giggle

I had to giggle when I read Jack's kindergarten teacher's 1st day blog entry. When you look at her photo and read what she writes, she doesn't really strike you as the "bossy" type (which is still how Jack refers to her!)

Mrs. Baker's Kindergarten Blog

Jack's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Today was the day! He was very excited going in. Coming out he was a little grouchy. He said his teacher is bossy, the kids are naughty, and he doesn't want anyone to know his name (as he ripped up the name tag he is supposed to wear around his neck for the first week). Then he claimed he is NOT going back tomorrow. Yikes. But as I asked him questions about what stories they read today and how lunch went, he seemed happy about the things he did. So hopefully this is just the 1st day jitters coming out after a long, busy day. I'll be hoping for no tears or balking tomorrow when I take him back again. Fingers crossed!

Here's the happy boy at the beginning of the day:

Jack turns 6!

It seems surreal that six years ago I was in awe of my entry into motherhood an entire month before I expected it. Little 5 lb Jack came into my world and changed me in remarkable ways. He was a joy from the first moment I laid eyes on him.

I have never been more scared in my life than when Jack stopped breathing the night before we left the hospital. The ensuing three weeks in the NICU were some of the scariest, but most amazing of my life. I grew to know my son and myself as a mother before even leaving the hospital. It was a turbulent ride, but it ended well and with many memories of love and support from all around us.

And for the past six years I've watched my tiny babe grow into the sweetest, most caring, thoughtful, cautious, hard-working, little guy around. As I type the "count-down-to-Kindergarten" chain only has three links. So many things to celebrate and reflect on this week. And in the past six years I have experienced some lows and some truly difficult challenges, but without a doubt I would do it--all of it, down to every last move I've made and choice I've chosen-- over and over again without regret. Motherhood has been the hardest and most meaningful thing I've ever done in all my thirty-four years. I'm grateful to my first-born for teaching me to be a mother, and patiently showing me the ropes for six years and counting. Happiest of birthdays, Jack. Your mommy loves you oodles.

This year Jack wanted a Pirate-themed birthday. Since Kindergarten is coming so fast and we've been feeling a bit pulled in multiple directions lately, I wasn't quite up for a big party like last year. So we did the same thing as with Benji's birthday this year, and let him choose a few friends to take to dinner at Chuck E. Cheese's. He had a great time.

On his actual birthday, Saturday the 11th, we had grandparents, and Uncle Danny & Cousin Miguel over for lunch and Pirate Cake. It was a gorgeous day, as the heat had finally broken. Just like last year! He must be a Lucky Leo.

After family went home, we decided to continue with a tradition started last year and set up camp in the backyard for the evening of his birthday. The weather was too nice to skip out on this. Neighborhood friends came over and shared smores, and then I camped with all three boys overnight in the tent. They did great! It was a cool night, but we were toasty through the rainy night in the tent. Our tent is holding up nicely, considering I've had it 12 years! Of course, for the last six it's only been used twice :)

It was a fun birthday weekend. Still hard to believe my little dude is growing up so fast. But it's amazing watching him do it!

Enjoying the Quiet Moments

I've been enjoying some good bonding time lately with new friends. This past weekend I joined four women for dinner and conversation at Dos Rios. It was very lovely to actually sit on the patio after the heat wave we had the past few weeks, so we spent three hours out there! My jalepeno margarita never tasted so good :) Two of the women are pregnant, Emily with her fifth child and Susan with her fourth. Hmm, almost makes me feel lazy on the procreative side.... almost. I enjoyed gelato after dinner with the preggos, but am still wondering how it is that I ate more gelato than they did?!

Last night Mike and I hosted a potluck for the families of the Willowsong midwifery and gynecological clinic. I have enjoyed the women's circles I attend there for many years now, and have made some good friends. Many of us have been yearning for more family events so husbands and kids can get to know one another, too. We had about 40 people last night and it was very casual, and very lovely. There wasn't one person that I met last night that I wouldn't like to spend more time with. What a great community. I feel thankful every day for having found my way to this great group of people. Hoping the family potluck becomes a monthly routine.

My most enjoyable moments lately have been the quietest ones, spent at home, when we aren't rushing to or from an event, but are taking the time to just be home.

Gavin with his morning cup of chai, and Benj with his morning coffee with cream. No joke.

I'm too much of an animal lover to really love fishing. I always hope we won't catch anything :) This morning a couple mom friends came over and one of the kids caught a fish. I hate having to take the bloody hook out of their little mouths. We tried throwing this one back and it laid there for awhile on it's side. We were pretty sure it was a goner, and both the other mom and I were pretty sad. Finally it did get going, and I was relieved. Seriously, who fishes that responds like this?! I'm much more into throwing kernels of corn into the pond and watching the little fish fight over them :) Gavin likes this, too. We discovered today that the geese will actually come over to eat the corn, too. Ha, I'm sure our geese-hating neighbors love that we are feeding them now :)

The other morning I got up and looked out our kitchen window and saw this at 7am!

A little green heron perched on our railing. He was so fun to watch.

We have watched a falcon fish in our pond the last two mornings, which is so cool. It was a little nerve wracking, though, when it circled over our yard and got kind of close to Lucy a few times. I made her go in to save her from being falcon breakfast.

On his way to school....and big kidhood

Jack has now had a 2nd visit from the tooth fairy.

And he is very excited for the start of kindergarten. This chain was made when Kindergarten was only 25 days away. Now we are at 22 days away. Holy cow!

A couple weeks ago he completed the City's "Safety Town", a summer camp for incoming kindergarteners only. I think he had a pretty good time.

He continues to be an excellent big brother.

It's hard to believe his 6th birthday is only 18 days away. It's even harder to remember that it was only 6 short years ago when I defined myself in ways beyond my role as a mother. Life can certainly change in a millisecond. I am so proud of this little guy and all we've experienced together. It will be amazing to see the next 6 years and how he changes. Wow, if the next 6 years go as fast as the last have, I need to slow down and try to savor the moments a little longer.