Big Girl Aubrey

Though much of our talk this past week has been about Camryn's school schedules and routines, it is certainly noteworthy to mention Aubrey's latest accomplishment too.

The Friday before Labor Day, she came home from daycare and promptly announced that she was "ready to wear big girl panties!" Having tried multiple times throughout the summer to get her to partake in this particular rite of passage, and to no avail, I was a little skeptical. We let her take the lead however, and she ran with it.

Since then (just over 9 days) she has all but potty trained herself. (It is worth mentioning that the first week of school was really not my first choice of timing for this adventure, but again, we let her lead.) With the exception of an occasional accident here and there, she is virtually dry and clean, all day every day! Last night, she even woke me in the middle of the night to take her potty, at which time I found her sporting a dry diaper! I couldn't believe it.

Somehow, this child managed to become a potty-using big girl during the one week of the year when I, her father, and her preschool teacher all had the least amount of attention to devote to the process. How'd she do that???

So it got me thinking. Thinking about all of the other big girl steps she's taken in the past few months. Since June, she's transitioned to a big girl bed, said goodbye to her binky, learned to use the potty, and abandoned her sippy cup (only big girl cups, please!) All of a sudden, I'm left to wonder: What happened to my baby? She is now more interested in playing Barbie with her sister than stacking blocks, and will provide a direct quote when I skip over parts of her favorite books. Wha???

I asked her the other day, "Are you a baby, or a big girl?" Her response was of course, "A big girl!"

"So, there are no more babies in my house?" I said. And to that, she gave an enthusiastic, "Nope!" and a giant, big girl smile. :)

The First Day of School!

Wednesday was the first day of school for ALL of us in the Bailey household! Camryn started Kindergarten, Aubrey "officially" began preschool lessons at the daycare she's attended since babyhood, and Brian and I both greeted our new groups of students. What a wild, crazy day it was, filled with emotional ups and downs for everyone.

I was up at 5 a.m., wide awake, with a stomach tied in knots. My nervousness about the whole Kindergarten thing had reached it's peak for sure. Camryn was thrilled, but admitted early in the morning, "I'm scared to ride the bus without you." This of course is the response I was afraid I'd get the morning of, and I began to wonder if putting her on the big yellow beast would be dramatic event.

While we waited at the bus stop, I gave her a special gift from Brian and I: a silver necklace, from which hangs a little silver heart. I told her that if anytime during the day she felt like she was missing us, she could touch her necklace, and know that we were thinking about her and her big girl adventures at that very moment. She loved the idea of it, and has worn it every day since.

Luckily, I was able to get Camryn on the bus, and then drive down the hill to wait for it to arrive at Deer Creek. Though I could tell she was a little nervous, she did not hesitate when it was time to get on. I held her hand until we reached the bus, and then she walked right up the stairs on her own. She sat right behind the bus driver (whew!) and gave me a huge grin while she waved frantically (look very closely at the last photo and you can see it.) Crisis averted.

By the time her bus arrived at the school (an entire 15 minutes later), she hopped off happily, and introduced me to her two new friends. "Mom, this is Emma. And this is Emma too. And they are both in my class. Can I walk with them?" And off she went, with me tagging behind. She marched right into her classroom, signed in, made her lunch choice, hung her backpack, and headed to play at the dollhouse with the Emmas. And I was left to stand there and look pitiful. Figuring it was about my time to make an exit, I gave her a hug, and headed out the door. She barely even noticed.

When she returned home that evening she was ecstatic, but exhausted. She filled us in on every detail of her day, and practically melted into her bed by 7:30. And so the day ended, with happy memories filed away, lots of giant grins, and minimal tears (only from me, there were none from her). We all survived, and made the realization that she really was ready, even though I wasn't. So look out world, because Camryn's a Kindergartner now!!!

Dear Mrs. Doughty

Dear Mrs. Doughty,
The time has come for me to hand my baby girl over to you. It is an incredible understatement to say that she is both excited and nervous for this adventure called Kindergarten, and an even bigger one to say that I am truly terrified. This is the first time in her five and a half years that I will place her in the hands of "strangers," and entrust that she will get from place to place safely.

There is just so much that you should know about her. Much more than I'll have time to tell you at any point, and much more than I'd ever actually say for fear of being "that Mom." You'll figure so much of it out for yourself soon enough, but I want you to know her. To really know her.

If I could sit you down, I would tell you that Camryn is a complex creature. She is deep and thoughtful, yet wacky and silly too. She is sensitive, yet dramatic. She has a goofy sense of humor, but listens carefully, even when you think she's not. She has one volume: LOUD, but means no harm. She is just that excited about life.

If she gets too tired or too hungry, she becomes extremely cranky. But she loves to learn, and soaks up new experiences readily. She is a full body learner. She wants to be immersed in her education. She is reading fluently, and is already a good speller (both of which she's virtually taught herself.) She is opinionated but fair, and has a one-of-a-kind belly laugh. She loves freely, welcomes everyone into her world, and has a contagious smile.

Though I myself have been a teacher for eleven years, I am just now realizing the internal struggle of the adults on the "other side" of this exchange. Never before have I so vividly understood the parent's reluctance to let go, even though I know I must. So please take care of my baby girl and love her quirks. For no matter your own strengths or weaknesses, your good days or bad, I know that she will absolutely, 100% adore you. That's just how she is.

Love,
Camryn's mom