Our big Kindergarten girl

So today was the day we've been waiting for all summer. That exciting, sad, moment when your baby goes off to school: all day. I can't believe how fast time has flown. Everyone says it goes by fast and it truly does. But in true Kate fashion she seemed totally unaffected by the significance of the moment and eased right in as if it was nothing. I however surprised myself.

I've always had an ability to never cry at the normal moments when people cry. Maybe it's not really an ability, rather it's just that I don't cry in the moment. I cry later after the gravity or importance of the situation sinks in. So there I was looking into a sea of faces in the cafeteria/gym/whatever it's supposed to be thinking of how many germs were floating around landing on Aidan, when it hit me. She's growing up and heading to Kindergarten. She's going to be gone all day. She's embarking on this huge journey.

The bell rang and I fought back the tears as we wove through the kids on our way down to her room. They threatened to take over as I helped her find her desk and watched the other parents: my comrades for the moment. Some of us were sending our first child to school for the first time and others were leaving a middle or last child. But it never matters. I think it's a little bit hard for all of us. For that moment we were all parents watching our one time newborn baby, now a big 5 year-old getting ready to start Kindergarten. Her teacher finally hinted it was time to leave and with a last glance we walked out to leave her in the capable hands of someone else.

So now we're home and the first day is a thing of the past. She survived and I survived. Even though I had a doctors appointment to take up some time and gave in to a little cat nap, it seemed like she was gone much longer then 7 hours. In true fashion for this town, pick-up was a nightmare. There's no real line to pick-up kids and I didn't get there early enough to score a spot in front of the school. So I had to park in the nearby church lot and haul it over to get her. It's hot and I was carrying my gigantic baby (we'll see how gigantic at the big 4 month check-up). I wrangled some details out of her about her day and it clearly has taken a toll on her since she's napping now. I think it's going to be an adjustment. But it seemed like it was a success. Of course we documented the event below.

Enjoying cinnamon rolls for breakfast- and no that probably won't be a regular occurrence.

The requisite in front of the door pose.

Hurrying to take a porch pic.

Getting ready to head over to the school.

Sitting at her desk.

Telling the little boy at her table something very important.

More pics

It's the 1st day- Yay!

Her teacher probably wishing the parents would get lost.

Someone else had a little trouble adjusting to our new early rising.