Growing Up

Today I had to take our four year old for her Pre-K assessment.  She was so excited.  She couldn't wait to get there for her "test."  Issa wasn't nervous at all.  She held my hand as we walked into the school, and I filled out the necessary paperwork.  Then we took a seat to wait her turn, and she crawled up in my lap to cuddle with me and chatter about the alligators on the wall and the "decorations" with school buses and ABCs.  Then a woman came out of the elementary school library and called her name.  I smiled and waved her over.  She introduced herself as Mrs. Craig.

"Hello, Issabelle.  Would you like to come with me to do some fun stuff and get a special surprise at the end?" she smiled, offering Issa her hand.

And just like that my little girl was off my lap, taking a teacher's hand, and walking away from me without so much as a backward glance.

And just like that....my heart sank a little.  As I watched her walk down the hallway it suddenly dawned on me that our baby is really a little girl now, and sooner than I'd care to admit she is going to be "too big" to want to sit in my lap and chatter at me about school buses and alligators pasted to the walls of a school.

I sat there for half an hour contemplating how big Issa is getting before my thoughts were interrupted by Mrs. Craig's smiling face and Issa's excited chatter.

Issa did very well on her assessment, and it is very likely she will be screened out of Pre-K as our district only provides Pre-K public education to children who need it.

After the assessment Issa and I took a road trip to go pick up my eldest daughter, Ava, from her mom's house.  Ava took Issa to her room to show her the new curtains her grandma and mom got her, and they giggled like little girls are wont to do.

Upon getting in the car, Ava promptly announced, "I like Justin Bieber.  I think he's so handsome."

A few seconds later she followed this up with, "He is fiiiiiiine!"

My heart stopped for a second there.  What?!  First of all, holy cow with a crush on a celebrity already!  Second of all, Bieber? Really?  Nooooooooo!!!!

Then Ava says, "I'm going to be in second grade next year."  And my heart dropped again.  Second grade?  Already?  Yes, I knew she was going into second grade next year, but to hear her say it and say it oh so proudly....oh, yes, my heart hurt a little.  She's so bright, and we are so proud of her and how hard she works at school.  Of course I am incredibly proud that she's going to be going into second grade!  Who wouldn't be?  But my goodness...does it have to go by so quickly?

I knew my brilliant, energetic, giggly girls were going to grow up but I didn't know watching them do it was going to make my heart ache.

I am so grateful for every second we get to spend with them, for every fit of giggles, for every tutu left strewn about our home, for every "Mama Jenn I love you," for every "Daddy is the King because he is the best daddy ever," for every, "Look at this!," and every goodnight kiss--because all too soon these little blessings will pass us by.