Peyton starts Preschool

My baby is old enough to start school.

How did that happen?!

Granted, it's only preschool and its just Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9-11:30am.

BUT STILL!

#mybabysnotababyanymore

Excuse me while I go look through her baby albums and sob for a few minutes...

Okay, I'm back.

So, she technically had her "classroom orientation" last Wednesday. ^^This was her cute little outfit she let me put on her. I say "let" because, well, she's more about picking out her own outfits these days and they most always include a very interesting combination of clothes topped off with a pair of dressy black heels. Not exactly preschool/playground appropriate, haha.

She was SO excited to be at her classroom. Look at how hard she's cheesing in this picture! ^^

The orientation was basically a scavenger hunt of activities for her to complete, i.e.: Find the bathroom, turn on the light, wash your hands, and then turn off the light. or Trace and cut out a "piece of popcorn" and glue on popcorn pieces. or find the puzzles and put one together. She was in Heaven.

The teacher read a little story at the end of their hunt that was about a little bear (I think) starting her first day of school and one of the lines was about "Well, what if you miss me Mommy? What if you're lonely without me?" --- You can bet your bottom dollar that I bawled like a baby, standing there in the back of the classroom.

So then her first day was Friday, Sept. 6.

I made chocolate cinnamon rolls for breakfast, thinking she would of course want one... She wanted apples! Haha. Love that she picked something healthy instead when given the option to have sweets for breakfast. (No worries, though. Nick, Jen, and I all devoured those chocolatey rolls of deliciousness.)

We were in a crazy rush that whole morning, trying to get ready in time to meet her Daddy and her other grandmother down at the church with time to take some pictures. Luckily, we made it there early enough to get these shots:

It was then time to head up to her classroom and wait for the teacher to let them all in.

Que the Momma tears.

We could tell that she was so excited but SO nervous!

I have never seen her bite her fingernails before.

But then, the door opened...

and this insanely huge smile spread across her face and she just rushed right in to greet her teachers and hang up her bookbag.

She didn't hesitate one little bit.

She did come back for a kiss and quick hug after hanging up her bag.

But then... she was off!

When my Mom and sister went back to pick her up later that morning, the class was out on the playground. Guess where Peyton was?

In a little play-house, hanging out with FOUR (yes, four!) little boys.

My little girl is definitely going to be a leader, not a follower.

"That's for sure." -- her new saying, by the way.

I still can't believe she's old enough for school.

It's like the saying goes, "The days are long, but the years are short."

Not a day goes by that I don't thank my lucky stars that I get the privilege of calling her my daughter and getting to watch her grow up into this beautiful and intelligent little girl.

I love you, babygirl.

To the Moon & back.