Sharing some photo love . .

These are two separate photos that almost work as one. I didn't even realize till I uploaded them here!

..my favorite kitty, Millie, who we got the year we were married, so showing this one only seems right, eh? :c) She's been a part of our marriage the entire time. Wow. I mean, meow. ;)

Playin' around.

What we're seeing lots of. Ewww. They are pretty colors and they're here for a reason, but unfortunately they're not too kind to the flowers and plants they land on, and they are all over my sunflowers!

Noah got his first big-boy bike a few weeks ago. He loves it. It won't be long until the training wheels come off. Then I'll really probably cry. The kids growing up is happening way too fast...

A cute picture of Erin. She made some killer martinis that night! :) I miss you, Erin!!

A couple favorite shots from my second-to-last wedding.

This one deserves a spot on Wordless Wednesday, and it is Wednesday, but it just can't be "wordless". The explanation is this... Sometimes Maia likes to read by herself after we read to her. The other night my husband said, "you have to see this", and I asked him if I needed my camera and he said "probably". (I knew that meant "yes".) This is what we found (Erin was with me). We could NOT stop laughing! Definitely a Kodak moment :c)

Happy 4th of July!

Foto Friday ~ "Ready, Set, Jump!"

Hair catastrophe . . . with a happy ending

Before:


Our hair event went fine. I never imagined it would, but it did. I also prayed a lot going into it :c)

First of all, I was so scared Maia would fall asleep on our 30 minute drive to the hair place, but I was able to keep her awake. Falling asleep would mean a very cranky uncooperative child when we got there, as most of you can relate.

Then I was afraid Maia would not sit in the chair. My darling Heather went with us, and Maia wanted to sit on her lap. That worked out well and I am being completely honest when I say that my child did not move an inch. She sat there like a princess completely still, moving her head in the directions Kim asked her to, everything.

My 2-year old was a princess! I still can't hardly believe it because I was going into it pretty negatively thinking it would be a total waste of time. It was all good. I couldn't have been more proud of her!!

Going into the cut, Kim said, "what's more important to you? Keeping the length even or the length itself?" I thought about it for a second and said "probably the length itself".

I honestly did not want it cut up to her ears. She was born with long hair and I wanted it to stay long. It was hard for me to imagine her with short hair. Neil was actually more against her having short hair than I was. I think he was frightened he'd come home and she'd look like a boy. (He's out in Salt Lake City right now.) He kept saying "please let Kim decide what's best". He didn't trust me!! (ha!)

I honestly never imagined Kim could cut it, allow it to stay long and it still look decent. While it's definitely far from perfect because there's just no way to perfect the way Noah chopped her hair without cutting it all the way off, Kim did do a great job just making it look presentable. It's still noticeably got some chunks missing, but at least I can still put barrettes in it and pony tails. (All that really matters right?!) I am soooo very thankful for that. And I know it's "just hair" but at the same time "it's hair". I love hair, I love Maia's hair, hair expresses (I believe) so much. I just wasn't taking any of this hair ordeal very well.

I got a few snaps at the salon along with a before and after. Here's a before and here's an after!


You can see the salon ones and a few others here.

Thank you for the support with the emails and phone calls in relation to the hair catastrophe. It definitely had a good ending.

Gone today, gone tomorrow.

Well, it happened.

I was sitting 10 minutes ago in my office working. I thought Neil was watching the kids. Boy was I wrong.

Maia comes into my office saying "mommy, Noah cut my hair!". Yep, it's cut. Yep, I lost it. Yep, I can't stop crying.

I know this happens to every little girl with hair at some point. But it was her brother, almost 5, who did it. HE KNOWS BETTER. And he KNEW he had done wrong because he was hiding under a blanket. I'm beside myself. And I absolutely totally know it's not the end of the world. I know that. But you know how long Maia's hair was and tomorrow it's going to have be all cut off. Tomorrow it's going to be all gone. And it just makes me sick to my stomach. So sick.

