daddy would like some chocolate covered bacon

Up late and up early. sense a theme? R had acrobat class at 7:30 this morning! 7:30! only the elementary school kids are usually up that early. I do not know how the little 5 year olds catch the bus at 7am. yikes. i guess we should get used to it because this is one of our possible futures. our favorite local school starts at 7:30 i think. our trick for last night was to have him sleep in his clothes, so he only had to put on his shorts and shoes in the morning, and then eat breakfast in the car and at the center. he did great! but this is not a good strategy for the long term.

we were listening to public radio talk about the democratic national convention on the way to the appointment and R was very excited.
R: "mommy they are talking about obama! is he going to be our next president and will george bush leave the white house?"
Me: " I sure hope so."
R: "how will we know?"
Me: "well if everyone votes for him, then he will win."
R: "let's go vote mommy."
me: "soon kiddo"

He had a good appt. megan the OT/acrobat teacher said that he has already made some progress. so the bear walking and crab walking are working. ruskin and i have tried to make sure we work with him. R was so excited about being there. he told megan that he had to grow big and strong so that he could climb up and down on his bed. he also talked about the different acrobats in the olympics -- especially the divers and the gymnasts and he asked if she could teach him to do that. he talked non-stop to her. but his jumping, upper arm strength, and pinching grasp were clearly stronger. i was very pleased to see the progress in a month. we have to do more handwriting skill development however. it was clear that this was the least exciting to him. he gets bored and/or discouraged because it does not engage him enough. so we will work on it. i think the idea is to make it more fun just like the gross motor exercises that we have been doing. For some reason, i have a more difficult time wanting to do the writing exercises. i know about the handwriting without tears program . and megan will do some of the program as they advance into his therapy. but i suppose i need to do it at home as well.

K had a hard drop-off. this age is very funny. she seems to see me as her personal assistant. i should be available at all times and we should never be separated. her desire to be autonomous and assert her independence is balanced/countered by wanting as much contact as possible -- "i want you now -- NO."

Ruskin picked up R and went to the auto store to pick up a light bulb for the car taillight. K and i walked to the car slowly. she must have maxed out her being away from me as she was quite clingy as soon as i finished making dinner. she did not even make it through her mac and cheese before she wanted me to hold her. "mommy next, sit next." and then she asked for bed. though it was not exactly because she was sleepy.

R was fragile as i had expected. it took him a while to calm down and eat. he was upstairs by 8 and lights were out by 8:45. he delayed quite a bit but was quite tired. he seemed to fall asleep around 9:45 or 10. i wish it was 9:30 but i will take 10.

he woke K up because he wanted to give me a kiss. hard to mad at the kiddo for that. R is excited about going to the state fair tomorrow. (this is how i got him to go to bed and stay there.) i told him that we could have mini-donuts there. he asked if we were going to bring home chocolate bacon for dad. nice to know he thinks of his dad and wants him to experience the newest in food trends. i guess we will be buying some tomorrow at the state fair. and for those who know ruskin and his penchant for saying pickle juice, here is an article that mentions that both chocolate covered bacon and frozen pickle juice pops will be available at the state fair this year!

i am sitting here listening to michelle obama. and i have to say it is moving and very exciting!