Two things make a post.

1. I love brunch. I love getting up and Saturday and shopping at the St. Lawrence Market for brunch foods, getting to have people over for a leisurely midday meal, mimosas, brunches that turn into espresso and pie and conversation in the living room until I start to think about what I might be serving these people for dinner if it comes to that, the comfort of being able to have people over when going out to parties and evening events is tough just now, watching the small boy go from lap to lap and snuggle to snuggle, making my friends feel spoiled, and feeling like everything I need is right where I am. Love everything about it.

1a. Small boy at thirteen months is surprisingly happy to play in the middle of a circle of grown people talking. He plays with a ball or some blocks or a puzzle, climbs up onto a lap and takes a snuggle break, scoots off, wanders away, tries to grab something he knows he's not supposed to have, gets redirected, climbs onto the stepstool to pull some books off a shelf, and then notices his toys again, lather rinse repeat. It's pretty awesome. I dunno how long it will last, but I love this feature.

2. Some people really need a better understanding of the axiom "Lead, follow, or get out of the way." Please note that "obstruct," and "sabotage," are not among the best practices. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

one other thing:

sometimes, when Stanley wakes up in the night and calls out - I think maybe just to be sure someone's there, if we're not in bed with him yet - I go up and find him at the end of the big bed, on his knees, reaching his arms up to me. I scoop him up and even as I collect him he's half-asleep again already, all the tension drained out of him, the cries dwindled to a little snuffle or two. When I've got him gathered up and in my arms I always say "It's okay now, honey, I'm here. Papa's here," and perhaps the most amazing thing yet about parenting is that he clearly experiences this to be true as much as I want it to be true for him.