Catching Up

Anna missed her first day of school on Wednesday because she was running a high fever (105!) but she was well enough to go to school on Friday. She wore her giraffe shirt that Yara (Lara) got for her and she picked it out special. I tried for a ponytail, but that was out of the question. Then she ripped her barrettes (our compromise) out by the time we got to school.

We walked her in, she was very pleased with the baby potty (they have the most DARLING little toilet EVER) and looked very happy with her room. Anna asked me "Are you going to leave me here today, Mama?" when I was getting her out of her carseat. She was not asking because she was worried, but because she wanted it to finally be the day she was going to be left at school like Bubba.

She had declared that "Madison was her best friend" after meeting her at Open House. What criteria does a 2 year old have for selecting a best friend? "Cuz she has a Dora shirt and she wore pink." Also, she was the only other kid there during their appointment time. It's so easy to make friends when you are a toddler!

Anna did great at her first day of school. She made a watercolor painting, played well with her friends, and stayed dry in her big girl underwear all morning. I did not shed a tear as I walked away. I cried when I left Jonathan in the same classroom two years ago, and I cried A LOT when Jonathan started Pre-k this year. But, this time, no tears. Hmmm. Maybe it's because I know it is only 3 mornings a week and we still have years to go until kindegarten starts.

Every night lately when I am putting Anna to bed, she looks up at me and says, I not a baby anymore, Mama, I a big girl now. She usually says this when she is bleary-eyed and almost drifted off to sleep. I always agree with her. I wonder why she tells me this? I realize this every minute of everyday. I am not sure if she is looking for affirmation or if she is trying to help me get used to the idea, or what. But it is the truth. She has done so much growing up lately. Since April, we stopped nursing, she moved out of my room, she was potty-trained (pretty much on her own initiative), moved into a big-girl bed of her own, she started school, she started wanting to do everything "All By Myself!" I am so, so proud of her.

We have been playing Go Fish this weekend. It's the most surreal feeling. The kids are actually getting the game, even Anna. I just can't believe I am sitting on the floor playing cards with my kids! I love being able to do stuff like this and I love the way they can communicate with us now.

We have been spending lots of quality time together since our TV IS STILL BROKEN! But I am happier without it. It already seems normal to have no cable. We actually got rid of our cable and switched to the very basic. Since the TV is really broken, we don't have any channels at all.

The kids will still be able to watch PBS when the TV gets fixed. I don't really like the version of reality that Nick, Noggin and Disney sell my kids anyways.

Today we are making a Cotton Pickin' Cake to take to a cookout at my Mom's. I am going to go and help lick the frosting off the beaters. Hope everyone had a good week!