Make me feel better while I go cry some more. No amount of Matt Damon or Joel McHale is going to make this mommy feel better. I just need some hugs and some tissues passed to me please. And lots of them.

Stream of Glory

Boy-hood begins.

So I was working down in my office this afternoon. The kids and Neil were outside. I have a window that my desk sits in front of which is to the front of the house and I can see out of. Suddenly Noah come running around the front of the house, directly in front of my window and my view. He doesn't see me, but I see him. He stands facing me and then suddenly looks over both shoulders, pulls down both his underwear and jeans and pees a huge stream directly at me!! While doing it, he continues to look over both shoulders. Ohmygosh, it was the FUNNIEST thing I think I have seen in a long long time. He pulls up both pants and then runs back into the back yard. People may not have seen him actually pee'ing but they definitely saw his bottom and knew what he was doing. And then of course mommy got the best show of all from the front. ;c)

Yes, we had a talk with him but at the age of 4, I don't think it's going to do much good yet until someone catches him and he gets really embarrassed.

Again I say, boyhood begins. Oh the joy :c)

"Are we going to eat there in China?"

I reminded Noah a few minutes ago that daddy leaves for China tomorrow. This is how our conversation then went.

Noah: Are we going to eat there in China?
Mommy: We aren't going there, Noah, daddy is.
Noah: Why aren't we going to eat there, mommy?
Mommy: We aren't going there, daddy is going by himself.
Noah: Is he going to work and going to stay there at work?
Mommy: No, well, kinda. He's going to get on a plane and fly there.
Noah: An airplane is coming to his work and going to fly there?
Mommy: That's right, Noah. So it's going to just be you, me and Maia for 9 days. Will you help me take care of Maia.
Noah: Uh-huh. {Then after a long pause.} We have to go to the airport and go with him next time.
Mommy: Yeah, maybe we can go with him next time.

And then he went back to coloring.

I do think he understands he'll be gone again. I think it's going to be hardest for this person here ----- me.

I still have lots of days "open" but I have came up with some things to do. Here's my list.

* Saturday - I have 3 shoots. Twins and their brother, then a portrait session of a man with his guitar, and then a session of a 9-month old boy. O'ma is coming over to watch the kids as I work most of the day. (Thank you, O'ma.)
*Sunday - going to church with my mom and dad, then going to her house to help her with computer issues. Kids will be occupied by grandpa, hopefully!
* at some point I am going to go get new glasses and hopefully without children!
* Monday - paint our family room, play room and my office. I just bought the paint last night. What colors you ask? Secret! I'm not telling!
* Tuesday night - we are going to Heather's so Noah and Cole can play and *I* am going to relax if at all possible. Maybe order pizza.
* Wednesday morning - Heather is going to come over and we're going shopping while Noah is at school. Afterwards we're going to hang out and talk her wedding.
* Thursday night - Noah's friend, Kristin's 5th birthday. We're going to her house so the kids can play and we're eating dinner with them.
* Friday - no plans; if I can make it work, I might find someone to watch my kids while I go with Heather to talk to her florist. (I really want to go!)
*I am sure I won't get all done painting Monday, so at some point I will have to finish. That's my goal, anyway.
* Saturday late morning - Neil gets home!!! I am doing a maternity shoot when he gets home.

So things are pretty filled which is good. Good for the kids and good for my sanity.

As I wrote in the comment section of the previous China post, Neil just found out that ADM has scheduled him a private scenic tour of Shanghai, which is awesome. He also has a road journey part way along the Great Wall. That's the only thing I had asked him to do for me - get a picture of that amazing piece of architectural history. I'm excited for him to see it. Hopefully this will make his journey more exiting for him as the last few days he's told me he's been really anxious, and that's very unlike my husband.

Missy, unfortunately, Neil said that where he will be is at least 800 miles south of Beijing so there probably won't be any English signs or much of anything (if at all) in regards to the Olympics. Which stinks because after you told me that, I was really hopeful!

