise your standards and at least lust over a phone with Siri. Her only excuse for obsessing over my phone is that maybe she has eyes for my Jonathan Adler case. If that’s the case, brava. If not, well, I don’t get it. Babies are so weird.

So many gadgets, so little time.

She’s just one crotch grab away from Al Bundy.

Can we watch Real Housebabies of Ventura County?

4 little Madelyn’s jumping on a chair…

And that’s 11 months as recapped by a fairly sane and composed mother. Next month’s recap? Yeah, don’t count on it.