Tribute: To all that is good and bad about a little sass. My Syd is growng up!

Okay since i'm sure a procrastinator, i must start by saying that some of this blog was written and saved at different times. I'll try not to confuse too bad...


Monday, July 30
Sydney is well...Syd. I guess I should preface any explanations of her lately by first saying that she finally got her first hair cut, just 6 weeks shy of her fifth birthday. And I can’t believe her birthday is that soon either, but that's another rambling I suppose. Back to her hair... its adorable. She looks so grown up and the color seems to have changed from that beautiful baby blonde it was to this big kid-ish dirty blonde, almost totally brown. I guess what we cut off was that baby hair she had, considering it had never even been trimmed at all. It makes me sad to even think that she's grown up so much and that she's a real, independent kid these days with attitudes, opinions and thoughts of her own...some of which I’m not that into, might I add?

Her haircut:







And there are better pics in the bottom of this post, we didnt take that many at the salon. Her hair is too cute though!!!

Her attitude has totally changed, and not necessarily for the good either, lol. She's had something "Mrs. prissy" to say every time we speak to her since we got it done. And I get it...to an extent, getting such a drastic difference in your looks definitely changes your attitude-especially when you love it-but my word. It’s like with one chop of the scissors that child learned everything there is to know about life. I told her yesterday to take a good look at her daddy's hair (its shaved) and that if she didn’t stop the attitude that we'd go back to the salon and I’d make her look like him....and we'd see how much her ‘tude’ changed then...LOL. She just rolls her eyes at me and continues about the shenanigans. I think I’ve created a monster, but oh my god, what a beautiful little monster she is. Her eyes are so piercing and green. I think she has the eyes to overpower the most sad, destitute, angry person…oh my lord she's growing up and changing so fast right now.

And then tomorrow we will be going to orientation at her school...yes, she starts on Wednesday...just two days from now. Her clothes are ready, the backpack is filled and she's looking more grown up than ever...i guess all we have left to do is to take her on that first day. I know I’m going to cry like a little baby...even though she probably will not. The fact that she probably wont makes it even harder to stomach for me, but much better for her if she can uphold that promise she made to me last week and be a big girl and not be scared. I know she's going to love it...i really do. She loves other kids...and she will be fine. I just pray that the adjustment for her doesn’t really become an issue...for us all.



Tuesday July 31, 2007

The orientation went pretty well, all things considering that we were totally late. We did get there without killing each other though, so that was a plus. We just did the basic things and listened to lots of people talk but i feel very confident that i've put her in the right place for who she is. I am a firm believer that the first year of school is vital for children. They lack so much focus and drive for anything that doesnt involve play and imagination. I always thought she'd need a solid foundation for her education with out all the distractions that come in the public shcool we're districted to and i know she will get it at WCL. I did, so another 20+ years later, surely they've gotten the formula down to an exact science by now. If anything, its gotten better over the years. Funny though that the place looks exactly the same really, has the same smell [although i cant really put my finger on what that is], and it looks as much like a happy place for kids to gather, as always. Sydney's teachers are Mrs. Penny & Mrs. Kim, whom i've heard wonders about from other parents who've experienced their love and kindness over the last few years. So far from everyone i've talked with they've gotten rave reviews...

I'm feeling pretty good about it all in general. I think sydney still has those 'first day jitters,'
but after we left today she told me she was excited and she was ready to go to school. Hopefully neither she or i will fall apart tomorrow.

We went shopping for shoes, new hairbows, her new tinkerbelle disney watch, undies, socks, etc....little small stuff we still needed. Sydney was excited-but not excited at the same time. She kept saying, "Mama, I really dont want to go to school, but i know i have to," and things like that.

August 1, 2007
I'm just gonna call this day survival of the fittest. It was a difficult day, but all in all i have to give it the big thumbs up. At least we all made it home in one piece now that the day is done.

