First Day of Kindergarten!

Well, I have a Kindergartener.

It's been a crazy-busy summer and time has just flown by, leaving me vainly grasping for more lazy days and pool time and after-dinner freeze pops.

I was a mess this morning.  Anxiety was threatening to make me sick, emotions were running high, Hallie wouldn't get dressed, I hadn't gotten groceries so it was slim pickings for breakfast... it was rough.  And we had to be out the door by 7:30am.  My kids usually wake up between 7:30 and 8.

I was near tears.

Drew had to remind me of reality.  "It's not five days like last year; it's only three.  You can do it."  

The school Gabriel is enrolled in is university model, meaning he's home two days and in the classroom two days.  I needed the reminder that I'm only letting go a little bit today.  I let go a lot more last year and it was fine.

Still, last year was preschool.  He was still a little kid.  This is Kindergarten.  Big kid territory.

I'm not ready to have a real-school-aged kid!

But I'll count my blessings that I get to homeschool him on Mondays and Fridays and that he only has half days on Wednesdays.

And that someone else can teach him to read.  Hallelujah.

First day of school excitement!

I'm such a sucker for kids in uniforms! 

He's acting out MY disbelief. ;)

Ignore our dead grass.  After major flooding in May, Houston's been a desert. :/ We can't catch a break.

Heading to class after assembly. 

First Day of Pre-K!

I did it.  I sent my boy off to his first day of pre-k today.

I thought I'd have to hold back tears, dropping him off at his first day of five-day preschool.  I mean, I cried the first morning I sent him to Mothers' Day Out, y'all!

But surprisingly, I wasn't a wreck... even though he didn't even ask for a "big hug-kiss" goodbye.

I was mainly excited.  Excited for this new chapter in his life, excited for him to learn independence, excited for another adult to pour into his life, excited for him to make friends on his own.

Still, as I sit writing this, I can't help but feel that it was just a moment ago that I was holding him in my arms for the first time, and now he's taken the first steps out of my arms and into the world.  The part of his childhood that was fully reliant on his Mama is slipping away.

... and now the tears are coming!  Whew!

Anyway.  Here are some pictures of his first day of school!

"Mama, do you want me to smile or laugh?"

We unknowingly bought the same backpack and shoes as his Uncle Anderson!

Gabriel and his teacher, Miss Brenda. 

Twenty-Five Years

Today, I turn 25.

Twenty-five.

I've lived for a full quarter-century.

Honestly, this birthday kind of snuck up on me.  I was so busy with life that I kept forgetting it was coming until BAM.  Here it is.

I'm a year older.

And a year wiser... hopefully. :)

It's a surreal feeling, really.  Part of me still feels 15, with girlish dreams of what I want to be when I "grow up," future baby names stored in my heart, wanting nothing more than to curl up with a good book when I'm having a bad day, the stories in my head begging to be written...

And the other part of me feels much, much older.  As if I've lived a lifetime since I was 15.  Which, I suppose, I have.  With kids keeping me busy, I hardly have time to blog, much less write the stories in my head.  Reading is a luxury for sick days or late nights.

I am a grown up Mama who still has dreams, even though those dreams have been put on hold for the time being.  One day, when I'm not chasing kids around and wiping snotty noses, I'll pick them back up.

For now, I'll keep reminding myself that when I was 15, being a mama is all I really wanted to be.  And it still is.

I had such a blessed birthday.  I got to see almost every one of my nine siblings via FaceTime.  I took my time getting ready, doing my hair and makeup as slow as I wanted.  I had a play date with a sweet friend and her sweet baby (and my own kids, of course).  I ate Chick-fil-A.  Twice.  (Score!)  I took a nap.  I was sent flowers from my in-laws.  I got so, SO many birthday wishes via text message and Facebook (thank you all!).  And I had dinner with my favorite people on the planet.

I couldn't have asked for a better day.

Actually, I take that back.  I could have asked for no allergies.

But other than that -- perfection. :)

NYC-Bound

(Written this morning.)

Here I sit in the DFW airport... childless except for baby #3, peacefully sleeping in my tummy.

First up on my reading list:  Undaunted by Christine Caine!

Drew has a conference in New York City two days this week, so we decided to make a vacation out of it. You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to this getaway!

- I have never been to New York in my life, unless you count driving through or a layover, when I had to wave at the skyline from a distance. I don't.

- I love Christmas. This fact is no secret to anyone who knows me. The fact that I'll be in NYC the week before Christmas... ohmygoodness. I'm kind of hyperventilating. Hello lights and Rockefeller tree!!

- I've always wanted to see a Broadway show on actual Broadway. This week, we'll be seeing two. Reason #7893168371 why I have the best hubby in the world. Merry Christmas to me! (No really, this trip is our present to each other).

- I need some me time. I don't require much... just a hotel room (or a Starbucks with a peppermint hot chocolate), a good book (I packed five), and quiet.

- Drew and I need this time to focus on each other and our friendship. Things get so crazy when you have two kids. I sometimes feel like all we talk about is them! It'll be so good to just talk about each other and our marriage.

- I need a break from my kids for a few days. Not because they've been driving me crazy (which they have), or because I'm exhausted (which I am), but because I need a fresh perspective on how much I love staying home with them.

- Lastly... Italian food, New York pizza, street vendor hot dogs, and insane bakeries. Enough said.

I'm so excited.

I'm also SO grateful to my in-laws for graciously keeping my two kids this week so Drew and I can have a little vacation. I don't know if they know what they've gotten themselves into... ;)

Sick Days

Well...

We have colds at our house this week.  

The only thing worse than a sick mama with two sick babies is if a sick daddy joins us.  No one wants a sick daddy!

I don't think it's quite fair for moms that we don't get sick days.  I mean, practically every other job in the western world allows for sick time.  You call in and you say, "Hey, I'm sick."  And that's that.

But not stay-at-home moms!  We don't have the option to spend the day sleeping, trying to recover.  We have to get up and go about our normal 12(ish)-hour work day with a two-hour break during nap time.  If we're lucky, we might get to spend that precious time napping... but if we do, our house looks like a tornado ripped through it.  At least mine does.

I rarely contemplate the benefits of not being a stay-at-home mom.  Honestly, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I know it's not for everyone, but it's definitely for me and I couldn't imagine it any other way. 

But when a sick day rolls around... I wish I could actually take a sick day.

Since I can't, I guess I'll drink some more Emergen-C and take some more decongestant while attempting to sleep during nap time instead of blogging.  Whoops.

My Morning

I'm a lucky mama.

Today, I get to spend the day with Superman and Giggle Girl.

Superman flies around the room wreaking havoc, while Giggle Girl attempts to walk and/or play with her toys.  She is largely unsuccessful in both areas, thanks to Superman.

I was able to capture a few minutes of my morning on video.

I tried to get some footage of Giggle Girl walking, but every time she got close, Superman whooshed in  and knocked her over.  And here I thought he was supposed to save people! ;)

Hallie started taking steps all on her own on Friday.  She literally went from zero walking on Thursday to four or five steps at a time on Friday.  She was playing in Bubba's truck (while he was watching a show) and just climbed out and took four steps before falling.  This was repeated multiple times, much to my unbelieving eyes.

I'll admit it.  I cried briefly -- happy/sad tears.

Since Friday, she's been gradually extending her walking spurts and now she can get halfway across a room before she falls.  Sunday, when I picked her up from the nursery at church, she practically ran to me.  What?!

As much as I thought I wasn't ready for this next step (no pun intended!), I'm so excited and happy for my little girl.  She's doing something big and she knows it!