Lazy, Crazy Summer Days

It seems that I have started and stopped about a dozen posts lately.

What is there to say? Do I say that weather-wise, this has been the most non-summery summer in my history of living in the New York City area (not complaining, I detest the heat). When all else fails, talk about the weather, right?

Do I talk about how early in the morning, I am not a very nice Mommy? In the last few weeks there have been a couple of instances in which Leo has woken up just south of 5 am. Fine, normal you say, right? Well what’s not normal or acceptable (!) is that he has gone into Ellie’s room at this hour, Ellie, the delightful late sleeper of the family (7:30 most days). This morning took the cake though. Erin heard them laughing uproariously in Ellie’s room. She found Ellie in her crib, jumping up and down and giggling while Leo entertained her with his jump out of the closet antics. He would go into the closet, close the door and then jump out as if to say, surprise! Cue the hysterical laughter of the adoring two-year-old sister. If it hadn’t been so cute I would have strangled Leo, I assure you.

Speaking of this little game, Leo and Ellie are starting to talk to each other. Granted the vocabulary is limited, but it’s happening. A typical conversation goes like this:

Leo: “Ellie! Ellie!”
Ellie: “Yeah?”
Leo: “Dog! Eat!”
Ellie: Yeah Leo. Dog is eating.”

They should take that show on the road, don’t you think?

Do I say that Ellie’s language is positively exploding? And that it has a bit of an um, shall we say demanding theme to it? A few examples:

“I want to eat that right here Mommy.”
“I want to have that right now Mommy.”
"I want play with that now Mommy."

Oh and also it will probably shock no one to learn that she’s a total parrot. Let’s just say she said “Oh my god” clear as a bell the other morning. Note to self (again): watch what I say.

Or should I talk about Ellie's singing? It's become just normal practice for Ellie to walk around singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" or the "ABC" song (her two current faves) as she plays with Little People or blocks or whatevs. I have got to get this on video for posterity or I will never forgive myself.

So in short, we are all plugging along. Work has been INSANE which is probably a big part of my absence here. At the end of the day I feel like Holly Hunter’s character in one of my favorite movies of all time, like a “puddle of poured flesh.”

And if this little confession doesn't say it all about the kind of week it's been, I don't know what does: We ran out of dog food, so our poor dog ate brown rice and turkey dogs (organic basmati brown rice from Trader Joe's mind you) two nights in a row. She didn't seem to mind, and you should have seen Ellie tossing hot dogs at the dog like a zookeeper throwing fish at the seals.

There has been a great deal of Popsicle eating and boat driving (check out the cool boat I scored at a garage sale a few weeks ago!).

It can be a pool or a sand box or you can just sit in it and eat Popsicles, which sounds pretty good to me.

We’ve been playing with cloth napkins…er kerchiefs. Look at my little yentas!

Leo seems to be doing well in his summer program. I got a call from the school social worker yesterday wondering how we were doing in our decision on what to do with Leo for the fall. Um, procrastinating? Trying to pretend like there is no decision needed to be made? I am totally avoiding it. I still feel undecided. I still feel a pang to keep him where he is for one more year. He has his whole life for inclusion, would it be so terrible for him to do one more year at the All Down syndrome All the Time School?

Oh and I’ve been doing some shopping. I found a t-shirt with this slogan on it.

I’m sure some people might misconstrue it but I gotta say that I love it. I mean, you have to have a sense of humor. Otherwise, what do you have?