Goodbye baby girl, hello kindergartner

It's official. As of Friday, I have a kindergartner.

I spent weeks getting ready for that first day. Buying school supplies and picking out fall clothes. Reading the dress code for the school system and reviewing the lunch menu for the first month. Talking to Emma about the new friends she'll get to meet and how she'll still see her old ones during recess.

None of that mattered. None of it. Because when the time came for my first born to step onto the curb from my car and head by herself into that elementary school, my eyes teared up. Watching her walk into the building unsure of herself but pushing forward anyway...I realized that my baby girl was not so little anymore.

Fiddling with her bag of Pet Shops on the way to school.

The entire time that I was preparing Emma for that first day of school, not one time did she mention to me that she was nervous. Not once. Instead she would answer me with her usual "Mommy, I know". A sassy response that she inherited from...well...me. Yet today, she said something that made me realize that she was worried and never let on. Proving to me again, that she is growing up much too quickly.
This afternoon, my mother, Emma, Eslea and I head into town to do a little shopping. On the way we were talking about my mother's new job and her feelings around working somewhere new after 35+ years with one company. She said that she was excited but scared and nervous at the same time....
"I'm looking forward to it ...but it's kind of like....."  and paused. During her pause, Emma offered up this response..."Like the first day of school". Me..."Yes, Emma, exactly like the first day of school".

Where did my baby go people? How did such a sweet little monkey turn into a kindergartner so quickly? I swear just yesterday she was learning to say "mama".

I was in the mood tonight to look at baby pictures of Emma. Wasn't she a baby doll?
 (Eslea looks so much like her big sister. Beautiful.)

Well, off to get ready for tomorrow. It's a school day you know.
-erin

Old St. Augustine

For the past few years we make a trip at least once a summer to St. Augustine, Florida. There was a time when Ameila Island drew our family adventures but it has changed. I am ever so glad that it has. Growing up in South Georgia you become very familiar with the surrounding beach communities. Over time, one or two will begin to become your favorite. For my family, St. Augustine is most definitely a favorite.
No matter how many times I venture to Old Town, I never tire of it. I tend to prefer vintage and antique stores yet there is something touristy nostalgic about the place. There are a few shops I favor and they have a way of pulling me back every year. The colorful jewelry. The unique silver. The wine tasting. The ice cream eating. It makes it hard to resist so inevitably we give in and take a trip to that dear 'ole place just so we can visit those shops which have become like old friends over time.

This year Emma was much more aware of the places to visit. At one of my favorite places to admire the colorful jewelry and stones, Emma disappeared. I have learned that with her, instead of panicking I can simply stop...and listen for her voice that will almost always give away her location. Sure enough, her sweet words lead me to the back of the shop where she was having a conversation with the store owner about beanie babies. Since the store owner was putting out a new arrival of those large eyed stuffed little animals, Emma felt the need to share with her the list of personal favorites that needed to come home with us. I love that little girl.

I love that she was positively convinced that the small fountain in the back of one of the shops was a true honest to goodness wishing well. I love how she pondered her wish ever so carefully before slowly tossing that penny into the murky water. I even love how she tried to remove that same penny from the water just seconds later. Silly monkey girl.

Learning to see Old Town through the eyes of my children just made the visit so much better. Their freshly innocent eyes made everything seem new again. We all need these places...touristy or not. The ones we return to every year that help replenish our soul. 

And replenish we did.

While on Anastasia Island, the oldest friend of all waits patiently for us to visit and play in her white smooth sand.

Make sure to take time this summer for some replenishing of your own.

Life is good my friends.
-erin

Pure and Simple

Life is amazing in its' simplicity. I'm aware of the absurdity that comment may seem to some because for most of us life is anything but simple. Days often rush by without us stopping to take a breathe. Those days pass into weeks, months, and years. Heartaches and heartthrobs, defeats and rewards, they all come at us in a swirl of emotions that most often would never be described as "simple".
Yet there is one thing in life that I personally find simple.
Love. The innocent love that is shown by children.
Some may argue and say that children do not really understand love. I would disagree, I would say that children have it right. They love automatically. Without thought or reservations.
Pure. Simple. Love.

Even the smallest of children can recognize it as some sort of shared ability. The wide eyed willingness to accept each other. No questions asked.



Eslea saw her cousin Grayson for the first time since she has become more aware of children. To say that she was excited would be an understatement. She flailed her pudgy little arms and screamed at him till he came close enough for some face grabbing and mouth tasting action. But you can't blame her, he is a cutie at only one.

