Big Kid Leo, I'm A Big Sap Again, Invisible Fat Moons and Bad TV

Work is busy this week and I’m still feeling sleep deprived even though (not to jinx it by saying it here) Leo has managed to sleep to almost 6:30 a.m. two days in a row. I am resorting to bullets because my thoughts feel scattered.

-Two mornings in a row Leo has woken up and come downstairs by himself. I hear him stirring in his room (he likes to move furniture around. Don’t ask) hence his room looks a bit like a prison cell—bed, basket of books. That’s it. A few minutes later I can hear him breathing as he walks carefully downstairs and then he appears in the kitchen, a big smile on his face. Who is this little boy? Where is my toddler?

-Yesterday was Leo’s last day of the regular school year. He will begin a summer program at the same school in the beginning of July and it runs for about six weeks. They had a “graduation” program at his school, which I was not able to attend (to be fair he wasn’t really graduating and if he had been of course I’d have been there in my finest).

They sent home a gift from the teachers as well as two CDs, a school “mix” (with great hits like “the ABC song”) and a photo CD. I played the photo CD last night and Oh My Gawd. Is there anything more tear inducing than pictures of little kids with Down syndrome set to sappy music like “Ever Ever After” by Carrie Underwood and “Wherever You Will Go” by The Calling? I mean I totally lost it right there in the study, tears streaming down my face as I saw images of Leo and his classmates throughout the school year. There was Leo in his Super Elmo Halloween costume. There was William (a friend of Leo’s) at the zoo field trip. There was David (a classmate) playing baseball with the help of the P.T.

We are having a birthday party for Leo this summer and I plan on inviting everyone in Leo’s class (there are about eight total). I am looking forwarding to seeing them all in action and connecting with the parents.

-Leo has been extra affectionate lately. I don’t know what it’s about but I am not going to question it. He will come over to me and just put his head on my leg and pat me. Then he will go back to playing or whatever it is he was doing (probably torturing the dog).

-The weather has been lovely here. Dry and not too warm. Thank you for not being humid; whoever is responsible for this, I appreciate it.

-I saw on the news last night that it was a full moon and it was supposed to appear ”unusually large.” I was really looking forward to this but it was cloudy and so there was no view of any moon, not to mention an unusually large one. Did anyone else get to see it? I love those big, fat, eerie, unreal looking moons. They seem to happen more in autumn. I guess the clouds are also responsible for the cool weather so I really shouldn’t complain.

-One of the best parts of my day is in the evening, after I’ve done all the chores (straightened up kitchen, sorted laundry, put away toys), taken my shower, and the kids are sleeping. I get into bed to watch a little television. I don’t think I am asking for much but Holy Crap when did summer television get this bad? I know it’s always been less than riveting but when I was a kid it was reruns. When your options are Celebrity Circus, So You Think You Can Dance and Supernanny (I know some moms like this show but I find it stressful and too much like watching real life though it does make me feel like my kids are absolute angels), well let’s just say I’d take old episodes of the "Facts of Life" any day. Did I mention fall is my favorite season? And not just because of the television. And the fat moons.

One caveat. The new season of Flipping Out started this week. I just love this show. I don’t know why. Is it because Jeff Lewis is the bitch that I always wish I could be? Is it because he embraces his OCD-ness? Also Project Runway starts a new season in July. So there is hope.