Alphabet Tourette Syndrome

Cole loves the alphabet.  No, he LOVES. THE. ALPHABET.

It's on his little 2-year-old mind all the time.  He obsessively plays with alphabet toys all the time.  Whenever we drive somewhere or are in a store, he points out every single letter that he sees, tells me what it stands for ("C" is for Camel!), and makes the letter sound ("M" sounds like "mmmmmm").  Lately he's even been sounding out basic, short words on his own.

It's madness.

The madness peaked today during Sacrament meeting.  Cole was being his usual caged animal self (read: naughty) when he happened to glance at the Friend Magazine Spencer was reading.  The page he was on was the Christmas ABC's, with the entire alphabet printed in large, bright letters.

Cole lost his mind.

"UH-OH!" he said, in his not-very-quiet Cole voice.  (He says uh-oh for a lot of stuff lately when things aren't just how he wants them to be; it's pretty dang cute.  Not so much in Sacrament meeting, but generally, cute.)

"UH-OH!  ABC's!!  ABC'sss!!!!!!!"

Cole wanted those ABCs.  Now.  Unfortunately, Spencer did not want to share.  A struggle ensued, with lots of frantic "Uh-oh!  ABC's!!" coming Cole's end and "No!  It's mine!" coming from Spencer. 

Cole lost the battle.  In despair (or perhaps in protest) he started to sing the alphabet song.  Loudly.  In the middle of Sacrament meeting.

We tried to get him to stop.  Lance even put his hand over Cole's mouth.  No such luck. It was like he had Alphabet Tourette syndrome; he couldn't help himself.

Lance and I tried not to smile or laugh, but it was hard.  Because he was just so loud.  And insistent!  I've been told from people several rows in front and back of us and it was the highlight of their meeting.  Gigi was probably regretting her choice of sitting in front of us.  (Sorry, Ream family!)

Every week it's something new with this kids.  Church has turned into a toddler three-ring circus.  Heaven help us all. 

No really.  I could use the help.