I do, however, think this is an incredible opportunity for him, but it's hard to be 100% excited for him when you have a family. He's traveling by himself which I think accounts for his own anxiety. Well, that and leaving the kids. Maia is more attached to him now than ever. That's got to be hard leaving your baby girl.

Anyway, we'll see. Hopefully this will be the most exciting travel he's done yet. I am quite excited that he'll get to add this one to his passport. It's something I know I'll never experience!

Thanks again for all the tremendous support. It's just nice to know you have friends who care and who are praying for the good of us all. I know this is not the hardest thing we'll ever face in life, but it's definitely not easy. Like Christy stated, he's my other half. He really does probably half of the work just here at home. But he's also my best friend and so thinking about saying goodbye to him for 9 days makes me begin to cry. I'm so blessed that I found the best husband in the world. I pray that God keeps him safe and brings him back to me. {{xo to my friends}}

Documenting the past week in pictures

I haven't been blogging much at all lately (posting or reading) and it's because on top of work stuff, I've never been so busy in my life. I'm thankful for not only the technology of cameras and preserving moments, but for my love for doing so.

One week ago Noah participated in his first ever Christmas program. He was a shepherd. I think every student in the school participated, which means pre-school through junior high. It was a really awesome experience for Noah and just as much of an awesome experience for his mommy, daddy and O'ma.

We were so very proud of him. I've never seen him appear so grown up. I've also never cried before for being this proud of him being so grown up. It was bittersweet and so hard to keep from crying. The last time I remember having that overwhelming feeling of love and joy for him was the moment I got to see and hold him for the first time when he was born.

Here is Noah's class right before the program. I took it upon myself to take a pre-school picture and a kindergarten picture. (hehe) :c) Do you see my Noah? He loves to observe people which is exactly what the camera catches him doing here.
(click on the pictures and you'll see them way bigger)

Then here he is during the program, singing. What really got me was when he spotted me on the floor taking pictures and that look he gave me just melted my heart. His eyes sparkled as he was watching me as though he was saying "mommy, look at me being a big boy. I love you so much, mommy". That's how I felt in that moment. Sorry for the cheesiness, but it's so true.

Afterwards, since O'ma is heading to Oklahoma for Christmas, we went out for ice cream and then she came over to give Noah and Maia a couple presents. Here they are unwrapping a few. Noah was mighty excited of his new undies!!


Then Friday and Saturday we got hammered with snow. Lots and lots of it. 9 inches to be exact. I loved it; it was so beautiful. So we stayed in all weekend playing games, decorating the house, working (well, I was working), and making food for Sunday.


Sunday we had our dear friends (Nikki and her family and Leann and her family) over for a Christmas dinner at our house. Neil was given an 8 lb ham as a gift from one of his customers, so we made that along with other yummy fixin's. It was really nice.

Vanessa is 10 months old and has very little hair. So Leann and I sneaked back into Maia's room and put her hair up into this little pony tail. Nikki almost cried when she saw it! Mommy and daughter . . . aren't they cute?!

Then Monday after I picked Noah up from school, I drove out to my favorite park in the world because I just knew it probably looked heavenly after the snowstorm. The main entrance was closed, so I drove around to a side entrance. I'm actually so glad it was closed because I saw some spectacular views back there. Here's just a couple out of many I hope to post later at flickr.



The rest of the week we went to the retirement party, I delivered a 30x40 sized canvas of a photo I took (see below), I goofed around with a reflection in an ornament on our Christmas tree (see below), and then today I had to cancel two appointments with clients because Maia and I are bundles of yucky-wucky-uckies now.

We both journeyed to the doctors today and we were both put on antibiotics for an ear infection (Maia) and a UTI infection (me) which has made both of us feel really miserable. I've been fighting this for a couple months with OTC things, so hopefully it will now be gone for good. I'm praying because they're no fun!! And right before Christmas . . . both of us . . . why of course!
(click on the picture . . . I dare ya! . . . then you'll see me in the Christmas bulb!)

