So many incredible things

There are so many, wonderful incredible things in my life. My children are behaving quite delightfully and my husband is mostly recovered from whatever absurdity took hold him. And yet, I still can't quite hold it together. Hoping that I can somehow scrape by and finish this stupid degree and then figure out something decently paid and worthwhile to do with my life which does not require me to spend my days with a group of socially incompetent, empathy-lacking individuals. But anyway, a little cuteness on a Friday afternoon:

- The dumpling is a man obsessed with his toy stroller, which he wields with the grace of a nursing home resident reliant on a walker. He can get places, but it certainly doesn't look effortless. But oh, the agony when you separate him from his beloved toy! And the man has persistence. Even though he can't walk yet, he has been known to push his stroller for a half mile stroll.
- He also can blow kisses now. With gusto.
- The fusspot is terrified of getting water in her eyes so I really hadn't considered putting the dumpling in the shower. But he was trying to lunge head first in one morning, so I plopped him down and now he contentedly plays at my feet every shower. He smells better, and it's so sweet to have a little time alone with him.
- Speaking of alone time, my favorite time with the dumpling is watching him play contentedly around our bed while I slowly wake up in the morning. He likes to pat his tummy, poke his father's eyes, pull the shade open, and wrestle with the pillows. So very glad that we're still co-sleeping.
- The fusspot loves her books, and her ability to recite entire books from memory is quite astounding (and I realize temporary, it's normal toddler behavior, not a sign of any impending photographic memory skills. I apparently played chess quite well at age 2 because it's the same rote memorization skill). This morning she regaled me with the full Corduroy plus Herbert the Lion. Very adorable.
- She is also working on her vocabulary. Yesterday when I picked her up from daycare she turned to me and said "Mama, do you know how to scamper?" Why yes child, when my stress doesn't get the better of me, I do.
- The fusspot apparently heard me joking about what JD and her would do on their fusspot-dada playdate this weekend, even though we were on a loud subway train and she was busily playing with a friend, so it came rather out of the blue when she turned to JD this morning and said: "On our fusspot-Dada playdate we gonna meet new girls."

Oh, and random things which make me extraordinarily happy, my excellent craigslist source for high end boys clothes at bargain prices e-mailed and I get to pick up another garbage bag of delightfully adorable items this weekend. I love a good deal, and I love cute baby clothes.

No plans yet for next weekend and I fear my favorite holiday may be a last-minute half-hearted mess, but we're figure it out next week.

Wishing you all a relaxing weekend.