My Baby is Growing Up .... WAAAAAA !!!!!

Well ... today was a big day for Mari-Grace. After a year of spending every day with her Omaw ... MG started Pre-School. MG need's the socialization with the other kids. She also needs to know that it doesn't matter where she is ... MaMa will always be there. She also needs the interaction with the teachers and other students to help with her speech development.

We have a FABULOUS preschool here. We've known the owner for 40 years ... matter of fact ... She was Kelley's (my sister) first grade teacher. Caleb and Hannah both went to preschool there ... so when it was time for me to decide on a preschool ... there was no choice in my opinion ... hands down ...this was the place to be.

We started visiting the school about a month ago. I'd take MG up in the afternoons ... to see the room ... the playground ... the other kids ... and the teachers. This was a great idea to get her acquainted with the school before it was time to leave her there.

She met all of the teachers ... and other kids ... and loved our visits.

Well ... this morning ... miss sleepy-head popped awake when I kissed her on the forehead and told her that today was the day she started to school. She had the widest grin ... and nodded yes ... and said "school". She was up at 6:40 am ... which is EARLY for her. She ate breakfast and let me get her lotioned, dresssed, and all ready to go.

We snapped some photos and headed off for school.

When we got to the preschool, Miss Thang hopped out of her carseat ... grabbed me by the hand ... and in she marched ... like she'd done this 100 times before. She took her teacher's hand ... and was off to play. She returned to me for a hug ... and a little reassurance. I told her that she was at school and would stay while I went to work ... and that I'd pick her up when I got off ... just like I do every day at Omaw's house.

In her big girl manner, she said ... Okay ... and off she went to the corner to play. No tears .... no whining ... just a bye and my baby became a little girl !!!

Now ... MAMA cried ! I waited until I got in the car ... but I teared up when I called Omaw to tell her how proud I was of MG.

Her speech therapist went to the school today to visit MG. Lauren called to say that the ST visit went very well ... that MG went right to her ... and did her work just like she was supposed to do. Lauren even got a hug and kiss today !!!!

I went to pick her up at 4 pm. Her teacher told me that she had a pretty good day. She didn't whine and cry for me. She played well with the other kiddos. She even laid down and took a nap on her own ... she was one of the first kids to get all of her naptime gear put away. When I walked in ... MG was playing with a birthday cake puzzle, with a little boy. She wasn't ready to leave. She motioned for me to sit beside her and play.

I asked her if she liked school. She nooded yes, smiled and said "schoo-ul" which is southern for school. I asked her if she would like to go again tomorrow. Her eyes lit up and she said YES !!!

She was hungry when she got home ... she ate a bag of cheetos and a bowl of strawberries. For supper, she had shrimp and baked fries. She promptly announced that she wanted "SPITE" for sprite and she was a happy camper.

After a long day, dinner, and a bath ... she climbed up on my bed and promptly fell asleep on her own.

WAAAAAA .... my baby is growing up !!!!
Yes ... I knew this would happen ... but just don't want it to happen so soon.