I'm so so so thrilled, though, because last night I finished my last wedding album of the year (honestly, I didn't even think I'd get this 4th one done before Christmas). I delivered it today on the way to the doctors and I feel SUCH a huge huge weight off my shoulders . . . so much so I just want to run outside and scream it at the top of my lungs, but it's freezing outside and I am not feel all so swell, so I'll save that for another day I suppose :c) But but but but but! I can scream it here, right?!?!

I'M ALL THROUGH WITH ALBUMS AND ORDERS FOR THE YEAR ----- WOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

5 days till Christmas! Now I can really be excited and happy. I can concentrate on those things that are really important now like my family, friends and remembering the birth of Jesus! :c)

Merry Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Better late than never . . .

Last Friday was this mommy's very first ever field trip; and as a chaperone. It was really fun but I have to say I won't volunteer for one of those again for a while ;c)

There were so so so many people there -- we went to a pumpkin patch with hundreds of other kids doing the same thing -- so our kids, being some of the smallest, kinda just blended in. It was hard keeping track of them and having had Maia with us, it made it even more hectic. Bless my friend, Nikki, who went as a chaperone with her 8-month old daughter and 2-year old son! We did have a great time, though, especially Noah and Maia. The kids (all of them) were so so so good and the day was perfect for them.

The best thing for me was seeing my son interact with his friends. He is definitely a follower and was almost always at the back of the pack of boys, but was always willing to keep up and always had a big smile on his face doing so. I can still hear him saying "wait for me, guys!!". It was so sweet! And to see him run through the patch in search of the perfect pumpkin, that was so memorable, too. He'd say "Look at this one, guys!". He is just the proudest little guy and has such a big heart for his friends. As a mother, you love to see that. It just grabs at my heart.

And then there was Maia. She was at the very end of the pack as a straggler. She so wants to be in preschool like her big brother. She calls all the other kids her "friends" (however, it sounds like "fends"). She and her little boyfriend, Isaac, who is also (just turned) 2, had the very best time trying to keep up with the fun, very busy, inquisitive preschoolers.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Here's to many more chaperoning trips ~ I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing??This will be one of my favorite memories. Watching him run and run and run. The pumpkin fields seemed to be endless and were like Heaven on Earth for a child who loves to run and explore.

4 years ago today . . .

. . . a baby boy was born, and his name was Noah.

Noah was born at 10:52 p.m. via true emergency c-section. It was one of the scariest days of my life.

After 10 hours of labor, I had had enough and had an epidural. Just minutes after the epi, Noah's heart rate shot down, around the 40's, and the nurses were concerned. Sometimes all it takes is to turn mamma over on a different side so that she is not laying on important blood vessels, but that did not work for this mamma. It would not come back up for anything and they got very concerned. They called my doctor and he said to take me to emergency "stat" (first time I had ever heard that word in real life). I was starting to freak. Next thing I know I'm being wheeled down the hallways to surgery. After this all I remember is the nurses putting a mask on me and lots of touching going on around my belly. I don't remember anything after this because I was put completely out. Neil was not even allowed in the room. (That's still hard to take knowing he was outside the operating room and not able to be with me or our new baby.) :(

Thankfully, Noah was born healthy, weighing 6 lbs 10 oz. The doctor still reminds me today that he saved Noah's life. He said he's never drove so fast to the hospital before, running numerous red lights. He was there in 6 minutes. (He told me later that he has true emergency c-sections twice a year at most.) The nurses had already began opening me up. Which is why my scarring today is so bad and why my doctor thinks having more children is not a highly recommended thing (and today that's after having had 2 emergency c-sections). My recovery was also quite intense because of the very quick incision to get Noah out. I was to be on bed rest for 6 weeks, never to go in the car or do any exercise. I really couldn't do anything much for the first 4 weeks. It was weeks before I could stand up to take a shower. I had one of those chairs that sit in the shower to take my showers with. It was that painful for me to stand up. But, I really didn't care because I knew how much of a miracle baby Noah was. In more than one way.
Right after I first got to hold my boy. I'm still pretty out of it . . . which is probably apparent.
What a sweet, perfect boy.
And this is daddy changing one of his first ever diapers. Awwww . . .

