To my baby...

First day of Kindergarten

First day of 1st Grade

First day of 2nd Grade

Today was a fairly sad day for me, as are all first days of school. I tend to get emotional. Poor Luke, I am sure that I will be a total wreck for his first days, but lets not go there, that's a whole 'nother topic for a whole 'nother day. Back to today, I was prepared to walk my baby down to her classroom, drop her off, hold my tears in as best I could, and walk away knowing my baby is getting older. Well, Mckenna, she had a different idea. She wanted me to drop her off on her first day and not even walk her in. But not only just drop her off at the front doors but drop her off on the other side of the big field that is next to her school. Now really that isn't a big deal. After school she will cross the field, or detention pond as Jonny would declare, and I will pick her up there as opposed to picking her up at the front doors of the school. I am good with all the picking her up stuff and I guess even dropping her off there is okay but not on the first day!? As a parent you know the time will come when your hugs and kisses are no longer cool. Honestly I thought, given Mckenna's anxieties to new situations, I would always be able to walk her down to her class on the first day and give her that hug that really I need, I'm not sure she does. Who knew that Mom and Dad would be embarrassing at second grade? Jonny asked this morning when her lunch is, to which she replied, "NO DAD, you cannot come and eat lunch with me!!!" 

As I look at these first few years of first day pictures I realize how physically big she has gotten. What I realized this summer was how emotionally big she has gotten. She is becoming such a neat girl. Certainly with her own strong personality. Stubborn at times (personally I think that all comes from Jonny...) but she is a very sweet girl. You won't find a better big sister. She will play with Luke to where as long as she is around he could care less who else is. He adores her. In fact he follows her around like a puppy and most of the time obeys her like a puppy would, for good and for bad. She is also so wonderful with Mia. To my dismay, she will pick up Mia whenever she is crying or even gets that look of sadness in her face and bring her straight to me. She cannot stand to hear Mia unhappy. She will talk to Mia and love on her and do anything I ask her to do as long as it benefits Mia. If only I could get her to do that with everything else??? 

As you can also see from her pictures is the progression of her clothing. Starting from about the 2nd week of kindergarten it was apparent that mom did NOT have an ounce of style. I cannot pick out clothes for her anymore. She inherited Jonny's fashion sense, which is, anything extremely comfortable and who cares if it matches or heck, even looks good. Her clothing of choice, t shirts and shorts, preferably athletic shorts or cotton skirts. Her shoes of choice are first her flip flops and next her tennis shoes, nothing more and nothing less. I guess I shouldn't be complaining right? I can't imagine the damage a fashionista could do to her Daddy's budget! I have to say though, I am hoping for a slightly more girly girl from Mia. I know now that I put that down in writing I opened up a potential nasty can of worms, but hey such is my life, a nasty can of worms...

I am just so proud of Mckenna for the daughter, sister, friend, and student she is becoming. I can honestly see big things in her future, she is arguably one of the most talented little girls I know (not that I know a bunch and not that I am a bit partial either! Haha!!)

I love you Mckenna Catherine and am so incredibly proud of you!!! (Even on our grumpy and head butting days!!!) I hope you have a wonderful school year!