Last First Starting Daycare

She sat to the table with the kids this morning, quietly eating her breakfast.

"shower me mum", she said, when it was time to get dressed for the day.

"drink bottle bag", she said, helping to pack*

The car pulled up in the car park

"daycare me", she said, and she put her bag on her back.

Across the car park she marched, avoiding the umbrella, not worried about the drenching rain falling.

"help me mum", she said, remembering that we discussed holding hands on steps yesterday.

She lead the way down to the toddler wing, right up to the door. Her teacher opened it up, and said "welcome Sophie."

And then it was done. Sleeping bag in the cupboard, lunch box on the table, ready for morning tea, and a kiss goodbye for mum.

Oh, but mum's heart was breaking.

A quick stop to chat to the centre director, who was Chloe's teacher all those years ago, and a quick phone call to the room to hear that she cried for a few minutes, then sat with the others eating morning tea.

Our last first day of daycare is done.

* the drink bottle, after diligently being carried around all morning, never made it to daycare, and has disappeared into the unknown.

linking up with Essentially Jess for ibot

dear sophie

Today, you are 8 months old

You've cut two teeth, the bottom front two

and this month we've had nits, and oral thrush, too

You're crawling

and pulling yourself up on everything

You've loved every food you've tried this month

porridge for breakfast, and sandwiches for lunch, and meatballs for dinner

you wear it all (and occasionally eat some, too!)

You're getting very vocal, especially around other bubbas

you haven't quite figured out who that is in the mirror

but you recognise mum's phone, and yourself in the camera

you follow the kids up the hallway

and search for mum in the craft room

and have the biggest smiles for dad when he gets home

You are growing so quickly,

and you are so very loved.

dear sophie | today you are six months

It feels like you've always been here

(if only you'd enjoy sleeping during the day)

you love blowing raspberries, and chatting to dad

(but you're very quiet if he's not home)

you're desperately trying to get up on your knees

(but manage to get around quite well by rolling from front to back)

we just started baby-led weaning on Christmas Day

you love watermelon and banana so far

you still prefer mum holds more than anyone else

but you don't cry the second the kids start talking to you now.

December has been busy, with dinners and lots of people, and not much sleep during the day

and you managed beautifully.

Your next big adventure will be our first camping trip for 2014 in a couple of weeks.

You are growing fast, Sophie, our days are filled with #lastfirsts, and you are so very loved.

dear sophie

today, you are three months old

I have to remind myself of that almost daily; that you're only little, and I should stop trying to wish it away.

You rolled over a couple of weeks ago, but haven't repeated that feat

Your first genuine smile-when-you-saw-mum was amazing, and now you're full of giggles and smiles for everyone

You follow everyone as they move around you, and have started turning your head towards the tv

You're starting to grasp things, although you still have no interest in toys

Still not the best day sleeper (unless you're in the sling), but awesome at night, snuggled up in bed with mum

You got sick after having your immunisations, and we had a mad rush to the hospital last weekend when you broke out in a measles-looking rash, but you got better quickly (and the rash was just viral)

You're growing and learning every day (as am I)

And you are so very loved

wordless wednesday

first most-of-the-siblings photo

dear Sophie

... today you are one month old.

It wasn't until I re-read my last letter to you that I realised that this will be a bittersweet journey, full of last firsts.

The biggest change we've noticed in the last few days is the strong neck, your head pops up from dad's shoulder, checking out what is happening around you. Dad calls you "nosy parker"

You've been known to gorge yourself when feeding, then throw up. I changed my top four times on Friday, and dad coped it twice on Saturday.

You're totally out of 0000 suits. And the triple 0s look huge on you. And, yes, sweetie bought them, so they are boy-coloured. I'll buy you a pink one this week.

We've been keeping to ourselves the last few weeks, but when we do venture out, you're peaceful, sleepy and happy to cuddle into the sling, which makes it easier to deal with all the other kids. Although I have been known to walk from one end of the supermarket to the other (several times) because I keep forgetting items on the list-I-didn't-write-down.

The last month has been a journey, one I didn't think we would ever take again, but one I am so grateful to be able to share with you.