My Boy.

Since the start of pre-school, Gwen has developed a friendship with a little boy {we'll call him John} that she looks for and hangs out with.  They both get excited to see each other before they go into class and they shout "goodbyes" down the street to each other as we leave.  She asks for him when he's not there and she seems to have a lot of fun with him.

Last week, when John  arrived, she gave him a big hug and although he didn't seem too into it, he hugged her back.  John's  mom and I both laughed {because we weren't expecting it} and sent them both into class.  When I came back to pick her up, I was the first parent there so I sat down and checked email/FB/IG, the usual.  Gwen's teacher saw me sitting there and popped her head out the door... "I didn't know you were pregnant!!  When are you due?"  

I told her my due date and that I wanted to check with her the schedule for December so I could set up pick ups and drop offs for Gwen if I needed too.  She told me that she would go check the schedule and give me that date of the last class in December.   She left for a few minutes and the returned with the update... she then said to me...

"I don't know if Gwen talks to you about this, but John is like attached to her hip."

"Really?!  I mean she talks about him a lot, but I always thought that she was the pursuer and not the pursued."

"Noooo.  It is the opposite.  Gwen goes left, John goes left.  Gwen goes right, John goes right.  It sort of bugs the other kids {she laughs} that they hang out so much."

Ten minutes later Gwen's teacher dismisses the class, and Gwen and John  come out the door, saying their goodbyes, he then turns to her and says, "Bye Gwen, I love you!"  I just about died laughing.

OMG I thought.  That is hysterical.  And WAIT til her Daddy finds out.

I call Jason and fill him in on the whole thing.  "Oh boy!  That is too much! We'll have to have a talk about this when I get home!"  

When he gets home later on, we talk about it a little more, and he calls Gwen out to the living room... 

"Who's this John  I'm hearing about???"

"My boy."

Say what?! 

She gets all embarrassed, and then says, "Daaaaaddy, stop it."

Omg.  Is she three, or sixteen?

I say to her, "When Daddy asks you who John  is, you say he's my friend."  {It'll make us all feel better, lol.}

"Ok, Mommy.  Daddy, John  is just my friend."

Yes, he is Gwen.  Yes, he is.

That's A Good Plan.

We are now in the second week of preschool for Gwen, and {knock on wood} it's going great.

Last week, when leaving Gwen, we told her that we were "going to the store" and that we would be coming back for her right after.  She accepted our offer, and has been great since.

Today, when walking into her school she said to me...

"Mom, I'm going to school?"

"Yes, baby."

"And you go to the store?"

"Yup."

"Then I'll miss you, and then you come get me in a little bit?"

"Of course, I'll come get you in a little bit."

"Ok, Momma.  That's a good plan."

Ugh. Heart. Melt.

She's so excited to go, and I am excited to let her go, but it's nice to know that she's just excited to see me when I pick her up.  Good thing college is a loooong ways away, because I need to get it together before then!

Gwen celebrated her birthday at school today with cupcakes and Sophia the First party napkins that she picked out herself... and she was extra smiley when she walked out today.  She wore her birthday crown proudly, and was even more proud of the "I was a good helper today" pinned to her shirt.  

I couldn't be more proud.

Gwen Goes To School.

As if being pregnant, already emotional, and having your little baby girl turn three were not enough... Gwen started preschool on her birthday.

We enrolled Gwen in a two day a week program, two hours each day, with the local recreation program.  Monday was their orientation, which meant that we stayed with her, got to know her teachers, and learned the ropes.

It was unbelievable how grown up she looked all dressed up in her adorable "first day of school" outfit,  and carrying her bigger than her backpack.  It was hard to keep it together as I forced her to take the obligatory pictures to send to all the grandparents.

We waited for Daddy to come home and then we all packed up and headed to school.  We walked into the classroom, she put her adorable bag into the cutest little cubby, and then the teacher told her to pick a little red chair, while directing us to the perimeter of the room.  She obliged at first, but when she saw where we sat, she decided that she wanted to sit with us.  When we directed her back to her own chair, the lip started to quiver, her head stuffed in her arms on the table, and the sobs began.  

It took all of me not to run to her, scoop her up, and wipe the tears away.  I now was tearing up myself, and turned to Jason who was doing the same thing.  We're such saps.  Lol.  

I went over to her, sat on the floor next to her little chair, and helped her start to color.  Within a few minutes, she was talking to other kids and her teachers and I was able to sneak my way back to my seat.

The rest of the class went smoothly.  Thank God.

Today, was the "big day."

No parents.  Just a big girl headed to class all. by. herself.

To say that Jason and I were scared shitless, it probably an understatement.  He even texted me about an hour beforehand and said, "Please call me... I am so nervous for Gwen today."

We all went together, kissed a million times, then told her that we would be back later, that we had to go to the store and would see her in a little bit.  She was a bit hesitant, asked if we could go with her, but never cried.  

The doors opened, her teacher said hello, and off she went.  She walked into the classroom without even looking back.  Our big girl.

We walked out of the building and Jason said, "That's it?!  We just leave her?!"

"Yes, babe, she's ok."

"But, what if she is freaking out in there and we don't know it?!"

"They are professionals at this, they will get her through it."

"I don't if I am ready for this."

Lol.  And that's why I love him. He's such a good dad.

Turns out... she did fine.  She came out of the classroom all smiles, with her star sticker, telling me she had fun!  Of course, Jason called right as we were walking in the door asking how it went... Gwen reassured him that she had a great day.

Such a proud and bittersweet moment.  Our big girl.