The End and the Beginning

It's the first day of school here. It's that day when the shoes are shiny, the pencils are sharpened, and the kids are quiet. I love the first day of school. I loved it as a kid, as a teacher, and now as a mom. It's beautiful—full of opportunity, full of new friends waiting to be found, and of course the unmistakable smell of new crayons.

With two boys gone all day, the first day has found new meaning around here. It's the end. The end of the magical season of summer. Summer is a strange thing when you're a stay home mom. It's always too full, with days that stretch on and weeks that fly by. There are sweaty children, fat lips from brothers who've had enough of each other, towels that smell like chlorine for weeks, a car floor full of spilled and crushed snacks, sand that just keeps showing up weeks after vacation, and popsicle stains on the front porch. There are also nights of firefly catching, days with friends, hilariously inappropriate breakfast conversations, sandcastles, water guns, and whole afternoons to spend in blanket forts. Summer is glorious.

Last summer I spent wondering about who our little girl was, where she was, what she was doing. And I prayed that we would bring her home before the next summer so that she would have the chance to spend those glorious weeks getting to know her brothers. And that is exactly what she did. This sweet girl, home for nearly 4 months, spent every day of every week for the last three months thinking that her “bubbies” were the best and most fun things that had EVER happened (of course, they ARE!).

I think of how far she has come, and how much she has grown (3 inches and 4.5 pounds since May!), and I am amazed by her. This little nineteen month old learned to climb stairs, climb ladders, slide down slides, jump on a trampoline, and don't even get me started on this girl's WORDS! Many of them need “translating” since only Mama knows that “side” means “outside” or “eeeeeee” is “please”, but she uses them all the time. More than a hundred of them!

I look at pictures of the time Before Sister, and I think they look weird.  Something is missing.  Nothing says it better than pictures, and scrolling back through them, I found these gems, with so many firsts! 

First week together

First time with everyone together.

First spaghetti.

First family selfie.

First traditional dress.Her first car.The start of summer!

First time at the butterfly show.

First Father's Day

First time blueberry picking

First friend.

First time at the park.

First time on a swing.

First Fourth of July.

 

First time in the sprinkler

Bossing the dog around

Fun at the creek.

Playing in the stream.

Frog hunting with brothers.

First jean jacket.

Many, many days at the park.

The Museum Center.

One of many days at the zoo.

First time meeting a horse.

Fun at the pool, her favorite place.

First family VACATION!