So many of you know, but many of you do not, that we tried having a baby for 3 years. In that time period I got pregnant 3 times and lost 3 babies. I got OHSS (ovarian hyper stimulation twice and on bed rest for 2 weeks, was on fertility drugs), saw a Reproductive Endocrinologist for 2 years, had numerous tests, attempted IUI twice, among other things. It was the longest 3 years of my life. My first loss was at 12 weeks. And that was the hardest day of my life, hearing the news that my baby was not living. It felt like some dream (nightmare) that I was going to wake up from. Those 3 years were not easy; actually, the hardest thing I have ever been through. And then we had Noah. Another very scary time. My recovery in the "dungeon" all alone was over 2 hours long because I had to wake up from anesthesia and then get my bearing straight. When they finally wheeled me up to my room where my family waited and they handed me my baby all cleaned up (I missed all of that, as did Neil), I remember still being out-of-it, but I was enough "with it" to cry. I was very emotional before I even got to my room because I knew I had had my baby but did not even know what he looked like and they told me he was healthy, but I wanted to see that for myself, and well, the emotions were just more than I could handle.

We knew at 5-1/2 weeks that we were pregnant again by what the u/s showed and the pregnancy seemed to be viable, but we didn't know for certain till we went back for this u/s at 8 weeks, and Alexis was with me for this one. One of the best moments of my life. Look at that HEARTBEAT! (Something I had never ever seen before; it was amazing.)
Me and Nat at a wedding I shot when I was 16 weeks pregnant.
This picture was taken on a polaroid so the quality isn't too spectacular . . but I'm 20 weeks here.
And this was about 2 weeks before I had Noah . . . at the pumpkin patch. How appropriate since I looked like I was carrying one in my shirt!

I had a difficult time nursing him. He just did not take to it, but I was adamant to do it and do it for as long as possible even if he wasn't a champ nurser and even if it was painful for me. So I did. For 5-1/2 months. But during that time, Noah was also colic - for 8-1/2 months, and that was a pretty hard time. For both Neil and I. There were many many times I didn't think I was cut out to be a mother and there were times I was asking myself if I should give him back. Nothing seemed to be going "right" and he wasn't an easy baby, and he didn't sleep through the night till he was well over a year. Actually, he was about 2.

As the time passes, I realize how special Noah is. The love I have for him just exceeds what I ever thought I could hold for a child. And having gone through what I did -- the infertility to his birth, almost losing him to Noah's colic-ness -- really honestly did make me stronger. It made me appreciate my husband more. It made me appreciate the gift of parenting and the gift of children and the gift of life. I questioned many times whether I was cut out to be a mother. But there are moments that make me know I was meant to be one, and meant to be one to this amazing little boy.
Our family when Noah was 6 months old.
Mommy and her boy.

Today, as I walked Noah into his school, every kid and teacher in the school was standing there waiting for him to enter, and when he did, all immediately bolted out happy birthday ending with his teacher saying "God gave us a special boy and his name is Noah". That moment reinforced any sort of questions I may have had about my ability to be a mom and be a good mom, because Noah stood there radiating with happiness and smiles. He was proud to be alive and proud to be a birthday boy and it made his mommy very very proud to the point that tears did not stop. It was such a little moment, but it was an overwhelming one. Those feelings, and his appreciation of them singing, made me feel like I'm doing something right raising my boy.

Noah is so incredibly special. I love him so much. He has been the biggest gift and lesson in my life. He makes me so happy and so proud and today I wish my beautiful 4-year old boy, a true gift from Heaven, a very happy birthday.

