just like that...

guess what everyone I'm having a baby...

oh wait...

before you get too excited...

i was just reminiscing...

because it feels like just yesterday...

 i found out i was preggers with my first child...

the one who would change everything...

the one that would teach me unconditional love...

the one that started big girl school last week...

and before i completely break down into sobs...

let me just say how proud i am of my little girl...

the one God picked out just for me...

...

August was a hard month because i was SO ready for Ayden to go to school

it's like she crossed over from this fun "up for anything" kid...

to this bored, "do we have to do this again" child that was annoyed by Micah and myself everyday...

and i just had a heck of a time dealing with it...

i liken it to the unbearable uncomfortableness that i experienced at the end of my pregnancy with her...

the anticipation was no longer fun...

it was time for the big show...

so i had all of August to work through my emotions...

one the one hand we were SO done with each other...

on the other, i just wan't sure i was ready to give her to the world yet...

*takes deep breath because this is still hard to write*

but despite any anticipation or anxiety...

the day did come...

we woke up last Tuesday 9/7/10 to one of the most excited children i have ever seen...

she got ready, ate a great breakfast and was out the door staring wide-eyed down the street...

there are 8 kids that "walk-pool" to school together..

we rotate the parent chaperone each am & pm...

but this morning all of the parents were out...

such an air of anticipation :)

and now for the pics chronicling this momentous day...

...

here's Ayden and Micah looking at the kids starting to congregate across the street...

they would not even look at me to take the picture!

and here are the two new kindergarteners of the group..

Ayden and our across the street neighbor Ayden (yes, spelled the same way and everything)

we affectionally refer to him as Ayden Boy... :)

Leah is Ayden Boy's big sister... 

here's a great look at the new sparkly clean backpacks :)

and instantly they were off..

walking down the street..

this is Ayden Boy's little sister McKenzie..

she is 4 and will join them in elementary school next year...

McKenzie and Micah got the pleasure of being the two kids that got to walk home with all of the adults after the drop off :)

she wanted to run the whole way...

i could not help but feel gravity of the real world physically pulling her form me.. :(

i kept yelling, "slow down"

more for me than for her i think..

waiting for the rest of the kids to come out!

the final leg of the trek...

approaching the entrance :)

at least she's finally walking..

walking into her class for the first time and hanging up her bag...

first assignment, draw a picture of what you did over the summer...

she got right to it and would not even look up at me..

could she have been *gasp* embarrassed?

i thought i'd get another angle and ask her if she needed any help...

she smiled, without looking up, and asked me if i could spell the word "pool" for her..

and then asked if after that i could be done and she'd see me after school...

oh well...

i knew it would come...

i knew it would be hard...

i thought i could do it...

but i KNEW she could...

did i mention that i am so proud of this little girl...

she challenges me, lifts me up and brings out my best...

and i know she'll do the same to everyone she comes across in her life..

even if i don't get to be around it all the time to see it anymore...

...

AHHHHH, but there was a heck of a prize to come home too...

i get this little chick all to myself for awhile... :)

let the new adventures begin!