Sweet Dreams, Sweet Boy

Lincoln has a pretty eleborate 'going to bed' ritual that must be fully satisfied at nap & bedtime.  It started off simple enough but he keeps adding requirements.  He's a pretty creative staller (and he's so cute it's impossible to tell him to hush up and go to sleep).  Let me lay it out for you:

1. books or a movie

2. (bedtime only) get teeth brushed by daddy

3. prayers

4.  get in bed and have a drink of water

5.  make sure there is a truck/tractor/scoop sitting on his step stool next to his fan to "keep him company"

6.  give mommy a hug and kiss

7.  select a 'baby ball' (one of those small rubber balls that he likes to grip in his fist)

8.  and finally . . . have mommy sing a song (his favorite is 'the papa song' - aka hush little baby, don't say a word etc.)

I mean, where does it end??  Lincoln will probably be 12 years old and I'll still be singing to him before bed, but I guess that would be ok with me :)

The Beginning of a Long Journey

Today was the first day that our first kid went to school - really a pretty momentous event if you think about it. Which, of course, I have done a lote of. 

For the next 15 years (at least) we will be roped into the school schedule thing . . . waking up early, doing homework, looking forward to summer break, etc.  I'm still pretty shell shocked that I'm already a mom of a school kid.  I mean, last time I blinked we were just bringing Grace home from the hospital (now I'm tearing up) and figuring out how to bathe a newborn.  So cliche, but WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?!?!

Grace had a great time today.  It was a more like a dress rehersal for school than the real thing because Mommy got to stay the whole time and there was not real structure, just play/explore time.  Grace met her teacher - Miss Kathy - and enjoyed playing with all the fun & new things in her classroom.  We also took a little tour of the preschool and met a few of her classmates.  It went quickly and our big girl was not happy about having to leave when time was up.  She's so ready to be a big girl, but am I ready for that?  (I think I'll probably be the only one shedding a tear when I drop her off on Friday).