The Dude Abides (and Grows): An often overlooked benefit of having little ones is the almost daily reminder to live in the moment and not take life too seriously. Running errands with H this morning was filled with unexpected moments of joy and wonder: her amazement at the mannequins in Target ("They don't have any faces, mommy! Look at those! That one's running, mommy!"), the wild shrieks and laughter caused by puddle jumping, an impromptu dance party outside the Corner Bakery on City Line (with lots of bemused smiles from patrons and passers by), and the mix of terror/excitement over using a book drop at the library for the first time. Even an ordinary bagel is fun in her eyes: "it's a sailboat, see the window for the people to look out?" I need to channel her perspective more often.