Ellie's First Day of Preschool!

I cannot believe we're already here! This is totally going to be the run of the mill sappy mom post, plus, pregnancy hormones, plus insomnia. Ridiculous.

I remember thinking how far away preschool is, but it's here! It does fly! Why does no one tell you that it really really really does fly?! You're right, they totally do. Granted, this is only her first year, but we're officially on a school schedule and as long as the boys stay on the same schedule, we are tied into a half day schedule for the next 6 years, AT LEAST!

But you know what? She's so ready. She loves learning. She's so social. Mom and Fitz just aren't cutting it anymore, and that's ok. It just doesn't make it any easier. I haven't done any crying, but that whole morning I had a lump in my throat and a knot in my stomach as we were getting her ready. I made sure to get up before her so I could get ready and focus all of my attention on her. I was in the bathroom and I heard her feet hit the floor, a gasp, and then a squeal of PRESCHOOL! She ran right into the bathroom, had her blue dress in hand, and asked for Elsa hair and pink lip gloss. I happily obliged, and loved listening to her chatter about her hopes and expectations.

I do need to rewind for a moment, the night before school, her dad gave her the sweetest father's blessing. He blessed her to be kind and brave. To find good kind friends, to have an enthusiasm for learning and a desire to make good choices. He also blessed her that it wouldn't hurt when mom put in her new earrings because apparently that was the biggest deal of them all. It was perfect and gave her the exact confidence boost that she needed.

Ellie loved having her picture taken with the sign and loved it even more that her backpack was involved. She's been waiting months to use it. And yes, she really does want to be a mermaid when she grows up...as long as Fitz will come with her. After snapping a few pictures, we dragged Fitz out of bed (he's such a good sleeper now!!!) and took her up to the school. She was almost shaking with excitement. We found a hook for her backpack, she took my hand, led me into the classroom, gave me a kiss, and found her friends. She didn't even look back. It's exactly what I had hoped for her. Fitz was actually the only one who did any crying that day. He was yelling for his sissy and for the trucks and none of it was fair at all. He actually kept trying to get back into the car for the whole 2.5 hours she was gone. He would point out the window, say "car" and "sissy". Darn it.

I have to remember her "about me" bag. They sent her home with a white paper bag that she was to decorate and fill with 4 things that describe her. I (mostly) let her take the reigns on this one and we were both very content with what she chose. She put in a ballet shoes because she loves to dance, an avocado, because they're her favorite. She chose her swimsuit because she loves swimming. The best part, and I swear she picked this all on her own, was the family picture that she wanted to include, because she loves being with her family the best. Oh, I hope she always feels that way. I hope we're her happy place.

I held my breath as I walked back in to pick her up. She immediately ran out with the biggest grin and hug. She could only tell me about recess (which she calls sesame for some reason?) and what she ate for snacks. But you know what? That's good enough for me. She loves it and I love that she loves it. I'm sure her spongy little brain is soaking up all the necessary preschool things.

So while I don't think I'm completely ready to let go of her hand, she's ready to let go of mine, and I'm so so happy for her. She's going to have so many amazing experiences and I can only pray that I can create the safest haven at home for her, where I'll be ready and waiting to listen and help.

I'll always be here for you baby girl. I love you so so much.

Mama Moments: Cinderella

Yesterday J.rue and I took Ellie to the new Cinderella movie. We would have normally tried to pawn her off on a sitter, but since the movie theaters are doing $5 Tuesdays we decided to brave the theater. Ellie has only ever been to two other movies, Saving Mr. Banks when she was 3 months old and then a couple weeks ago we took advantage of the $5 Tuesdays and went to see an animated movie called Home. We made it about 45 minutes. She wasn't feeling it and neither was I so I gladly packed up and hauled out of there.

I've wanted to see this movie since it came out, plus I had heard good things about the cute Frozen Fever short before the movie. If anyone has Frozen fever, it's Ellie Bean so I was confident we'd at least make it through that part. So we met up with our friends and their two kids and hunkered down for the next two plus hours.

As expected Ellie loved the Frozen short. She didn't move a muscle the whole time, except the few mutterings of "let it go". Once it was over and the movie started she kept looking at me and pointing to the screen and asking, "let it go?" She even let out a few whimpers of sadness when it was over. It was cute because she cut it out pretty quickly.

With Ellie and her two blankets on my lap, I quickly started to overheat so I took off my pullover. Of course, since I removed a piece of clothing Ellie had to follow suit. So she watched the movie topless, and eventually sockless. We're really good parents and also forgot to put shoes on her, so you know, naked movie Tuesdays!

