A rash. A rash distracted this mama from many tears and second-thoughts about her little girl's first day of PK-3 on the eve of the big day. She laid down for a nap on Sunday afternoon just fine and woke up with these raised areas and major itching on both ankles, her left arm, and the left side of her face. An oral and topical dose of Benedryl made most of it go away but by the time night came, new areas had started erupting.
So, at 9:15 pm when I could have been fighting back a huge lump in my throat and tears as I read her a story, I was one hour behind in getting her to bed and was on the phone with my boss sending text pictures and trying to decide if it was Cutaneous Migrans Larvae or Urticaria.
Here she is coated with Benedryl cream and covered from neck to toe and ready to go to bed.
Her clothes are ready for the morning!
But at 10:15 she is STILL trying to go to sleep. She wasn't getting into mischief, but just looking through her jewelry box and playing the ballerina music.
The next morning, I woke her up at 7:00am and found her with the PJ's completely unzipped and the jewlery box neatly put away on the floor next to her bed. I said as softly as I could to a little person who had gotten less than 8 hours of sleep on the night before her first day of school, "Lauren, it's time to wake up. Today you're going to school." "Mama, you woke me up? Why, Mama?" She gradually woke up, Eric and I checked out her rash (old areas were healed and new ones had cropped up on her side and both thighs), I nursed Carson, Eric dressed Lauren...and then off for breakfast!
Oatmeal and soy milk. Lauren's favorite.
And Carson's too. :-)
The first of many years' first day of school picture by the front door. 
We left the house at 7:30am and Eric drove his truck and I drove the two babes. It was pouring down raining. The last full 5 minutes that we were in the house, Lauren playing the FSU fight song over and over and over. I think Eric had to control his rage over this! His neck actually started to turn red! Lauren is truly a Gator-Nole girl but doesn't understand why Daddy doesn't do the FSU chop with her! So, the chant continued 1/2 way during our drive to HNES. In a way, I think she pictured herself going to school with Kay since we call Kaitlin's school "big girl school". It was pretty cute.
On the 15 minute drive across town, I tried taking note of my two precious gifts of children in the back seat and really wasn't tearful until Lauren started singing "You are my Sunshine" very clearly. First, the words of the song were so special and sweet as this is a song that I sing frequently to both LEB and CEB, but when I could understand most of the words...ugh! Over the top happy mommy driving!
Nan met us there and Lauren was so happy to see her face as we 4 entered the gate under two umbrellas.
Lauren talking to Leah Logue and her mom and sister in Mrs. Cooper's classroom.
Mrs. Cooper had puzzles set up at each child's desk. Lauren's favorite!
There were two little ones crying, but Lauren seemed not to be phased by it. She just kept looking around and working on her puzzle. Eric and I didn't know what to do so we said, well...I guess we should leave! So, Nan and Daddy kissed Lauren good-bye (I didn't for fear that it might set off my tears) so I just waved good-bye, smiled and said "I'll see you in a little bit!"
As soon as I walked outside, I saw Bailey's mommy walking to towards me with red eyes. And then I started crying! Not hard, but tears nonetheless. Oh dear. Mostly tears of confusion. "Why and how did time pass so fast?!" "They don't need us." "They'll be in college before I know it." I probably would have been just fine if I hadn't hugged Holly! Ha! But we made it and I'm sure it won't be the last time we mommies cry together!
I took a peak inside Bailey's room next door. Lauren's only friend in her class is Joel Ticola but I'm excited to know that she'll make fast friends with new little ones in her class. In Miss Katie's class, there are Duncan, Gigi, and Bailey.
Baby Owen came to drop off his two older brothers.
Eric went on to work and Carson and I mingled at the "Boo Hoo, Yahoo! Coffee Party". From there, we went with Daphne and Owen to FBC to the Mother's Brunch. Carson stayed in the nursery and got his morning nap and then we headed over to Holy Nativity Church for Kindermusik!
Carson loved his first Kindermusik class! I kinda feel like I'm starting all over again so I'm glad I have my little boy to snuggle with and sing to while his big sister is off growing up at school.
Carson and I picked Lauren up at 12 noon and I had a fun time trying to decipher what she had done during the morning. I realized that if I asked the right questions, I could really get a good picture of everything rather than rely on her to give out info. Did you color? Yes. Did you do a lot of different puzzles? Yes, we all shared. Did you play in the kitchen? Yes and with the radio and the phone. Did you go potty? Yes, I went peepee and I told Mrs. Cooper I had to go. Did you paint? Yes, I painted my hands. Did you sing? Yes, but I don't know what song.
It was actually a very good conversation on the way to Chick-Fila to meet Daddy for lunch! Eric was excited to see her and hear about her day.
1:30pm and we're home for afternoon naps and one last pose with each other.
What a good day. Lauren is going to have a great year at Holy Nativity Episcopal School and Mrs. Cooper is going to be wonderful to help mold our Lauren into a sweet individual. I just wonder what she thought of my comment on the "Meet My Child" form when, to the question "What do you want your child to accomplish this year?", I wrote 'understand the concept of sounding and blending and the concept of manipulating objects to understand addition and subtraction'. Very attainable, I think. :-)
