Moving up

It's official! Emma is a big first grader. A few weeks ago I went to her kindergarten graduation/party day and watched my little girl say goodbye to the classroom she has grown to love during this past year. I got her last report card and she has made leaps and bounds. She is such a hard worker and she has enough motivation and determination to get through anything. I am so proud of the way she keeps me on task when I say it is too late to do more homework or when I want to read one less book at night. I am still in awe that my baby is going to go to all day school and be with the big kids in a couple months. How did this happen? How did she grow so fast? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was holding her in my arms trying to soothe her screaming? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was taking her to mommy and me classes at the local library? Wasn't it just yesterday that she was spashing in the baby bathtub? Wasn't it just yesterday that I had to follow her around the park and make sure she stayed out of trouble? Wasn't it just yesterday that she needed me for everything and now she can stay alone all day? Wasn't it just yesterday she was my little curly haired whirlwind tornado? If there was a time I wanted to freeze that would be now. Sometimes when we are playing together I look at her and it think to myself that I can't beleive she is really my daughter and so big. Maybe I am weird but the older she gets the more surreal it seams at times. Anyway, Next year she will go to a six hour day and be in her expensive childcare for only a little while. She will get to buy lunch and be on the bigger kid playground. She will have lots of homework and more "boring times just sitting" as she likes to say. I found out that Emma will have the same teacher that our childhood neighbor Allison had as a child. I hope it is a great year!