We found out at orientation yesterday that they were not going to allow any parents inside the building to walk them to class. While i dont like the practice, i do understand the thinking behind it. The director said that they wanted to avoid the upset parents upsetting the kids who are mostly okay until they see their parents crying... and remarkably while we were waiting in line to get to the door i didnt see a signle crying kid being pulled away from their cars, so maybe they are on to something here...?? So we had to drop her off at the front door where she was met by a school employee/teacher and escorted to class. She can be dropped off anytime after 7:45 and stays until 2:30.

She had trouble going to sleep last night and was up until after 10 in her bed trying to get there. Remarkably, she woke up at 6:45 with no problems. I only had to go in there once and she got right up. I guess she wanted to surprise me because she came out completely dressed with her backpack on. She came out and i surprised her with homemade strawberry muffins, which got her in a real good mood. We curled her hair and she went to eat. I could not get her to eat much though and she mostly picked at it. We took a few quick pictures and headed out.

We were about 4 cars from the door when she said, "Mommy my tummy hurts,"...who taught her that one?..lol but we assured her it was sheer excitement and 'butterflies' and she said okay. Then we got to the door. I let her out and she put on her backpack, gave us kisses and waved goodbye. I, of course, jump out of the truck and try to take pics with about 50 cars behind us, but oh well. Surely i wasnt the only parent doing so... I took only one quick pic and she turned away and went inside. She was sort of teary eyed, but i think she was trying to be so strong and big. I'm very proud of her. I was also terribly proud of eric and I who also never let the stress get us down. I never cried at all myself. Yay for us all!!!

So now i'm a basket case (no surprise, surely). I think if i could have taken her into her class i'd atleast know whether she was upset or happy and i'd not worry all day... but here i am pacing my office. I'm trying not to stress but oh my... In all honesty, i'm truly glad that its over with.

Here are some of our pics we took this morning. Our day started off with a little car trouble...hehee.

Good thing Mrs. Grace was up for the challenge.... She pushed us all the way to syd's school


Picking at her food.... which is soooo typical of her


Two of my favorite pics, me with her and syd with her daddy




Time to leave-she looks scared


"My Tummy Hurts"


Bye Ya'll...I love you. See you this afternoon.


August 1, 2007 3PM
Eric decided to go into work late just so he could pick her up this afternoon. She got into the car, smiles beaming non stop. Sydney called me a bit ago and told me a number of good things in the short time we had to talk before my cell phone took a poop and died on me. She told me of some new little girl friends she'd made already, one named Grace that she was particularly excited about. She also said that she loved her teachers, Mrs. Penny & Mrs. Kim and that she was ready to go back tomorrow after having such a good day. And the most shocking of all, she said that she slept at naptime... [and that kid has not napped since she was 18 months old...but its good. Really good, maybe she'll be more happy in the evenings, but i fear she will not be able to get into bed at night. Hopefully not though.] Then my phone died...so there is much more conversation to come this evening when i pick her up. I cant wait to see her.

I really think that she is in the perfect place for her... and i know she will learn so much.

August 3, 2007
We made it to friday...and its offically almost the weekend. Sydney is supposed to have a folder sent home today with all her work from the week in it today. I am anxious to see what they've been doing and how she's done with it all. I try, every afternoon in the car on the way home, to talk with her about her day. I always wanna know the following:
*What did you learn?
*What was for snack & lunch? And did you eat it?
*Tell me about your activies?
*Did you meet or play with any new friends today?
Seems like she gets tired of me asking all the time and 95% of the time i only get who she played with at recess...that is obviously her favorite part of school.

Getting up the last two mornings have been quite the difficult task for syd. She's so not into 6:30 every morning, so i've promised her that tomorrow when daddy and grace wake up that she can come get into my bed and we'll sleep the day away together if she wants to. She's talking about sleeping all day long, which i know she wont, but its a nice lazy saturday thought, huh? So we'll be getting our beauty rest in the morning and i'll be posting the giant "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on the door... although the only one who needs to read it, cant. Surely grace will have something to say about me sleeping all day... but i'm gonna give it a shot.