the first few days

day 4: drop off on Friday...she walked to class by herself on this day. sniff sniff
her show & tell for Friday...a pic of her & her Daddy Bear (my Daddy)

day 3

day 2

KINDERGARTEN!

Well, we all survived. We got up extra early...walked to school (it's only .5 miles) and she was soo excited...made it into the school (I got a little misty eyed walking in the door)...& made it to her classroom (more mistyness). The teacher immediately got them involved with 4 things to do. First everyday put your stuff in your cubbie, then get folders out that you might have taken home and file them away, then add your name to the board, then start on a craft/art activity.

After we did our tasks, we settled down for our little art time. OG seemed to be OK. But it was time to say goodbye and I was barely able to squeek out "have a good day, I love you" without the tears flowing. But she waved to us and said BYE and that was that. Our little girl had become a student in school and was ready for us to leave.

As I walked out of her room and waved her goodbye one more time...then peeked in another time when she wasn't looking, I lost it. I was bawling walking down the hall with hubbie...and was receiving lots of sympathetic faces and comments. Kind of embarassing but I didn't care. I didnt see any other crying parents...but heard one woman say she just wnated to make it to her car. I had time to finish up my tears as we walked home. And it was all I could do to wait all day to pick her up. And according to her, she had a good day...made new friends...toured the school...enjoyed recess & lunch. That's my girl!!

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well...World, I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crisp dress…with two blue eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I Trust You'll Treat Her Well. She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning and skipping off down the street to her first day at school. And never again will she be completely mine...Prim and proud, she'll wave a young and independent hand this morning, and say goodbye and walk with little-lady steps to the nearby schoolhouse...Gone will be the chattering little hoyden who lived only for play, and gone will be the delightful little gamin who roamed the yard like a proud princess with nary a care in her little world. Now, she will learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called...She will learn to tune her little-girl ears for the sound of school bells, and for deadlines...She will learn to giggle and gossip... and to look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue. Now she will learn to be jealous...and now she will learn how it is to feel hurt inside...and now she will learn how not to cry. No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch while an ant scurries across a crack in the sidewalk...Or will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew. Now she will worry about important things...like grades...and what dresses to wear...and whose best friend is whose. Now she will worry about the little boy who pulls her hair at recess time... and staying after school...and which little girls like which little boys...And the magic of books and knowledge will soon take the place of the magic of her blocks and dolls. And she'll find her new heroes. For five full years I've been her sage and Santa Claus...her pal and playmate...her parent and friend. Now, alas, she'll learn to share her worship and adoration with her teachers (which is only right).No longer will her parents be the smartest, and greatest in the world. Today, when the first school bell rings, she'll learn how it is to be a member of the group...with all its privileges, and, of course, its disadvantages, too. She'll learn in time that proper young ladies don't laugh out loud...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or watch ants scurry across the cracks in a summer sidewalk...Today, she'll begin to learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. That "the group" can be a demanding mistress... and I'll stand on the porch and watch her start out on the long, long journey to becoming a woman. So WORLD, I BEQUEATH TO YOU TODAY ONE LITTLE GIRL in a crisp dress, with two blue eyes, a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I TRUST YOU'LL TREAT HER WELL.

I don't know who wrote this...but I do know it made me cry. My baby girl begins kindergarten tomorrow (Tuesday) and my heart is breaking. We love you OG, and are so proud of you! World...take care of her. Love, Mommy & Daddy

if I had no words before...I really don't have them now...

tomorrow, the tears will come

The day is fast approaching. The first day of kindergarten. Next Tuesday OG will start a new chapter in her life. But tomorrow, she finishes a big chapter in her life. Pre-school. Tomorrow is graduation. There will be a ceremony tomorrow night with caps with tassels and videos and music and memories galore. And a Mommy & Daddy sitting in one of the rows bawling their eyes out. I just hope I can make it through it all. I am VERY emotional.

Please pray for us to not start the ugly cry!! :)

25th Annual NICU Reunion

I always love going back to the NICU. Even though the 8.5 wks that spent there in the summer of 04 were some of the hardest days of our lives, we had many good times there too. We got to know some wonderful Dr's & nurses and they took wonderful care of our wee one. Those folks in that NICU are saints and angels and all around wonderful people. A friend and I even spoke today about this...no matter how many times they have been through your exact same senario with another child/family, they make you feel like you are the only one. And they really do care.

This year we got to go back to the annual reunion that we attend every year. We saw so many people we hadn't seen since that summer...and some that we are lucky enough to see every year! Even the Dr who was with us in the delivery room who got her all situated and ready for the NICU when she was sooo small.

We love the NICU! They saved our sweet baby's life!

our favorite nurse...June!

more splashin'!!

Every Friday at OG's school, they have splash day. Some days we forget and don't take her swimsuit and towel (oops)...but on this day we remembered. And I got there in the afternoon in enough time to take pix of the splishin' & splashin'.

OG, MNM & MT

BFF School Buds

lookin like a big girl