First Day of 3rd Grade

Dear Henny, 
The years roll on and you grow...and when I say grow I mean you have grown 4.5 inches since you left school in May for summer break.  You went to bed last night with a headache and body aches so I checked on you while you slept to be sure you hadn't developed a fever and drew back for a split second when I saw your body.  Not because you were riddled with sweat or sickness but because you looked like a small adult sprawled there.  You are only 8!  But you fill the bed with awkward limbs flailed in bends and angles your baby body wouldn't have allowed, yet your space blanket is still keeping you warm rolled up in the crook of your arm.  You are stuck between ages of little boy and moving on to a more private life of your own.
So, starting 3rd grade came with many big changes for you. You are in a 3rd/4th grade classroom, which reunites you with all of the same 3rd grade buddies and back with the 4th graders you shared k/1 and 1/2 with.  You had slight anxiety surrounding the reunion as you forged a special friendship with a kid last year that you hoped could withstand the pressures of playing with your old best buddy in the 4th grade.  With great relief you volunteered at the completion of the first week that, in fact, you have all grown a little and there was room to play with anyone you desired with no problems attached.  How exciting that you're sharing more of your own initiative!  I felt so warm and happy last night when you brought me your assignment folder and explained to me what you had to do and how it needed to be done.  Your goal being 100 minutes of reading for the week, you had a plan on how you were going to do that and ended up reading way past your 20 minute a night goals yesterday, but I dare not tell you, risking hindering a repeat each evening.  

Another big move was leaving behind one teacher you spent 3 years with and another you spent 2 years with.  They were both such amazing influences on you and we miss them already, but happy to say you are going to gain so much from your three teachers for the next two years.  

We are so proud of you.  Your amazing sense of humor, your quest for the weird and unusual of the the world make you endearing to be around.  I am particularly proud of your personal sense of style which you showed off nicely the first day of school with a shirt filled with hot dogs.  Your sister, Hazel, is quite envious of your ability to go to school, next year you both will be there and I will feel lost for a little bit, the first phase of my parenting over. 

She misses you so much while you're at school and begs me to go and pick you up.  I feel happy when the time rolls around, too.  There isn't much better than that moment when our eyes are searching for each other, they meet and you skip along to my door and get in.  

Love, Mama

1st of 1st

Hey there 1st grader,  
Today was your first day of 1st grade!  The week before you were all over the place in your behavior; talking back, laughing, challenging, testing, having fun, working so hard at swim lessons, resistant, loving and SO EXCITED to start school again.  No chalkboard markers for the start of the year for you.  You had to create your own sign.  We picked out the pieces and placed them together.  

I didn't even ask you to get it this morning as you readied yourself in the speedy way a race car reaches its finish line.  We got your pictures and you wanted to include Hazel, who was less than excited to be up a bit earlier than in the past 8 weeks.  

 

We loaded up all of your supplies and pulled up with time to spare.  We all unloaded the car and entered a very excited classroom of kids and teachers entering the 1/2 classroom.  

Greeted by Ms. Alana, experiencing growing pains of her own as she leaves her newborn son to return to work...and I am so grateful she is and is teamed up by Ms. Em who will be a team full of care, concern and enthusiasm with no tricks getting past them you sure to have a sensational year.  

You played with a crew of old buds making dinosaurs attack pigs and then tossing them aside, and you had no concerns allowing little sis sit in and have a go at it took.  As we were leaving at the last chime moms and dads were standing to the side waiting to detach and leave our babies to start their newest acquisitions of knowledge, friends and experiences.  

Mommy Brook, Lily's mama, left and we caught eyes...and forever we know our stories of becoming families and forever we share the honor of being the mamas and papas to be able to see you off through your firsts, our eye catch pulled out some tears of gratitude and honor to be there in this moment.  You and Lily are next to each other in your circle spots.  

It seems like yesterday we were bringing you home.  We know you are going to have a wonderful year.  I can't wait to see you when you get home!
Love, Mama

Today Hazelita is 1

Dear Sweet Hazelita,
Today you are one!  What! I know!  I can't believe it either.  We are having a little party at our house today at 3.  It rained last night.  There was no rain on the radar for Sunday all week...now there is. Let's hope our 70% chance of no rain or thunderstorms beats out the 30% possibility.  Mommy has a pinata for you.  We spent an hour trying to throw the string over the super high tree branch yesterday.  I woke up this morning and my throwin' arm wasn't tryin' to move!  I was so close each time.  It would hit the branch or be about a foot short.  I waited for Bahboo, who took one throw and got it over.  I don't care.  I just wanted it to be there.  We are picking up tamales and lots of friends and family are going to make it!  Including your birth mama, WW!  She hasn't been to the house before so we are super excited.  We haven't been able to have a real visit since the IAC picnic.  We did stop in and see her at work one day.  We are so happy that things are going so much better for her in a years time.  She has a job, the cutest most perfect house and a nice boyfriend. A year ago we got the text about this hour that WW was in hard core labor.  We all jumped up, got ready quickly and on the road.  Henry had lots of questions about you and bringing you home, little dude had no idea that it would flip his world so much.  Sometimes he laments about the "old days when it was just us."  

Our last picture just the three of us.  Look at Henry's excitement!

Look at the poor Henry's shock.

I know he loves the heck out of you though when he designs tasks that would be "good for your therapy", picks you up out of harms way or declares an amazed, "HAZEL!  What are you doing!"  when you bust out a new skill.  ....We made the hour plus drive in 45 minutes.  Just in time to see your placenta hitting the table!  ( I will show you the picture someday) 

You were the sweetest cuddle monster from the start.  You ooze gentle love from every nook and cranny, ever strand of hair, every explosive smile.  You love your brother more than anyone, squealing laughter and attacking him whenever you can.  This year you've worked hard for almost 4.5 months in occupational and physical therapy bulkin' up those muscles to struggle to crawl effortlessly, pull up, feed yourself, play with toys and play drum on Henry's back.  

You should have your glasses on here, but you constantly pull them off now.

You love to be in the middle of things trying to do what we are doing.  I especially love when you sort laundry, tossing it to and fro, sorting and passing to me with such a serious work face.  You're so amazing.  I start to fall asleep at night but am distracted by the need for one more of your smiles, one more of your hugs.  You became a part of our lives so quickly, so unexpectedly, so gently that I am total disbelief at times.  We love WW.  We love that you are a part of her, and you are a part of us.  Forever grateful and humble. 
Now let's have a sensational day birthday girl!
Love, Mama