Lee Lee's First Haircut

I feel like we are checking things off the list left and right that I hoped to get done before the baby was born.  I really hit my turbo mode right around 36 weeks in fear that the baby could arrive that early (like the twins did).  Then, when the baby doesn't arrive for two, or three, or four more weeks, I'm able to relax a little more and get other projects accomplished.

Four children in church clothes, with fresh haircuts!

I wanted to get Howard, Tracey, and Caroline haircuts... and so Lee Lee got her first haircut over the weekend as well.  She's younger than any other child for her first haircut... but she also has more hair for her age than any of our other children.  And, her hair will probably be healthier for getting just a little trim.

And, we were able to get our three big kids their flu shot yesterday afternoon and they did so well!  The only reason Lee Lee didn't get hers was because the clinic where we got them didn't have the dosage for kiddos under age three.  So, she will get hers at her next doctor's appointment in a few weeks.

Four kiddos with fresh haircuts... and three with flu vaccines!  

Lee Lee kept asking for hers.

A Big Day

God, be with us, today is a big day.

My oldest baby is heading off to kindergarten.  All-day, five-days-a-week, brand new school, will-ride-the-bus kindergarten.

I have ridden a roller coaster of emotions the past two weeks as we have prepared for this day.  It is not that I cannot believe my baby is starting kindergarten.  It is not that I am sad to have her grow up.  She is ready for kindergarten.  She is healthy, and happy, and intelligent, and curious... I am so excited for her to grow into a strong, brave, independent, beautiful young lady.

What I have realized over these past two weeks is that for five-and-a-half years, I have feared adults in Tracey's life.

I have feared adults at the playground, the supermarket, in the parking lot, at the shoe store.  I have been afraid of evil adults regarding my daughter (and all of my children).  My job, as a mother has been to protect my innocent baby girl from those who could do her harm.  I have been on guard and on alert much of the last five-and-a-half plus years.

Of course, I also fear cleaning supplies, and high tables, and choking hazards... but, above all, I have feared my fellow man.

Now, she is ready for kindergarten.  She is nervous... but she is ready.

Now, for really the first time as a mother, I am fearing children.

I am fearing the other children in the school who are not mine and who I have not raised.  The children who use language that Tracey has never heard.  The children who do not share our believes or disbelieves and who think they know everything.  The children who are unkind.  The children who see the world differently than we have taught our child to see the world.

Ever since her siblings were born, anywhere Tracey went without one of her parents, with almost zero exceptions, she has been with a sibling.  We teach our children to look out for one another -- to travel together -- to help one another.

And now, my oldest child; my first born baby girl is going into her very own school with no parents and no siblings.

It is not that I am afraid for her -- I know she can do it.  I just know she has never been asked to do anything like this before in her life and tomorrow is a big day.  I know she will love her new school and she is so ready to learn everything this year will teach her -- but I also know that I can't do this first day for her.

This is my first day of a kindergarten... but this is not about me. 

This is the first day of the rest of her life, being asked to rise to a level she's never had to before.

When she started school at age 2, and then moved up to preschool at age 3, there were tears when I said goodbye.  But I was able to physically hand her to a loving teacher and wave bye-bye.  Then, the kind teacher, texted me a picture within ten minutes showing me that my baby girl was happy and engaged and the drama was over.

Tomorrow, she has to climb on that bus herself, and she has to be brave as it drives away without me and without her siblings.

 

Tomorrow, she has to get off the bus in front of that big new school and she has to walk inside and find her cubby and her classroom -- (of course kind teachers will be there to help).

Tomorrow, she has to navigate the first day of kindergarten.  She has to make new friends.  She has to remember where her lunchbox is for the first time in her life.  She has to remember to keep track of her lunchbox to bring back home.

Tomorrow, she has to get back on a bus at the end of the day -- hopefully with her backpack and lunchbox.

Then, tomorrow, she has to stay on the bus until she reaches the stop where I will be waiting. 

For my five-and-a-half-year-old, that is a whole day of education right there.  She has never done any of those things by herself and tomorrow she will do it all.

I will end this post with what is written inside Tracey Ann's backpack:

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

- Deuteronomy 31:6

 

Missing Daddy

Hubby is on a big elk hunt this week, and my wonderful parents are here helping me keep the home fires burning.  Hubby's been gone since Friday morning and will return at the end of this week.

I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder, because, after playing around with verbalizations and vocal sounds for months, Saturday night, Howard looked at his Daddy over facetime, and exclaimed, "Dada!" just as clear as could be.

In our house a baby has to say a word at least twice for it to count as meaningful speech... and sure enough, every time I showed him Daddy, he said, "Dada!"

I guess he really misses Daddy.

Documentation

I have achieved documentation that Caroline smiles at me... Her first smile (at me) was February 21, but Hubby asked for documentation.  It took me some time to get it on camera... but here it is:

So Tracey Ann first smiled at Hubby, Caroline first smiled at me... Howard will have to break the tie.

First Horsey Ride

Tracey Ann had her first horsey ride out at her Great Grandparents' property last week.  Her Great Aunt Sharon owns a horse and a pony, and Tracey Ann got to ride both.

I have to confess, this milestone meant much more to me than it did to Chris or Tracey Ann.  Tracey Ann is named for my older sister, Tracey, who was an animal NUT, and this included horses.  My sister, Tracey even owned a horse when she as in high school (before my time) -- which is a great Sanden story for another time.

It meant so much to me that Tracey Ann's first horsey ride was when she was just five months old, surrounded by family, on family property, with her Mama and Daddy.  I think that's how horse rides should be.  Tracey Ann has horses on both sides -- if her first ride hadn't been with Aunt Sharon, it would have been with Aunt/Cousin Elizabeth, but we made it to Aunt Sharon's property first.

Anyway... here are the pictures:

Beach Day!

Tracey Ann's first trip to the beach in St. Augustine, FL.

"I'm ready, Mama!"

 

Our system -- sun screen, sun hats, baby sling

The water was REALLY choppy -- we didn't go in far, but we were both able to catch some waves and have fun

That was fun

"The sand is comfy as long as we're in the shade"

"Hi there!"

"Grandma saw me out in the ocean.  I'm getting to be such a big girl."

"Mom, did you tell them that while you were feeding me, our beach umbrella blew over... and three high school boys helped you put it back -- while you were feeding me?"

Great time with the Grandma and Mama.

Great day.

Arizona Pool

On this trip, Tracey Ann got to be in a pool for the first time.  This worked out even better than we planned, because we read that a baby should not be in a pool any younger than 2 months (she turned 2 months on Monday), and the best pools are warm pools between 80-90* that are salt water pools, therefore, have little chlorine.  Amazingly, the pool at the resort where we were staying was EXACTLY that kind of pool.

Check out our beautiful bathing beauty...

We originally put her in a little swim diaper and tried putting her in the big pool (because we didn't realize there was a warmer children's pool), and that didn't last very long.

Then, we bought a little swimsuit and sun hat, and put her in the warm children's pool -- that one was a hit.  She's not giggling yet, but she really enjoyed the children's pool.  She was completely relaxed, and nice and warm, and was totally chill -- like a big bath.

Bonus:  What caption would you give this picture?

She really did like her time in the water... you just wouldn't know it from this picture.

We can't wait for this summer.  :-D