Love you, baby boy. (And as Noah says "I'm not a baby, I'm NOAH.")

I interrupt the voting to cry . . .

It has not been a good day today so far. I need some other mommies to make me feel better.

Noah has been having troubles going to school and today was yet another one of those days. But probably the worst thus far.

He was fine getting in the car, and while on our 5 minute ride in the car to school he was okay, too. He did say a few times that he didn't want to go to school today. (I ignored him.) Then we got to school and as I was getting him ready to get out of the car I overheard another parent tell their child that "today's picture day!" and in panic mode I look into Noah's book bag (because I hadn't done it yet -- to be honest, I don't normally -- I am oblivious to how being a mommy to a child in school works, so I don't usually do that) and of course there are like a dozen papers in his bag, all mostly things from the school and one of them was a form for school pictures which indeed ARE TODAY and the form was suppose to have been turned in yesterday. Ugh. I am such a bad mom. I just haven't got the hang of this stuff yet.

Noah looked nothing like the other children. They had on pretty dresses and button-up shirts. Noah has a big goose egg bump on his head from literally running into the wall a few nights ago. And I put a wrinkled t-shirt on him and didn't try and make his hair look any better. (And why would I? He just plays at school and usually gets messy or dirty.) He didn't want to be there, so his eyes were red from the urges he had to just start sobbing. And now that I'm gone, I know that his eyes will definitely be red in the pictures . . . he may even be crying in the pictures . . . or worst case, not even in them at ALL. Which is probably the most likely scenario since he absolutely HATES having his pictures taken, and that really stinks for his mother who is a photographer! (Sigh.)

So that's how my day began.

He wouldn't follow directions for me or his teacher. His friends came to console him and he just pushed them away! My son pushed them away. Makes me so sad because I feel like I'm one of the most compassionate people around and I welcome compassion from others, yet he wants nothing to do with it. At all.

I walked him up to his room, hoping that would help. That was probably the worst decision for me to have made. He did walk up with me, but when we got in the room he broke out into a bloody murder crying fit with tears rolling down his eyes and couldn't catch his breath because he was getting that upset.

His teacher, who I LOVE, and still do, said probably the worst thing to me. She said, "honey, he's really still just a baby" and then gives me a big hug. Um, okay, well what mother would just LEAVE HER CRYING BABY WHO IS SCREAMING "MOMMMMMMY"? I know she was trying to console me, but it only made me feel worse, like maybe I shouldn't even have my "baby" in school yet.

So I did leave, with him chasing after me. His teacher followed, but wasn't quick enough. He fell to the floor sobbing. I just kept going and did look back which was the worst thing I could do. To see him the way he was makes me cry now thinking about it. I know school is great for him and his teachers are wonderful and his friends are the most caring little people. But that doesn't mean it's not hard for him . . . or me.

I called Neil right away. And then Leann called me, like she almost knew I was having a bad morning even though I hadn't seen her yet. And then I called mom. And then Leann called me back again. I do feel a little better, but man, it's hard. I know others of you have probably had struggles. I just want people to tell me this is normal and that we're doing the right thing with him and could you also please tell me there will soon be a rainbow emerging out of this (what seems to be every day that we go to school) event that continues to take place. I just can't see one right now. And did I mention that I just feel like a bad mommy? I know I'm not, but I feel like it right now and it's hard to just magically make feelings like this go away just like that. :c(

Wordless Wednesday ~ A (wordful) tribute to VW's

VW's are fabulous. And they have my name written all over them. (Literally!) I. Love. Volkswagons. Oh yes I do!

It all started when I was little and my childhood friend's dad called me "V-Dub". It was when I was of driving age, that I realized just how darn cute those vehicles were. So I dreamed and dreamed of getting a VW. Too expensive. Until a co-worker of mine was selling one of hers (yes, she had two). I snatched it up even though I really couldn't afford it. Luckily we did just fine with the payments and I had "Green" for 3 more years.

