clara's first day of preschool

This sweet girl started preschool last week.  With our decision to send Sam to Kindergarten came another decision to send Clara to preschool - knowing she would be eager to attend school with Samantha away.  And sure enough she was very, very excited to begin school.  She is attending at the same preschool Sam went to last year and is in the three year old class, even though she doesn't turn three for another month.  We are so thankful for a small, safe, warm, familiar place for her to be two days a week.  We ADORE her teachers and are thankful for one of her friends (born the same day!) who is also in her class. 

The first day we walked in and she sat down and said good-bye without much hesitation.  After school she was so excited to show me her "projects" from school.  After a year of seeing the projects her sister was bringing home, she is very proud of her own projects.  We celebrated her first day with a trip to get frozen yogurt (aka ice cream in our house) and pizza - school girl's pick. 

Big girl

I don't think I fully prepared to send Clara off to school.  Last week was hard for me.  In some major ways this marks an end to her 'babyhood'.  Because she has been so excited we didn't feel hesitant to send her to school.  And yet I am feeling the need to pause and reflect and say goodbye to what was a very difficult season for me.  Clara's infant months challenged me in ways I never expected - to be so constantly needed brought me to a place of complete surrender and utter dependence on Jesus.  The Lord used those months so dramatically in my heart by teaching me much about what it means to mother and to allow my identity as a mom to appropriately come further to the center of who I am.  Clara's tenacious spirit as a baby has carried on and serves her well.  She is funny and smart and thoughtful and determined.  Being able to communicate with her about her hopes and desires and needs has made both of our lives easier.  And now she is totally a big girl.  I often though have to remind myself that she is still two (granted three in a month).  She is such a gift and being her mama is one of the greatest joys of my life.  Happy first day of school Clara Louise!!

first lost tooth

Remember the fall Sam took on Labor day?  Well we sure do.  A few days ago her mouth/tooth started showing signs of infection so Tim took her into the dentist.  And sure enough their was infection around the root and the tooth needed to be pulled.  Sam was already enjoying that the tooth was wiggly - so it made logical sense to her that this tooth wanted/needed to come out.  I don't think she realized the fall was the cause of her wiggly tooth and hence what followed...

Yesterday Tim took Sam back to the dentist to have it pulled.  I will spare you the gory details but I was glad to not be there.  She was so so brave - enduring a rough process.  They had to give her the elephant nose, aka laughing gas, towards the beginning to help her calm down.  She wasn't in the place to go to school afterwards so we enjoyed a day at home - with the very big help of my mom. 

She was so excited to see what the tooth fairy would bring her.  After much discussion the tooth fairy decided to give her a new small box of legos and new tooth brush.  She thought it was so funny that the tooth fairy noticed her legos downstairs and so knew just the right surprise to give her. 

One other sweet note about the day was her disappointment of not going to school at all yesterday.  She reported to Tim feeling sad about missing the day and worried about not getting to work on a certain project.  He assured her that her teacher would let her finish her project the following day. 

And this morning for the FIRST time she wasn't sad on the way to school.  (well since the first day).  The transition to Kindergarten has been full of ups and downs - for her and for us.  One of the hardest parts has been talking with her about her sadness from being away from us for the entire day.   Lots and lots of tears.