Yesterday was Kennady’s first day of school…and she loved it! The night before, she helped me pack her lunch, load her backpack full of supplies and set out her clothes. Then yesterday, at 6:00 in the morning, she woke me up to ask me if it was time to go to school yet. She could hardly contain her enthusiasm/impatience over the next 5 hours awaiting her actual start time. When the time finally arrived, I went into her classroom with her and helped her get settled in. For one brief moment right before I left, she had that look like she might cry. Up until I saw that look, I really hadn’t worried much. Had this been a year ago, I probably would have been the teary Mom who couldn’t believe her child was so big, venturing off into the world, etc. But, doing kindergarten homeschool cured me of that apprehension and sentimentality. I realized that she was ready for school, anxious to be a part of that environment, ready to make new friends, etc. It is also a huge comfort to me to know that her best little friend, Emma, is in her class. Even though I can’t be there all day, I know she has someone there looking out for her…what a blessing! Well, despite “the look,” I needn’t have worried. When I picked her up that afternoon, she was bubbling over with excitement and told me all about the fun things they did that day. In fact, today when she had only been home from school for an hour, she asked me if she got to go back to school again today. Can you imagine a child wanting to go to school twice in one day?
We feel so thankful to have Kennady enrolled in such an incredible school, where they instill a love and passion for learning from the beginning. I hope Kennady always loves school just as much as she does now!

Brighton woke up first from our traditional Sunday afternoon nap. Since she has a hard time being quiet, I decided to take her on a little outing. The second we got home, she ran into Addy’s room (where Addy was still sleeping) and exclaimed, “Addy, I pick wowers. See?”

At least a thousand times a day (maybe a slight exaggeration), Brighton says , “Ho-me-mommy!” If I am unavailable at that very moment, she follows me around the house crying. I offer to hold her hand while I do dishes or laundry or vacuum or…you get the picture. But, that doesn’t cut it. She wants me to sit down, hold her and softly tickle her arms, legs, back and tummy. Her love language must be affection. She craves touch. During the day when I am desperately trying to get “stuff” accomplished, her constant neediness wears on me. I often have to tell her that I can not hold people right now. But, at night when she is sleeping so sweetly in her bed and I think about this stage of her life, I feel like crying that I ever feel irritated. At this moment, all I want to do is hold her and love her and snuggle her and tickle her…for as long as she wants.

I am officially in my third trimester now…wahoo! And, Dr. McNeal scheduled my induction for November 20th. So, the official countdown is on! 2 1/2 months left.