(So as I mentioned in my previous post about the new mommy wheels I have acquired, I thought I would post some pictures as a tribute of when I got rid of my first VW, "Green" back 4 years ago. (Yes, I am as corny as they come!))

September of 2003 I was pregnant . . . very pregnant . . . and about to burst any day. I knew I would be giving birth soon and knew that the baby could not come home in a tiny VW convertible. Yeah, it was possible, but not very likely if my 6'4" hubby were to ride home with us ;) So, sadly I got rid of "Green", who was a very good friend. But I drove away with a new Indigo Blue Passat, so very quickly I wasn't missing "Green" so much anymore.
Right after we washed her for the last time, I pose hugely pregnant before heading to the dealership.And here she is . . . so cute, don't you agree? I bought her in '00 the summer after we were married.Neil drove us to the dealership and I (as geeky as I am) snapped self-portraits of my belly. Oh my lands, is it huge or what?! I sure loved being pregnant, but I'm really thankful I'll never be this big again!By the time it was time to drive away, it was dark out. I shot this picture right before we hopped in the new car and drove away. There's "Green" on the right and the new VW on the left.
And, with talk about birth so much lately here at my blog, and since I was 9 months pregnant when we got the "family car", I can't not post a picture or two of the new little dootle-bug we named "Noah". This one was taken when he was 6 weeks old. Aren't we a cute little family?My boy, soaking up some window rays. He wasn't like this very often. He was colic for 8-1/2 months. I don't miss those days.And finally, me and my boy.

While I really loved my VW's and really like this new van (I still can't believe I have a van!), nothing, absolutely nothing, is more precious or more valuable or more beautiful than my children. And if a van accomodates them and works for us, then it's all worth it. It's even worth being "uncool" :c)

I think I'm going to still keep my license plate. Whatcha think?

Foto Friday ~ part II ~ 1st day of Pre-school

Today went really really well. For Noah, anyway. I probably acted like I did very well, but my insides were turning. I was still so nervous as I left the school and as I was stepping down the steps leaving, I so badly felt the need to cry, but parents were still trickling in, and I couldn't look like a total wuss. So, I took a deep breath, and Maia and I headed on to the grocery store, just the two of us.

Noah went straight into the gym, where all the other kids were, and where they meet every moring before school. He just stood and observed, because that's his nature with everything. Then he stood in the circle with the others while they sang a song, said a prayer and recited the Pledge. His teacher, Mrs. A, then told them to all line up, and guess what? They all did, including my boy. He didn't even turn around to give me a kiss, say goodbye or even wave. Boy that was heartbreaking, but I know he didn't even think twice about those things because he was just that excited.

So I'm thankful that this is how it went this morning. I'm thankful that he fit in right away, that he couldn't wait to learn, that he started talking with the kids right away. And when I came to get him, he didn't want to leave. I'd say that's a really good sign. He gave his teacher a hug and off he went with me. My boy is growing up. I'm so thankful to be seeing this day with my son, but wow, is it ever bittersweet.

Picture time!!

First of all, on Tuesday, Noah received a package from his Uncle Brad, Aunt Michelle and cousin Ella. He was thrilled silly to get it. What was the surprise? A pencil pouch filled with stickers and paper and pens. Even a pad of paper for Maia. They both had a great time with their goodies (thanks, Aunt Chel and Uncle Brad!)(click on me to see pictures bigger)

Then that evening, we had a picnic gathering with the rest of the kids in Noah's school, their parents and the teachers. Afterwards, we all went over to the school, we got to see Noah's room, meet the other kids and parents and get to know the classroom a bit better. We had a great time, especially Mr. Ready-to-Learn!

Here are some pictures from the picnic and his classroom.

Then today. We all know how today went. And here is my very happy, very excited boy on his first day of pre-school. A moment that is stamped in his mommy's heart forever. (click on me to see pictures bigger)