On mothers day Jason and I spent time with both our mothers. This gave us an opportunity to spend some time among the family we wish we could visit with more often. Although the time was short, it was precious to see Eslea among those, who like a child, love her unconditionally.

I sometimes reflect back to the times when I was scared of how others would perceive Eslea. Scared that they would love her only because of her extra chromosome... or maybe not love her for that same reason.
Those thoughts no longer weigh on my mind. It is obvious, people love Eslea just for being Eslea. Spending time with family reassures my soul that my child will grow to know how much she is loved and appreciated for the love she herself gives so willingly.

Maybe we can all one day return to the first form of love.
The love in the form of a child. Pure and Simple.

If you have a little one in your home, take time to enjoy the pure love.

Now, time to clean up the sappy mushy mess I just made.
-erin-

Breakin' for Spring

In the world of education there are many things that both students and faculty find themselves in disagreement...dress code, wearing of IDs, the validity of the excuses given for missed homework. But for many years previous and many years to come, there is one thing that most everyone can agree is a much anticipated event in our microcosmic world in which we live eight hours a day..Spring Break.
Unlike most of my coworkers and students, I did not venture out of South Georgia for my spring break fun. While others were soaking up the sun and tanning their skin to a nice toasty shade of red that matches my favorite lipstick, I was at home enjoying my kiddos.

Emma turned five. FIVE. There is just something about that number. A feeling of toddler days fading forever to the past and young tween years approaching. Sigh. My "big girl" (as she now likes to be referred) has the pleasure of sharing a birthday with my beautiful maternal grandmother. Eslea shares her name (Margaret) and Emma gets to share her birthday. This was the first time my grandmother (aka "Mamaw") has seen Eslea since the open heart surgery. Of course LOVE at first sight. We basked in each others' awesomeness while taking an excursion to the local strawberry patch. Strolling through mounds and mounds of brightly colored strawberries, one can not help but smile. Oh the tranquility of it all.

Just can't properly enjoy the berry picking process without knowing the rules.



The strawberry that jumped out of the basket to escape. It JUMPED I tell ya.

Every year Emma's (oh, sorry...big girl's) birthday falls close to Easter Sunday so this year we took advantage of that and fully embraced the Seasonal theme of eggs, rabbits, and chocolate. In an effort to save some of my sanity, I opted to have the party at a location that would bring joy into the hearts of the other pre-Kers that were present. Emma had been wanting to see the movie "Hop" so I decided what better way to celebrate a monkey turning FIVE then to watch a bunny playing drums.
Movie + Cake + Ice Cream + Presents + Video Games = One happy birthday girl

Pretty sure all her little bunny buddies had fun too.

Birthday cake- $60
Strawberry Bucket- $8
The everlasting memory of my Mamaw saying she is PROUD OF ME- Priceless

Excuse me. Had a little happy tear trying to escape there.

Rounded out the week by celebrating our one year anniversary with my hubby. As cheesy as it may sound, he is my best friend. To finally find the missing piece of my soul puzzle is totally worth all the crap and heartaches I once had to go through. Love.

The wedding cake on the day we were married.

The cake today.

 Emma wanting to get in on the picture taking fun...

and the cake eating fun, of course.

Although there is a tiny bit of jealousy inside my bones that wants to creep out when I hear of the beach going fun of those around me, I am rather proud of my spring break. If I do say so myself. And I do. Besides, the beach is only an hour away and I do visit her often enough.

Now, a wonderful announcement if you don't mind.
As most of you know, I am one of seven families who are working to form the first Down syndrome support group in our region. We are working to set up a website, a facebook page, apply for non-profit status, etc. One of the many areas that we are aiming to address is bringing awareness to our organization. Because unless our organization is out there, how can we spread our message of acceptance and awareness?
In order to make this happen, I will begin offering giveaways on this blog. These giveaways will be solely to drawn attention to our support group as we begin building our foundation. I am so excited and can not wait to get started. But..wait I must. I am still accepting prizes but I assure you that when it starts, you will be the first to know.
What kind of giveaways am I talking about? Well how does a gas card sound? Or a mud pie outfit for your little cutie? What about a super store gift card? Or perhaps even a vacation getaway?
Yep. That's right. Good stuff. Stuff I want myself but I can't qualify. Shucks.
Oh well, you'll get the prizes and the Down Syndrome Association of South Georgia will reap the benefits.

Now, I have work to do and prizes to sort.
Catch ya on the flip side.
(yeah, I don't know)
-erin