m’s first day of first grade [one week later!]

…we started first grade!!!

and by we, of course, i mean maddalena! i’m so soooo proud of this girl. but really… i mean we. it’s a group effort, to be sure!! and not an easy one for us, but i’m so proud of all my babes. it’s hard to get up and go, completely change our daily routine, and miss our best girl!

and for me? i mean, watching her walk away is still hard every single time. it’s like my radar goes off, an alarm buzzing, *your child is too far away!! your child is too far away!!* every second of the last 7 years i’ve been programmed to practically hurl myself in her direction when this warning starts to sound! and here i am doing it on purpose? makes it pretty hard to drive off. even harder when rocco adds, “my eyes are getting wet!” i tell him it’s hard for me, too, and then inside i die juuust a little… but also, i’m secretly happy that they love each other that much.

maddalena, though!! she’s so happy and excited and safe and prayed for and adored over there… and that is everything! that’s what we are so grateful for. she was so excited to put on her uniform and get going!! i let her choose every bit of her ensemble from the slew of uniform options and wanted her to feel her best. and she had the best day ever. she’s had a great week since starting back! and only a few tears shed on her part when she sees a construction vehicle and thinks of rocco. bless that child, i love her so much.

babies!!! oooh, babies. they grow so quickly, and i just cannot believe how quickly things change! weren’t we just starting kindergarten? and here we are, suddenly a year later… throw in a baby luca and a stella pup! life, you crazy.

we love you, madd girl! you are so amazing. yaaay first grade!