Warring views of human nature

Henry, my cousins' adorable kid, gave James and Thomas keychain devices called "Mr. T In Your Pocket" and "Mr. Rogers In Your Pocket" for Christmas.  These play favorite quotes from our heroes at the press of a button.  Thomas is too young to play with his yet, so James has seized them both and plays them constantly.  Here is what I heard, repeatedly, this afternoon:

"Do you ever talk about love with someone you care for?  I hope you do."

"Quit your jibba jabba."

"Discovering truth will make me free!"

"First name Mr.!  Middle name Period!  Last name T"

James tends to alternate a quote from one with a quote from the other (in the manner reflected above).  It's as though he's weighing the warring views of human nature symbolized by Messrs. T and Rogers.  

I think Mr. T may be winning.  James does a pretty credible impression of the "First name Mr.!" line.  His vocabulary has exploded lately -- in addition to the words I knew he knew, he keeps surprising me with random words, including "dot," "joint," and, today at dinner, "butter."  

James and Thomas have both been sick this week.  James has been a trooper, but spent most of the day lying in his pillow fort on the couch. Thomas has been grimly determined, as he always is when things are not going his way. 

A slightly gross parenting note:  I've been using this device on Thomas's stuffy nose that is called, for reasons unexplained, the "Nose Frieda" (it's an alternative to the nasal aspirators that many of us recall hating in childhood).  It's a tube attached to a straw that you suck into -- no, don't barf!  there's a filter between your mouth and anything unsavory! -- and it's both gentler and more thorough than the bulb aspirators.  I have to put in a plug for this thing, if you're in the kid business.  Actually, Cousin Henry's parents gave this to us, so they've really salvaged the entire week for us.  Thanks, Chris and Spring!