Well, today was the big day... Ashlyn's first day of Kindergarten! To say that she was excited would be an understatement! She woke up quick and sat right up as soon as I rubbed her back and she squealed, "Yeah, the first day of school!" Then she said, "I was so excited I couldn't go to sleep."
Ashlyn was giddy all morning as she ate breakfast and got dressed. She came in to my room with her backpack on before we even combed her hair. She was ready to get to school! She wore an adorable Gymboree outfit: cream colored shirt with rows of hearts and a denim skirt with embroidered hearts on the ruffle hem. And her new Twinkle Toes Sketchers... very cute tennis shoes that apparently are the 'in-thing' and she sbsolutely loves... we went to 3 or 4 stores before finding them in her size.
When we arrived at her school, (after maneuvering through the 100's of cars bringing kids to school) Ashlyn walked right in to her school with a spring in her step. She even walked a few feet ahead of me so independently! I was thrilled and relieved that she was confident enough to walk in by herself, but a bit sad to realize she is really growing up quicker than I'd like and there is no slowing it down.
I was trying to capture this huge milestone and each moment of it by taking pictures. We took pictures at home and at school. I got so caught up in taking the pictures of Ashlyn as she walked through the hallways of the school, that I took her to the wrong classroom. Somehow we ended up in the 1st grade area. Here reaction was, "Mom!" in that high-pitched fluctuating tone that girls are so good at making.
Eventually we found the Kindergarten area. She put her backpack in her locker (I was in disbelief to find out they had lockers already) and then dropped off the bag full of school supplies. We stood in line to greet the teacher and take a quick picture of Ashlyn with her teacher, Miss Ellis. Ashlyn found a seat at a 4 person table with a couple other girls. I snapped a couple more pictures and suddenly it was time for me to leave. She was drawing as I left and seemed perfectly content and without concern that I was leaving. Part of me wanted to hide behind the corner and just watch her for a few minutes. But I made myself leave and really didn't have a choice as I heard the Principal's voice over the intercom letting parents know it is time for them to leave the building.
The emotions of realizing that I had just dropped off my 5 year old first born didn't hit me until I pulled into our drive way. I walked in to a quiet house (Avery was still in bed) and tears filled my eyes as Chris asked how it went. I gave him details from the morning events and just had to take a deep breath and smile.
Luckily I had a mom's group meeting this morning to take my mind off Ashlyn being gone at Kindergarten all day plus Avery was home and we spend the day together. Avery missed her throughout the day and asked several times, "Ashlyn's at school?, At Daffron?"
I left the house early to make sure I was at school before Ashlyn was out at 2:45 pm. Again I had to attempt to battle the chaos of all the cars trying to get in and out of the school parking lot. I was standing in front of the school as the Kindergartners marched out in a single-file line after their first day of school. Ashlyn had as big of a grin on her face as she did went I left her that morning. I knew instantly that she had a wonderful day. I think she was almost as excited to see me as I was to see her. She didn't waste any time before she began to tell me all about her day... gym class and lunch time in the cafeteria first. Of course I asked 100 questions about the details of the day as well. She had a great first day and can't wait for tomorrow!
Ashlyn was giddy all morning as she ate breakfast and got dressed. She came in to my room with her backpack on before we even combed her hair. She was ready to get to school! She wore an adorable Gymboree outfit: cream colored shirt with rows of hearts and a denim skirt with embroidered hearts on the ruffle hem. And her new Twinkle Toes Sketchers... very cute tennis shoes that apparently are the 'in-thing' and she sbsolutely loves... we went to 3 or 4 stores before finding them in her size.
When we arrived at her school, (after maneuvering through the 100's of cars bringing kids to school) Ashlyn walked right in to her school with a spring in her step. She even walked a few feet ahead of me so independently! I was thrilled and relieved that she was confident enough to walk in by herself, but a bit sad to realize she is really growing up quicker than I'd like and there is no slowing it down.
I was trying to capture this huge milestone and each moment of it by taking pictures. We took pictures at home and at school. I got so caught up in taking the pictures of Ashlyn as she walked through the hallways of the school, that I took her to the wrong classroom. Somehow we ended up in the 1st grade area. Here reaction was, "Mom!" in that high-pitched fluctuating tone that girls are so good at making.
Eventually we found the Kindergarten area. She put her backpack in her locker (I was in disbelief to find out they had lockers already) and then dropped off the bag full of school supplies. We stood in line to greet the teacher and take a quick picture of Ashlyn with her teacher, Miss Ellis. Ashlyn found a seat at a 4 person table with a couple other girls. I snapped a couple more pictures and suddenly it was time for me to leave. She was drawing as I left and seemed perfectly content and without concern that I was leaving. Part of me wanted to hide behind the corner and just watch her for a few minutes. But I made myself leave and really didn't have a choice as I heard the Principal's voice over the intercom letting parents know it is time for them to leave the building.
The emotions of realizing that I had just dropped off my 5 year old first born didn't hit me until I pulled into our drive way. I walked in to a quiet house (Avery was still in bed) and tears filled my eyes as Chris asked how it went. I gave him details from the morning events and just had to take a deep breath and smile.
Luckily I had a mom's group meeting this morning to take my mind off Ashlyn being gone at Kindergarten all day plus Avery was home and we spend the day together. Avery missed her throughout the day and asked several times, "Ashlyn's at school?, At Daffron?"
I left the house early to make sure I was at school before Ashlyn was out at 2:45 pm. Again I had to attempt to battle the chaos of all the cars trying to get in and out of the school parking lot. I was standing in front of the school as the Kindergartners marched out in a single-file line after their first day of school. Ashlyn had as big of a grin on her face as she did went I left her that morning. I knew instantly that she had a wonderful day. I think she was almost as excited to see me as I was to see her. She didn't waste any time before she began to tell me all about her day... gym class and lunch time in the cafeteria first. Of course I asked 100 questions about the details of the day as well. She had a great first day and can't wait for tomorrow!
