In addition the the mom questionnaire, Preston gave me a few other delightful creations made at pre-school last week. I took a picture of him holding my gift bag, like he was actually mindful enough to actually present it to me in any sort of gifting fashion. In reality, I had to pull it out of his backpack when we got home, and unknowingly say, "Is this for me?" At which point he paused, and said yes, it was for Mother's day. So at least there was that. 
It doesn't really get much cuter than this, does it?
In classic New York style, the weather around here has gone from arctic to tropical in a weeks time, and Preston very much has my genes in that he quickly gets bright red when he's hot. So after 3 or 4 consecutive times of picking him up from school with him looking like a sweaty tomato, I decided we should go ahead and get the summer haircut sooner than later. I bucked up and took him to the salon for a proper cut, seeing as shorter styles require a bit more precision and skill than I am capable of. Here he is, getting his beautifully luscious locks buzzed right off. Mommy sorrow....
post-cut, and much, much cooler:
This week also marked the first week of swim lessons where Preston and I weren't blue by the time class was over, so I actually had a moment to take my camera out and snap a photo. We've been doing a "Little Swimmers" class at the city pool right around the block since mid-March. He is getting better in the water, but still not quite the fish I'd thought he'd be by now. He still doesn't really like water in his face, and he hasn't figured out the whole holding-your-breath thing when you do actually submerge your face, or even just your mouth. In fact, he thinks trying to put your face in the water is just a big invitation to open your mouth and swallow as much water as you can. Oh well. It is kind of a complex sequence of events for your brain to learn, so I guess we'll just keep practicing. His instructor did say he could do the next class up the next session, which was music to my ears, since it will no longer involve me getting into a bathing suit! Yay!!! I will actually get 30 minutes to myself to sit on the bleachers and enjoy someone else occupying my child's time for a hot second. Heaven!!!
On that note, I should mention that after some rough sailing, we have encountered a nice smooth patch for the past few weeks/months (sorry, my perception of time these days is terrible). All I know is, for the vast majority of time now, pretty much everything that comes out of his mouth makes me smile or laugh. And a lot of it involves me having to just smile inside to myself, because he is conversing so intently and seriously about some subject matter and expects me to reply accordingly. There have actually been several times I have had to fight back tears, because I am just watching him with pure amazement as he speaks to me, and I become so incredibly overwhelmed by the whole scenario. At this very moment in time, here is this kid, born from my body, once a helpless and speechless little baby, that is now staring me in the face and telling me that he is El Macho, and about to turn me into a purple minion. Amazing.
