Makin' Lemonade

What can be said of this past academic year? Since October, I have been inundated with so many things pulling me in all directions that the journal suffered, my photos suffered, my scrapping suffered and, most of all implied in all of this, my play and adventure time with Alex suffered.

Sure, we still did the holidays and some adventures in the fall. Sure, we still did a super Star Wars birthday and his classes and Easter baskets. It just wasn't the same.

The good news is that the grades I have to show for it are both As. An A earned in Statistics in the Fall semester and an A earned in Calculus this semester. I did the work and, apparently, it all paid off.
The bad news is that I've fallen behind on so many other meaningful things. There are relatives with whom I wish to keep in contact and whom I have not been able to contact due to the work load of my class. There's this journal missing so many entries that I wish to piece together through my haphazard notes kept in my notebooks. There's my spring/summer decor turn over and Alex's Big Boy Room to complete. There's my Mega Yard Sale to prepare (once weather allows) to clear myself of so much clutter and baggage. There are vacations and staycations to plan. There's the big backyard bonanza I have in store for Alex to organize: full of pool and sand fun with games and dress up and sprinklers.

Yes, much to catch up on. Maybe it's a good thing that ever since the day of my final (May 11), I've been trapped either by non-stop rain and/or a never ending cold.

I know this. I'll just take it all one day at a time, engaging in which tasks I can and I won't forget to have fun with Alex along the way. Today, we will be setting up his new shelving units for his Big Boy Room. We've settled on a nautical theme for his now Big Boy self.

Daddy wants all the L'il Dino theme stuff for his den. That will prove lots of fun for a challenging room too.

Thursday, May 19

A Really Big Boy Bed

Alex's new mattress arrived today. He was positively giddy when he saw the large bedframe transformed to a huge (really, full) bed with "sailing ship" bedding.

He even let himself jump on it a few times.

Monday, May 16

Hello Summer!!!!

OK, it's not summer yet and won't be for more than a month. But my class is over. I tried my hardest on the final last night. Today is the day I keep a promise to Alex. It is officially an Alex Day.

Alex chose to go to the mall. Oh. OK. He wanted to see all the toy stores, of course. Hey Macy's. Get on the ball, will you? My son wants to see a toy department here!!! Until you do, the train table on display in Barnes & Noble will have to suffice.

Thursday, May 12

A Study in Sunshine

It's been a trial to study for my final. I came up with a plan. Take Alex out to the backyard, bring a dinner or lunch and study there.

So there were turkey sandwiches, strawberry laces, water guns and Calculus. Three out of four makes a fun day, I figure.

Monday, May 9

Come Dream With Me

Tonight, while Daddy was putting him to bed, Alex asked him to hold his hand. "I want to take you with me in my dreams." he told Dan.

That's why he wanted to hold onto the Lego Clone Trooper as well. Seems he was invited too.

Saturday, May 7

Conquering a Fear

Tonight, after his bath and out of nowhere, Alex declared "I'm using the potty Dad!" and he proceeded to do just that. He's been so delayed on potty training, terrified of something. To have coaxed him more than we have would have been to force him onto the potty, screaming all the way.

But tonight, with no one asking him, he just went and used it all on his own. This matches the night a few weeks ago when he suddenly decided to pee in the potty right before his bath.

Wow. Could it be that that day has arrived? He's actually ready? We'll see. For now, he got a treat of chocolate and a promise of a trip to CVS tomorrow.

Congratulations, Beautiful*

(* = My new nickname for Alex. He doesn't want me to call him "Baby" anymore.)

Friday, May 6

Of Dandelions and Soccer

On our way to Super Soccer Stars class, Alex and I walked through the field in Florence Street Park. Many of the dandelions - quite possibly his favorite flower - have started to go to seed; bearing tall little puff balls of seeds ready for flight. I pointed them out to Alex as I had on the day of our Starry, Starry Night picnic. He squealed when he saw so many of them and dashed all over trying to grab them.

"Whoville is on one of these." he informed me, reminding me of the tiny planet lodged on a clover in "Horton Hears a Who". Then he laughed as he blew on the seeds, scattering them to the grass. "I'm sending them into space!"

I had to hurry him along. We still had to grab our early Monday dinner and get to class. Alex wasn't having it, though. He dashed to another part of the field also loaded with dandelions.

"This is fun!" he declared.

It was almost enough to make me reconsider getting him to Super Soccer Stars. I'm glad I got him there, though. He did great in class today.

Monday, May 2