Particularly Perfect: This & That

Moving at a quick pace, it is hard to believe that Easter was over a week ago and yet in some ways it seems as if it were a month ago.

Wonderment. This Easter was filled with it. Seeing joy because of goodies left behind by a hippity, hoppity furry creature is amazing. And YES...the Easter Bunny did get a little out of control this year...

I don't know why I find it hilarious...but for some reason we always eat the head and the bottom first...

Knowing how deeply she believes in all that is good...like the Easter Bunny...is what makes each day special and Easter even more special. Seeing the joy in Kayla's eyes reminds me of these special moments in my life...and makes me realize how similar yet completely different Kayla and I are. For example...each year the Easter Bunny would fill my basket with a hollow egg filled with candy...just like this...and for weeks mine would look untouched. I would eat my egg from the bottom to keep it looking "perfect". Not my girl...she picked the name off and went straight for the top.

And oh how she loved the M&M, jelly bean, chocolate bunny and family filled day...

Cousins...

Boys will be boys...

And I love this moment I captured...I love the way that only he can make her giggle and smile...it is pure magic...

I know many of you can relate that the social calendar of a Mom is really the social calendar of your child(ren). For me, my social calendar...and really just my calendar in general is packed with events for Kayla. At times, if I am very lucky, her calendar and my calendar co-exist in a magical place where one event satisfies the Mommy craving for fun times with friends and Kayla time being exactly where she is meant to be. This week allowed for such a time. With our rental car packed, Kayla and I were on our way to NYC for a Mommy-Kayla day. It isn't often that I get to spend complete quality time with my girl...time when I am not driving her to school or therapy or ballet or swimming or a Blue-Gold event. Time when there is no Barney playing on the radio and we just were there in the moment. During our drive we chatted about our day and the special luncheon we were going to attend.

Our conversation was quickly hushed as I exited the Lincoln Tunnel into one of six lanes. I am pretty sure there were just 3 or 4 lanes but one thing I learned driving into NYC is that lines in the road and red lights are not important. I lost count but I think I was cut off 17 times, nearly sideswiped 11 times, near miss hitting a pedi-cab, and cut off by a hot dog cart vendor {and this was all in the first five minutes}. The city was bustling and we were ready for it. Well sorta. As I pulled into the parking "garage" {thinking I would have time to finish getting ready}, I quickly realized they needed to park my car in another location. Slinging high heels, makeup, Kayla's clothes and hair bows, snacks and iPad, I exited the car feeling as if I had been thrown into a wind tunnel. Toes squeezed into my 4 inch heels, I walked to 583 Park Avenue, a beautiful venue for this amazing event filled with tons of beautiful people. While those there to open their wallets to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) were beautiful, these are the people that were the most beautiful...

Yes - that is Chris Burke {actor "Corky" from Life Goes On} holding Kayla

Kayla taking charge in front of the camera! So proud of my girl...

And this man...

Jagatjoti Khalsa, the author of I'm Down With You. He was presented an award by Sharon Stone. She is amazing and kind and an advocate...and for that I am grateful. When she spoke, she filled with tears and spoke about her friend, Jim.

She talked about that extra magical chromosome and how it makes people with Down syndrome so wonderful...and spoke about welcoming and loving hugs like the one she received earlier that day that almost knocked her over {that hug, by the way, was from none other than Kayla who ran to her as if she was a magnet being pulled in by metal}...but Ms. Stone spoke most eloquently when she stated there is one thing that people with Down syndrome lack..."the bullshit". Well said, Sharon Stone, well said.

The American Girl Store was calling our name and so we had to answer that call...PS - can someone please tell me when she got this grown up? I can't take it...I need a moment...

Goodbye big city, for now...

Onto another fun day with Kayla's student teacher from last year, Nitasha...oh how Kayla loves spending time with Nitasha...more fun times to come with her...

And let us not forget about the Royal Wedding...we celebrated with a spot of tea...and, of course, a very fancy dress which she decided to wear to school...and why not? When you are four, it is completely acceptable to wear a black velvet dress to school at 9am.

Oh and yes...that is mascara on her eyes...don't judge...when your kid has cried...that hysterical-close-to-hyperventalation cry for nearly a week when you take her to school you'll try just about anything. And you know what? It worked. I convinced her she would be a hot mess should she drop any tears...

I don't know how it is possible but this week just kept getting better...blue skies, green grass, pink shirts and a bit of powder-puff...football, that is. Kayla's buddy, Amanda, was playing and we went to be her cheerleaders! What an incredible night...

As Kayla watched Amanda play she said "Mommy, when do I get to play?"...to which I replied "soon"...what else do you tell a child that isn't really going to play? Her response? "Super-Dee-Dooper"...think she watches too much Barney???

And this week we celebrated my wonderful husband...Happy Birthday, Rick!

My proverbial cup is not half or three-quarters full right now. It overfloweth. In many ways, really...I am overwhelmed with the wonderful moments that have unfolded this past week and by the thought of Kayla's birthday party being just four days away {and if you could only see the state of my home...it's laughable, really}....

So much has happened this week. A little bit of this...