September 3rd...no confusion here.

January 7th. December 23rd. And now, September 3rd. Those are my three favorite dates.

So the big day came up this week. My baby started his first day at the big boy school. I wanted to end that baby school chapter of his life with a bang, so we went on a date. Just him and I. I realize, that this is the first time that the two of ius really hung out alone since December 23rd, 2006. What a shame. Oh well, lesson learned, I will never let that happen again.

So, on September 3rd...we woke up, got dressed, and began our day at 7:30. We started off by bringing the baby to his baby daycare. My big boy wanted to be the big brother, so he asked me to stay at the gate while he walked his baby to the front door of the daycare. So, I allowed him to play his position. He had his baby--who pushed his wheeled bookbag like a stroller--by the left hand. He held it carefully as he helped his baby up the stairs. His baby cried, but didn't fight. He walked, and allowed his big brother to lead him. I was proud of the both of them. My big boy rang the doorbell. They waited. Ms. Sarah opened the door. My big boy kissed his baby, and off we were on our date!

I asked my big boy where he wanted to go first...he was hungry. So, we went to IHOP. He knew exactly what he wanted. Two eggs and two bacons--he saw a picture of it on the senior menu...so that's what he wanted. And I let him tell the waitress what he wanted. While we ate, he did most of the talking. Right now, I'm not sure what he talked about because most of it was pretend "grown up" talk, but, it was a pleasure. From there, we were off to a suprise special place.

We drive...every couple of minutes, he asks..."Are we there yet, mom"? Not quite. We pull up to the fence with the big sign in front. Before I could announce that we were here, he yells "YAAAAAAAAH...the Bronx Zoo! This is my most favorite place"! Sidebar: anywhere you take that kid, he'll tell you it's his most favorite place...but it was a pleasure to hear it this time. We get in, I ask him where he wants to go first. Of course, my child point to the skyfari. Yes, yall...I know, I know...I watch the people on the news getting stuck in those things for hours at a time. And, I don't do rides...but that is where my big boy wanted to go, so that's where we went. I told him that I was scared, and he found reasons for me not to be scared. He explained to me, that i'd be ok once I put my seatbelt on. I didn't want to burst his bubble by telling him that a seatbelt would not help us if we went crashing to our deaths...but, I let him believe that he talked the fear out of me. We climbed in. There is a large pole that goes from ceiling to the floor of this cage that will lift us above the entire zoo. He tells me to hold on tight. I do. And...we're off. I was scared to death. He grinned from ear-to-ear. Pointing out all the "cool" things that he could see from below. The ride was over. We head over to the children's zoo. On the way there, I thought it wouls be nice to see the monkey house. He refuses because he doesn't want a monkey to throw banana's at him. Weird...but ok. We move on. We see a red carpet entrance to the Madagascar exhibit. I had always wanted to check it out. He didn't. I reminded him that Madagascar was one of his favorite movies, and he'd see the same animals from the movie in the exhibit. And the woman manning the gate also told him that none of the animals could "get" him. With a little trepidation, he agreed to check it out a little bit. We get one foot in the door. Some animal makes the call of the wild. It was an unpleasant sound. I turn around and my big boy has left me to go run and hide behind a tree. We never made it back to Madagascar. Along the way to the children's zoo...we saw some cute little chipmunks and a few pigeons. My big boy thought they were the coolest things ever. He got to see some animals up close. But chipmunks and pigeons? We could have sat on South Road and saw all that for free. But...whatever. He's having fun. We get to the children's zoo...He doesn't want to sit in the bird's nest, or climb the spider web, or smell what a skunk spray smells like. He doesn't want to look at the alligator tank. He's scared of the tarantula and the turtles. He doesn't want to pet the goats or feed the sheep. You know what he did for a good ten minutes straight. He climbed the rickety wooden stairs of the forest treehouse, and rode down the slide. Again...something we could have done for free at the park, but ok...my big boy is grinning and I am lucky to have this time alone. He's done sliding, and is ready to leave the zoo. We got there at 10:14...we left at 11:22. That must be a record. But, I do not feel it was a waste because on the way to the parking lot, my big boy looked at me and told me that this was a good day for him. I am so proud.

Next, we head to the barbershop. He climbs in the chair, and Tim starts to line him up. I'm quiet. Just looking. Pop sits next to me. He puts his arm around me. He makes small talk because I haven't been in the shop in a while. He asks about my little baby...and then he asks me if my big boy is getting ready for school. I look at my big boy--he's looking so mature with his new line up--I lose it. IN THE BARBERSHOP! NOW, all of the attention is on me. Pop, Bobby, and Tim have jokes on me. I am the laughing stock of the barbershop. Not only am I so embarassed, but now, so is my big boy! I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS! I am literally on the couch spilling my guts to the barbershop dudes. First, I let the 4 year olds at kiddie castle console me when I broke down on their last day of daycare, and NOW, I'm letting strange men console me, as they throw in jokes, in the barbershop! Still...his cut is done, and we must now go.

On the way to the car, I ask him where he wants to go now. He tells me that he is not ready to go home yet. So, to buy time, we head to the do it yourself car wash. Not only did my car get cleaned, but my child got filthy--he slipped in a puddle of mud-- and I got wet--he was holding the hose at the time that he slipped and lost control of it. Still...that's part of the fun. No worries here.

Where to next? He tells me that he's ready for a nap. My kinda date! So, we head home, clean ourselves off, change into fresh clothes, and hop in the bed. Two hours later, it's time to get the baby from baby school.

It was a simple date. Just him and I. But, it was the best date that I'd ever been on. We smiled, laughed, and giggled the entire time. No one bickered, or talked back. No one needed a spanking. No one complained. Just pure, honest fun. September 3rd is my third favorite day.