Growing Up

It's Friday here, and we're getting ready to wrap up the first week of school. Avery has done exceptionally well - like, beyond my expectations well. There were smiles, hugs to her teacher, and making friends all before the school even began on Monday morning. I won't lie: she did say she was nervous and she wanted to hide under the covers upon waking up, BUT...I think this was all just an act for us, because honestly, as soon as she got out of the bed, she was in a happy and excited mood. For the first three days, we walked her in, all the way to her classroom. On Thursday, I reminded her that I'd just be walking her to the front of her building, and that she'd go to class on her own. She was very upset about this. I wavered and told her I might be able to go in just one more last time, to show her exactly where to go. But, we got to the school, began to walk into the lobby, and she said, "Mommy, I don't think you need a parent pass; I can find my class on my own." I told her how to ask a grown-up for help and watched her as she approached the counselor. She asked for help to Mrs. Beasley's room, and off she went! She did so great! This morning, she went inside on her own, happy and cheerful. There has been NO fussing about getting ready, no whining about "school again?", and she has come home each day with a smile on her face and a little bit of talk about her day. I'm so pleased. SO grateful! I hope she will continue to love school. Here's what I know so far: She wants to be friends with a little girl named Allison, because she is so pretty. Allison is in another class, but they see each other in the halls. Allison wears glasses. Avery has a class pet; a turtle named Max. Avery was scared of the street light in the lunchroom, but she has witnessed what happens when it turns red, and now she says that she's only a teeny bit scared, but not really scared like before. Oh, and she appreciates the notes I send in her lunchbox, and asked me if I would do that every single day. Of course I will - I was already planning on it!

On the first day of school, this thought went through my head, "She made this so easy on us" and immediately I remembered saying that to Russ and to our family right after she was born. Her delivery was so incredibly easy, and I remember saying often how she "made it easy on us." My little girl...growing up. I love her so much!!

Adventures Ahead!

How is it possible that it's already the Saturday evening before school starts? I'm dreading tomorrow...my last full day with my girl, who will be starting Kindergarten. Yes, yes, I have been mostly excited about school starting. Seriously ready for my two kiddos to have a little time apart. Ready to have a little quiet. But with Avery gone all day...well, let's just say this: It will be SO. QUIET. I already miss her. I feel the tears coming, and we're still more than 24 hours out. I think I'm in trouble for Monday morning. Must be strong. (Must bring tissues!) She's going to love school. We had our Meet the Teacher night on Thursday, and she did great. She is so confident and friendly; she took a quick tour of the classroom, found the reading area, and settled down on the floor with her (apparently) new favorite book, Pinkalicious. She can't wait to go back to school so that she can spend more time with the story. I'm thankful for that. I'm excited for her. School is such a big deal - such a big step into growing up. I hope she's happy at school. I have so many special and happy memories of my own elementary days. I pray that her experiences will be similar.

We have so many exciting adventures ahead of us, but honestly I'm a bit nervous about it all. Avery starts school on Monday, Nate starts a 2-day preschool program after Labor Day, and it looks as if I'll be working there, too!! I haven't worked in over 3 years! I feel scared. I'm scared about how our life is going to go from slow-moving and easy to fast-paced and busy. I'm a little worried about how we're all going to move through this transition. I know it can be done, and I think all of these new happenings will be good for all of us, but I'm still anxious. I haven't had to get myself and the kids ready and looking nice before 7:30 in, well, maybe forever. I'm sure those mornings when we all have to be somewhere will be...interesting. BUT, once we get our routines into place, maybe it won't seem hard or stressful. It will just be the new way we do things. And luckily, I'll have 3 other days in my week where the pace will still be a bit slower. A little relaxed. I'll try to take time to enjoy those quieter days, to relax when I can, to use the time to my advantage, to shop, to exercise, and spend special time with my boy.

For now, I'm going to make the most of what we have left in this weekend and enjoy my sweet, vivacious, loud, and funny girl.

Boy, oh boy!

Hmmm...so I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to make a note of Nate's ways at the tender age of 2 3/4...only 24 days until he's 3!!

Here goes:

* This boy is precious. Those big blue-grey eyes with his long, dark lashes can seriously work some magic.

* He likes to dress himself, as much as possible. He is VERY decisive about what he does and doesn't want to wear. His favorites shoes right now are his little brown sandals, and he wears them everywhere. He can put them on himself, so this is GREAT! His favorite outfits are his stay-at-home apparel: blue Superman shorts with either his green UNT shirt or his coordinating blue Superman tee. He also has a red pair of shorts that he loves to wear at home. Oh, and he prefers to be "free" under his shorts, if you know what I mean. We only let him do this at home. Finally, on the topic of clothes, he loves to "match" Daddy or Granddad, and he will often comment or ask if he's matching with someone else. SO cute!

* He is day-time potty trained, and on most nights, he stays dry. He was SO easy to teach!!

* We are working on bedtime training now, and I'm hoping he'll get better at staying in his bed soon . I know he can do it, because he did for my Mom - 3 nights in a row!!

* Some funny/sweet things that he says right now: "That just happens sometimes" (when an accident occurs), "Thank you" (he is SO good about saying this for everything!), he calls his hair gel, "jelly". Okay, so there are so many more things, but I can't think of a single one right now. It will come to me, and I'll add later. :)

* He seems really excited about going to preschool, and he was SO happy to pick out a backpack and lunch box. He got Toy Store 3-themed items, and he has carried his lunch box around and filled it with his cars for several days.

* He likes treasure boxes, cars, trains, trucks, Toy Story stuff, his new Buzz Lightyear doll, and the old SpongeBob Squarepants stuffed toy that Jace gave Avery so many years ago. He sleeps with that in his bed. Buddy.

* He will eat just about anything if he is hungry. He is never afraid of trying new foods, and while we were in Galveston, he ate raw oysters at dinner, and hard-boiled eggs at breakfast. He is less picky than I am! If he's not hungry, he may totally ignore his meal so that he can play. He tells us he is "too busy" to eat sometimes.

He still gives great, arms-around-neck-tight-kinds-of-hugs, he gives sweet, tender, intentional kisses. He tells us he loves us. He still likes me to hold him a lot while we're out and about, and he still lets me rock him from time to time, usually at nap. He copies everything that Russ does - he wants to be a "big boy" in every way. He is easy, mellow, and kind. He is also almost 3, so when he gets mad, he looks down, cuts his eyes at us, and crosses his arms. He tries to hit me when he's very angry with me. We're working on this. He is not good at staying in time out. He can scream as loudly and shrilly as Avery can. He's a boy, so he's rough and tumble. He loves band-aids, and his daily vitamin.

I love, love my boy. I never knew how much I would be blessed by having both a boy and a girl. It's so amazing to watch them grow up and to see their differences and similarities. While there are many, many days when I think I cannot do this whole "parenting" thing right (and today has been one of them!), I know deep down that these little ones were meant to be mine, and that my life has been richly blessed and changed by them forever. They teach me about patience, kindness and perseverance, about finding happiness in the little moments. They teach me more about myself.