Fourth Grade

Tomorrow I'll walk into our local elementary school and drop my Bitty Boo off for fourth grade.  I'm not really good at that kind of thing... you know, milestones and such.  I will cry and not want to leave.  She will smile her reassuring smile and nudge me out of the door.  

All day long I'll wonder what she is doing and how her day is going.  I'm leaving her in a familiar place with someone who is a stranger to us both.  It seems a little odd that each year we get a only a few minutes to "meet the teacher"... the teacher we are entrusting our child to for the next nine months.  

Does this teacher know how special my girl is?  Does she know that my Lexie girl wears her heart on her sleeve?  Does she know that praise speaks volumes and criticism crushes her spirit?  Does she know what her eyes look like when she doesn't feel good?  Does she know she is my heart and soul?  Would she understand if I tried to tell her?

So many questions and only times holds these answers.  So many fears and unknowns.  So much blind trust... faith, if you will.

Tomorrow I'll walk into our local elementary school and leave a piece of my heart in fourth grade... and I'm just not quite ready for that yet.

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My Precious Girl,

Tomorrow as you start fourth grade, it is my hope for you that you open your heart and mind to new hopes, new dreams, new possibilities.  I hope your days are filled will laughter and learning.  I pray that you find beauty in the new knowledge you will gain and show pride in your work.  I dream for peaceful school days in a place that you feel loved, valued, and safe.  I pray that above all else, you will always be kind.  God has given you a gift to feel deep compassion for others.  I hope that you never deny that gift and that you reach out to those who many need a friend.  I pray without ceasing that you remember that who you are in Christ's eyes far exceeds who you are in the eyes of your best friend, your teachers, and even myself.

Tomorrow you take another step towards a future of independence.  But with each step forward, please remember that at the end of the day you come home to a place where it is okay to fall back... fall into the arms who love you.  A place where you don't have to be "mature" or "cool".  A place where we don't care what you wear or who you play with at recess.  A place where you are loved unconditionally.  You will find this year, and in the years to come that having this "place" is invaluable.  Because feelings will be hurt, hearts will be broken, and bad grades will come.  You will need this constant.   Please never be afraid to talk to us, share with us, let us love you.

Being your mother continues to be one of my greatest joys in this lifetime.  There is nothing you could ever do to make me feel differently.  Bitty, Mommy loves you so very much.  I am in awe of the young lady you are becoming.  I will never understand how I could have been a part of making something so miraculous... so wonderful!  But here you are... and I could not be prouder.

So tomorrow my precious angel, walk into fourth grade, and just be you!  The beautiful wonderful you that God created you to be!  I carry your heart, my sweet baby girl... I carry it in my heart!

I love you,

Mommy

More Hair

My sweet girl, Lexie, has come to expect some type of "fancy" hair for every occasion now.  I'm not all that great at doing hair.  That's more my mom's department.  So when she came to me on Thanksgiving and asked what type of hairstyle I was going to give her for the day, it threw me for a loop.  I had nothing prepared.  I decided to go with something simple since I didn't have lots of time to do a hairstyle, and this is what we came up with!

I had seen a "knot" hairstyle on Pinterest that we had tried one night.  It took a long time, and I had yet to perfect it.  So I took that and simplified.

First, I parted off a little bit of hair in the front.  Then, I split it into two sections and tied it (like the first part of tying your shoes).  Next, I grabbed some more hair to add to each section and tied it again.  After that "knot" I put in a clear ponytail holder and called it good.  Her hair stayed great and she loved it.  The best part was it only took me about 3-5 minutes!

I think we'll do this one again.  Cute, easy, and a great alternative to the normal "half up and half down" that I do to keep the hair out of her face.

 

You're Eight Today

An excerpt from the journal I write to Lexie.  This was written shortly before her first birthday.
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In about 45 minutes you will be turning one!  I cannot believe your first birthday is already here.  It's hard to imagine that it has been a year since I first held you in my arms.  It seems like it was last week that I brought you home from the hospital, and now you are so big and you can walk and laugh and joke.  You are a little girl instead of a baby girl now!  Wow!  I'm so amazed.  It is such a bittersweet moment for me as you turn one tomorrow.  I am happy to see you grow and learn, but I miss the days of having a bitty baby.  

Lexie, I am so proud of you each and every day.  Not only do you bring a smile to my face, but you also bring smiles to the faces of many others.  You are so smart... just simply amazing!  Everything about you is above and beyond brilliant, and you are only a year old.  

I can tell already you have a bright future ahead of you.  (Your personality alone will see to that.)  I look forward to watching you learn more and more.  It never ceases to amaze me!

Lexie, I love you so much.  I am blessed every day over and over because of you.  Thank you for giving me the best year of my life.  I look forward to a lifetime of happiness because of you!

Happy Birthday My Love!

XOXO
Mommy

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I'm still so amazed by you!  Your personality draws people to you.  Your beautiful smile makes others smile.  Your compassionate heart puts people at ease.  You have proven in eight years that you have the ability to change lives... for you have forever changed mine!   I have witnessed you do such great things in your short time here on this earth, and I have no doubt you are just getting started.  I pray that you will continue to let the light of Jesus shine through you, and that you will trust in Him always.  Words are not enough to express my feelings for you.  My precious daughter... my Bitty Boo... the child I never knew I wanted, and the child I couldn't live without.  You have made me a better person, and I can only hope that I am also doing that for you.  My love for you is like no other.  The bond we share, so unique.  There is a part of my heart that beats just for you.  Lexie Loree... you are the most precious gift from God.


