Nuggets

We are experiencing one of those last-minute snafus that you hear about in relation to real estate transactions. It's causing a lot of general stress and anxiety so I'm doing my best to focus on the (hopeful) end result of moving into our new home next Thursday. School finished today for Brighton and Pacey has only one week left...in some ways I'm exhausted thinking about entertaining them day in and day out on top of everything else right now, but the truth is that I'm looking forward to the extra time we'll get together. They are in the most entertaining phases the two of them, and here are a couple of bits I'll want to remember when they are surly teenagers...

* On the way in to school today Pacey picked up a long stick and was doing a sort of strange hobble/limp while saying something unintelligible. It took a few tries but I finally figured out that he was saying "I'm an old grandma" while he pretended the stick was a cane. This was a big leap for him in terms of pretend play that wasn't instigated by his sister, but also hilarious considering both of his grandmas are well-preserved and spry 50-somethings!

* On the subject of grandmas, Brighton has taken to telling me new things she learns and then telling me her "grandma that lives in Florida" taught it to her. We don't have a grandma that lives in Florida. Nor have we ever been there.

* We were at breakfast the other morning and both kids needed to go to the bathroom so we took a group trip. While they took turns using the toilet, Brighton piped up, "Mom, when I grow up I want to be a pancake-maker! Pacey, what do you want to be?" He thought for just a minute and then replied, in the way of small boys everywhere, "Batman."

*Pacey showed up in our room at 6:45 one morning last week and informed me he was ready to go swimming. I especially love the long white socks.

* Brighton informed me the other day that she was planning to marry her friend, Jack, from her preschool class. I know this is a common theme kids at this age explore, so I asked her what it was that she liked about Jack. Apparently, his most redeeming feature is that "he likes it when I talk, mommy. He likes my voice." Astonishing self-awareness, as any ideal partner for this child will ultimately need to REALLY like to hear her talk. Her teacher informed me today that she's been referring to Jack as her boyfriend at school, as in "Come on, Boyfriend!"

(As an aside, I am personally not all that fond of Jack. He's a bit whiny for my taste) (Also, my husband just had a heart attack and died, right after he considered hunting down Jack's address for a little chat)

She may be talking about marriage but she still falls asleep
in random places, wearing mismatched socks and clutching her
beloved bundle o' rags

* We finally had a chance catch up with my friend S and her little boy A, who also has Down syndrome. We met almost three years ago now, when A was just an infant. Hard to believe! Anyway, just after I took this photo, Pacey looked at A and gestured to himself and said, "Same!" I don't know what he meant by it, but I believe it's possible he recognizes that he and A share something in common beyond shaved heads. 

* Although there is a bit more general squabbling between the kids nowadays, they still show the most tender and genuine love for each other. They frequently tell each other they love each other and if they have been apart for any reason other than the usual school hours or whatever, there is often a very excited and affectionate reunion. It melts my heart every time and I hope so much that they maintain their closeness as they get older.

There are definitely times where I question how good a job I'm doing as a mom and plenty of moments where I feel like I have no clue about anything. But these kids...they constantly show me that they are growing into considerate, affectionate and happy people so I guess we're doing something right.

Bonus photo: Me at 31 weeks wearing the world's ugliest maternity fleece jacket. I purchased this for $4 from Old Navy, never intending to wear it out of the house. But, you know, Minnesota's crappiest May ever and here I am, in that place where I just don't care. Feast your eyes on the lurid stripey goodness.