Ella

Ella Bella has had a big girl week!  Yesterday Ella had her first (not full) day of preschool.  I was a nervous wreck!  Ella hadn't wanted to talk about school at all and anytime I mentioned it she would say quietly, "I'm not going to school."
 

The night before school she slept soundly while I watched over my baby girl who has grown up so quickly.

 

When Lilly asked her in the morning if she was excited about her first day of school Ella said, "No, I'm not going."

Yet she never protested as I got her dressed and ready.  I have learned to say less so we didn't discuss school at all other than the fact that I'd be right down the hall in a parent meeting the whole time.  She posed by our first day of school tree...

 

And she shyly smiled when we arrived. 

 As we were walking in she said to me, "Mommy I've been very scared.  Now I'm a little scared."

This kid breaks my heart.  Such a sweet soul.  She went into her classroom easily and started playing with playdoh.

 She liked the kitchen and baby dolls too.

 Puzzles were a hit as well.

 

When it was time for me to leave I kissed her and told her I'd be back soon.  She grabbed me and said, "NO" with a panicked look on her face.  Right then one of her teachers swooped in and said, "Ella, did you see all the baby dolls?!" and moved her aside.  Ella looked at me and said quietly, "Ok" and I knew I was safe to go.

We had a parent meeting and when I returned to her classroom she was so happy to see me and told me she "loved" school.  What a relief!  She told me all about the Clifford book they read and all the activities she did.  Tomorrow is her first real day as she'll stay the entire 2.5 hours.  I'm confident she'll do well and continue to love it.

Today was Ella's first day of gymnastics.  Again, I wasn't sure she'd separate from me but she did and she loved it as well!  I'm so proud of our baby girl.

 Ella is such a little rule-follower which is really nice after our spunky rule-challenger (whom we also adore but it's more of a challenge to watch!).  She also got in line last for every activity which cracked me up.  And she waved to us the whole time as we waited behind glass upstairs.  Luke stood on a chair and watched her the whole time and Ella waved shouting, "Hi Lukey!!!!" over and over.  They are best buds.

When she finished she was so excited shouting, "I did it Mommy, I did it! I'm so proud I did it!"  It's bittersweet for me.  She's always been my reserved and quiet little girl and now she's spreading her wings.  I'm so happy for her but sad for me at the same time!