Happy 8th Birthday, Bitty!

Second Grade... Here We Come!

It seems like only yesterday when Josh and I were cuddled in bed, feeling Hadlie move inside my tummy, tears streaming down our faces, clearly not ready to send our babies to kindergarten.  Now here we are... two years later.

 

Lexie's first day Kindergarten

 Jacob's first day of Kindergarten

Tomorrow Lexie and Jacob will begin second grade.  It's hard to believe that time has flown by so quickly.  It's hard to believe how much they've grown in the past two years.  They look different. They act different.  They have different interests.  They are no longer "little kids".  They are maturing into "big kids".  Again, I am not ready.

I am able to deal with Jacob changing and growing more easily than I am with Lexie.  I think that is due to the fact that since the beginning he has gone back and forth between houses.  Josh and I miss things.  His mother and step-father miss things.  The relationship between us all leaves much to be desired so we have never all been there for anything, and often times new accomplishments and daily happenings are not shared by either party.  One of the many tragedy's of a "broken home" and our inability to look past ourselves.  


However, I have watched him grow and change so much.  Especially this past summer.  He has progressed leaps and bounds.  At the end of the day it is my prayer that this progress will be nurtured by his teacher and continued throughout the year.  Josh and I have committed to helping as needed with the PTA at his school as well as in his classroom.  We have gotten him a phone so that throughout the week we are able to text or call him to see how his day was.  We are really making an effort to try to give him all that Lexie and Hadlie get from us.  We want to be able to be a part of these moments even if it is only in a small way.  Second grade will change him just like the past two years did.  God is working through Jacob in many ways right now, and I could not be more excited to see what this year brings for him!

Sending Lexie to school is a little harder for me.  Every year it is so bittersweet.  I'm filled with pride at the brilliant girl that she has become.  However, I don't think a mother ever gets used to sending her baby off somewhere.  There is always that small twinge of heartache when I realize that I will be missing precious moments of her growing, changing, learning.  Moments I used to witness all of.  Moments I was unprepared to face eight years ago as a young scared mother have now become moments I'm unprepared to give up to someone else.  One of life's many ironies...

I teared up finding out who Lexie's teacher was and again when meeting her.  I have no doubt that tomorrow will be tear filled too.  I will, once again, be handing my Bitty Boo over to someone else for the majority of her waking hours.  A place that Lexie so dearly loves.  A place filled with friends, laughter, and learning.  All things that fill Lexie's spirit.  And I'll wait eagerly to pick her up to find out all of the exciting things that happened... which from Lexie is less about what they learned and more about what happened at recess!

Tomorrow I will be placing my trust in Mrs. Hackett (Lexie's teacher) and Mrs. Auten (Jacob's teacher) and their schools.  I will trust that they will not only teach them everything they need to know, but that they will do so in a way that shows my children love, acceptance, and grace when needed.  I'll trust that they will be encouraged and challenged to be the best people they can be.  And I will hope and pray that they will build friendships that stand the test of time.  That they will be accepted for who they are.  That they are brave enough to stand up for others, and that others will stand up for them.  I pray that they will show all those they meet kindness and respect.  That their heart for Jesus will outweigh their desire to give into peer pressure.  

Part of my heart will be in second grade tomorrow... I just hope the other part can handle that! 

 Lexie at 2nd Grade "Meet the Teacher"

Jacob at 2nd Grade "Meet the Teacher"

Attention Prairie Trail Parents

I copied and pasted this from an e-mail I received!  Hope you can help! 

 

The Shops at Highland Village is pleased to announce our inaugural school rewards program,

”It’s Elementary!” Between August 19 and October 13, Prairie Trail has a chance to

earn up to $3,000!

 

The program is as easy as 1-2-3. Here’s how:

1. Simply shop at any retailer at The Shops at Highland Village. At the time of purchase, the store associate will provide you with a duplicate receipt. Write “Prairie Trail Elementary” on the receipt and drop it in the “It’s Elementary!” box at the store.

2. Your school sales will be tracked during the 8-week rewards program.

Weekly results will be posted on our website and Facebook page.

3. At the end of the rewards program, schools will receive a donation based upon

points-per-student. Points are accumulated through purchases and other opportunities

as outlined on the website.

 

Schools will be awarded:

1st Place: $3,000 2nd Place: $2,000 3rd-5th Place: $1,000 All Others: $500

(Only 10 schools were allowed to participate so we have a 1 in 10 chance to earn $3,000!!)

 

 

It’s Elementary Kick-Off Double Points  Shopping Day Opportunity

Earn Double points for your school when you turn in receipts from the following Shops at Highland Village retailers between August 19 – August 21 (Tax Free weekend):

·         Brilliant Sky Toys & Books

·         Children’s Place

·         Adventure Kids Playcare

·         Janie & Jack

·         Justice

·         Stride Rite

·         Gymboree