I loved loved loved the movie. It had me teary eyed within the first few minutes watching Cinderella's relationship with her mother. (Note: this is where I'm going to get cheesy) I loved holding my daughter on my lap and vowing to do better to make the everyday a little more magical and to teach her to "have courage and be kind". I've always loved the prints "work hard and be kind", and while a strong work ethic is more than important having courage in today's world is even more important than that. Ellie is going to have to grow up having courage to stand up for her beliefs and what she knows is right and the first place she is going to have to learn that is here, at home. I also loved the quote, "Just because it's what;s done, doesn't mean it's what should be done". Again, the makings of a strong foundations to raise a strong girl. I just couldn't get enough of those bits of the movie. If I can raise I strong, kind, and righteous woman, I will be a happy mama.

Ellie's favorite parts were the fairy godmother bit. She loved when the animals were transformed. During the whole things she was pointing towards the screen with her best surprised fact (mouth in a BIG oooohhhhh). But even more than that she LOVED the fireworks over the castle during the ball. That was when she let out an audible WOAHHHHHH several times. Oh the fireworks are going to be fun this year. Seeing her in awe is such an amazing thing to witness. She just amazes me daily.

She made it through the whole movie quite nicely, especially with her daddy's help. Of course we came equipped with lots of popcorn, soda, candy, and fruit snacks, so that helped and j.rue was ready and waiting to pass over anything we needed. She sat on my lap most of the time so we got some good snuggling in. She's become quite the mama's girl over the past few weeks and I don't hate it. She's never been a snuggly girl until lately. I can't get enough. During the last part of the movie while they are trying the shoes on all of the girls, Ellie kept handing me her foot and saying, "shooooes!" This girl loves her shoes, so anytime she would get antsy I would remind her that shoes were being heavily discussed and she would revert her attention right back to the screen. She clapped when the movie was over and then should couldn't get over to her little buddy, Holden, fast enough. She just loves him.

The best part of being at the movie was being with Ellie. At random parts of the movie she wanted to make sure I was catching the awesome thing that was happening and she would look at me, whisper "mama!" and pat my cheek and point to the screen. Having a girl has been better than I ever could have imagined. We have a special relationship that I'll cherish forever. She's my mini me, which is good in some ways and not so much in others. I just have to chuckle when I see some of my ridiculous idiosyncrasies come out in her little personality. She is my heart and soul.

Just Call Me Giver

Last week j.rue and I decided that it was high time to give back and give blood {both of us had been super chickens}. I have a strong aversion to needles and although he won't admit it, I'm pretty sure he does too. We went thru all of the preliminary mumbo jumbo, and it was decided that our blood was up to snuff. My tech was the most hilarious man ever. Couldn't understand most of what he said, but I could tell it was funny. So we laughed and that was just delightful. It took a lot of my nerves away. Bless him for that, I was sweating bullets at just the finger prick.

J.rue got hooked up before me, and made it look like a cake-walk. He watched her put on the iodine, put in the needle, and hook up the bag. I, on the other hand, turned as far away as I could and pretended to be interested in my GLAMOUR magazine. SIDE NOTE:That magazine is so good at making me ponder the more important things in life like, "is everyone kinkier than me?" or "the #1 unhealthy thing that's totally good for me!" Sometimes I question my credibility as a person for reading those dumb magazines. What can I say? It's a vice.

Where was I? Oh yeah, so they apparently put a huge needle in my arm, but I was too busy contemplating the more important things. Can I take a second to brag and tell you that I filled my bag in 3 minutes at 57 seconds??? Blood giving champ, right here, ladies and gents. I kicked j.rue's bum by about 3 minuets. That is important because, you know, I won.

I wish the story could end right there and I could say that we frolicked home knowing that we had done our good deed for the day, but if you know me, you know I don't put boring stories like that on here. Well, maybe I do. Don't tell me. As we were finishing up, I felt like my body temperature was turned up about 146 degrees and that I was going to ralph all over. Just so you know, I have a strict no ralphing in public policy. My funny accented tech man told me to "cough" I told him that if I "coughed" I would surely throw up all over him. I finally got my bag and started {loudly} dry heaving into it. I am proud to say that my no ralphing policy has not been broken in anyway. But this was a close call. I look back and j.rue is as green as kermit the frog and about to pass out. The rescue party then hurried over from me to him to continue the fanning, pep talking, etc.

I know a lot of people get all faint-like after giving blood, but after we had both somewhat recovered from our crazy antics we looked around and realized that there were oh, about 8 other people giving blood, not being affected in any way, not dry heaving or turning green, just staring at us with looks of "wow drama queens much?" pity. How's that for awkward? So we took our cookies and juice and shuffled out of there. Cool story, huh? Yeah, not as much as I thought, but it's written. So, you're welcome!

Weekend Weekend Weekend:
-ladies night
-SLEEP
-laundry
-puppy lovin'
-queen mom's birthday celebration
-ruesch fam FHE

Is it just me, or do most of my weekends sound the same to you?  That's what I thought...

In the words of my queen mother {which she would say as quickly as possibly before I was able to slam the door}:

iloveyouwearyourseatbeltrememberwhoyouarehavefun!