How we went from this:

to this:

Hello, First Grade! Not sure how it happened, but I sure have enjoyed the ride.

Seriously, I am taking suggestions on how this happened? I want to KNOW!

Some days are harder than others. Today I almost cried as I left you to go to work. How my heart breaks, to think that I might have been breaking yours. I know it is a good thing for you to go to school and to play and interact with the other kids, but my heart breaks when I see you by the gate, reaching for me. Crying for me. I want to run to you. I want to make it all better and make the world right with you.

Those are the days that I don’t want to go to work. That I want to shut the world out and hold you as long as you want me to. Those are the days that I want to ignore all the other demands in my world and just focus on you. I want you to know that I wish that I could. But I can’t. I have responsibilities to other people besides you and how I wish I did not some days, I do. And so I put on a smile. I wave, I flash you our sign, (the “I love you” sign) and I know that we will be OK. For I will come to pick you up and hold you like I never left and hope you understand the choices I make.

While visiting Athens, we found some game day helmets that were for sale. No way were we going to buy them – so expensive, but in true silly fashion, we found a way to enjoy them, have some laughs, and get some shots that I think might be fantastic in the UGA room! Classic!

I love how big the helmet is on little R….a true picture of, “Hold on Dawgs, I’m comin’!!”

Enjoy!

*Oh man, I am so far behind. My posts will be slightly bit out of order. But I have to start with a birthday post for my little man!

Today, my baby, you turn 3 years old. I hope someday you read this and know that I write so I can remember to tell you all about you and that you are not embarrassed by it. You are the most fun little boy. I experience 3 with you, as I did 2, with a bittersweet happiness. I am so happy to see you grow and change, but it is so bittersweet to me, as I know this is the last time I will see this age with a child that I made.

Making you was one of the best things I’ve ever been privileged to do. You are so smart and funny, you make me smile every day. Little things I need to remember about you now:

• You love your Allie, like no other toy. He has adventures with you, goes to school with you, and sleeps with you each night. If ever a toy was Real, I have come to believe he is it.
• You love to watch Harry Potter.
• You love to play with your Star Wars ships and figures. You talk non-stop about Star Wars and who fought who and who won. Most the time I agree with you as I have no idea.
• You like to listen to your songs (the radio) and you tell me to turn it when it is a song you do not like.
• You cuddle and play the kiss me game with me.
• You recite the Going to Bed book with me every night. Even with my inflections…”big Annnnnddd small” – this I love.
• Speaking a bedtime rituals, you like for me to tell you, “you have my heart, it’s in your heart” and that “sweet dreams are here to stay”. I love these simple moments we have together.
• You are pretty easy-going, but when you want your way, you can be the MOST STUBBORN child ever. This is just like your Daddy (wink).

I am just SO damn lucky to have you in my life. You bring me laughter, and smiles. You make me grateful for this last chance to experience the world through your eyes and you make me want to be not only a better person, but a better mother each day. So my wish to you on this your birthday, is that I hope all your wishes and dreams come true, you deserve it.

Love, Mama

Because I have been struggling, I have fallen a bit behind on my photos and posting. I have just gotten up some of our photos from the 4th of July. We played with some poppers and sparklers. The light on some of them was so pretty, that I had to post them here. I love them…

You can see the whole set here. Enjoy!