About to start PRESCHOOL!

I am so thrilled that we found such an amazing preschool.  It's a co-op and has a long history of being a really special place for families. There's a pretty huge time commitment on the parents behalf, Makena will attend 3 mornings a week and I go with her one day a week to be a work parent. (Parents are also welcome to attend any other days their children are there, which I appreciate!) There are also twice monthly night meeting for the parents to attend, in addition to holding a board job and helping out on required maintenance days. And we'll participate in the Fall and Spring fundraiser events.

I'm excited to become a part of this community and I know Makena will do awesomely and get so much out of it! Everyone is so friendly and talks about how it will become such a close-knit group of families. I love how everyone is ready to step up and help with anything. We met her teacher and Makena cried when we went home, she can't wait to start and has been counting down the days. She woke up this morning and said "I need to go take down a ring, I have 5 days left until preschool!!"

Last night was the parent orientation and Pam and I spent 3 hours being overwhelmed with details. We picked a board job, we're on the Spring Auction committee which sounds really fun. I wanted to sign up for something that takes place after fall/winter so that hopefully we'll be at least slightly adjusted to life with 2 kids by then. ;) We also voted to approve the budget and got our key to the school and helped staple name tags on the cubbies. When I saw Makena's cubby I got teary eyed. It just seems like such a huge milestone!

I'm curious to find out when/how dropping off Makena will go. Pam and I are both going with her the first day, and then the next day is my work day, but the following week we'll see if she feels ready to be there without me. I don't know what I'll do with myself if she doesn't need me. I know most parents look forward to that, but I seriously don't know what I'll do. I have a feeling I'll be sitting in the car reading and counting down until it's time to get her! Obviously I want Makena to feel comfortable and safe, and I want to be able to trust that she's okay without me. Especially because I want this transition to be smoothed over before the baby is born. But for only 3 hours it seems like a waste of time/gas to drive all the way home and then go back. It's not far, just 6 miles, but it's the next city over and with traffic can be a longer drive. We'll see what I end up doing! If I had the money I'd totally sign up for a nearby prenatal yoga class or something during that time.

As we near the end of this chapter of Makena and I being together 24/7, I just feel so overwhelmingly grateful that we have the relationship that we do. My dreams came true when she entered my life, and they continued to come true every day we spent together that I didn't have to send her off to daycare. I am so glad I've been able to raise her the way I wanted to!

Summer photos

We've been having a lot of fun at Great America with our season passes. Makena even rode the kiddie roller coaster! The first time we went she wanted to, but then said no. Then waited in line a bit, then said no. As we left she said next time she would try it. She kept talking about it at home. So then we went with my mom one day, and Makena and Pam got on the very short line and she went on! I was certain she'd panic before actually sitting down. It goes around the track twice, and on the second time she even raised her hands on the little hills. Not the big hill, as you can see she was a tad nervous on that part! She was SO proud when she got off, but hasn't wanted to ride it again.

Her favorite is the little bumper cars. One time she went on them and got stuck with a car that was facing a wall, and spent the whole time trying to get going. Finally someone bumped her as she was stepping on pedal and had the wheel turned the right way, and she was so excited that she got unstuck. Then a couple seconds later the ride was over and she burst into tears. :( She also really likes the two story carousel, and that's one of the few rides I can go on with her since I'm restricted from even the lamest little rides! The Snoopy ice show and kid magic show are other favorites. It's been nice to go for free and have a few hours there.

Probably the very best part is the splash park at the entrance to Boomerang Bay (which is conveniently inside Great America!) We haven't even gone inside the water park portion yet, but she loves the fountains and has such a blast! We're planning to go spend an afternoon with bathing suits and everything soon.

Makena had to miss the bus ride field trip and I wanted her to get to ride the bus, then one day our friends suggested we take the bus to get lunch! She's so used to being in the stroller, and since I use it so often it's kinda become annoying when she won't walk anywhere. Then again, she's so slow and I'm a fast walker, so I get frustrated and take the stroller places that I know she CAN walk, just for my own sanity. Plus I hate carrying anything and love storing stuff in the stroller. Anyways, she rode her balance bike from our apartment to the park, which was fine. Then rode to the bus stop, and complained that she was too tired even though her friends were on their scooters way ahead. And then she fell, and scraped her knees, and we were rushing to catch he bus. The bus ride was fine, but I think a stroller is really easier!!

My dad built an awesome coop for the chickens, we stop by and have fun feeding them treats.

We went berry picking and got ollalieberries, blackberries, and raspberries, and then I made a yummy pie. Makena refused to even try the berries. She's so strange with the things she'll not try!

On the 4th of July we went to Cupertino for the kids parade, and Makena rode her bike the whole time around the park! It helped that Grandmo was there.

We watched fireworks at Shoreline from the lawn at Google, like we've done the past 2 years. It always works out wonderfully!

We've been spending a lot of time at various parks. Here Makena was being grumpy because she couldn't sit on the tree without slipping down. Oh it can be so tough to be 3!

A new Panera opened up within walking distance to us, and we love to go for breakfast. She picked this up and said "I see a shiny knife and me!"

In mid July we celebrated half birthdays! Two 3.5 year olds and one 6.5 year old! Yay for January babies!

One of Makena's most played with toys is her kitchen of course, but specifically this set of cupcakes that you decorate with markers that say "icing" and make the sprinkles. She pulls out her cash register and sells me cupcakes.

We've been making pizza often. Such a delicious fun easy dinner!

She'll also pull out board games and set them up and ask me to play. How can I say no to this adorable face! She's so sweet. She gives me blue because it's my favorite color.

We went to watch the movie Wreck-it Ralph that was playing in the park. My parents joined us and Makena had fun running around while waiting for it to be dark.

My heart is bursting at the seams with love for her!!!!

Some Saturdays we join Pam for her afternoon soccer classes. And sometimes Makena will join in.

Hanging out with Snoopy!

After much too long of a break we've been seeing Makena's buddies again! I'm sure once school starts we won't again for a while, but they always have so much fun together.

Possibly the cutest best photo ever!

Makena's been able to feel the baby kick a couple times, and the other day she put some toys on my belly and was laughing over the baby playing with them as they bounced.

We spent a day at a community pool with family. Makena loves the pool!

With her Grandmo and cousins.

With my sister, her aunt.

One of the biggest changes this summer has been that for one, Makena has weaned completely, and two, for the past week Pam has put her to bed. Makena's been requesting that Mama rock her in the chair, and then she falls asleep. It's easier than me laying next to her in bed, but I do miss her falling asleep in my arms. I'm grateful that she has this ability now, it's going to be helpful once the baby is here. But it still makes me sad. The whole growing up thing is so bittersweet.

When I go to bed I often have to scoot her over to her side, and then I see at her precious face and her little body that isn't as little as it used to be. I get overwhelmed with love and gratitude and all these huge emotions. All these same worries and fears that I had when she was a little newborn baby and I was afraid she'd be taken away from me somehow. I assumed that would fade away at least a bit, I knew as a mom I'd always feel that worry, but I thought she'd get older and I'd... I don't know... just stop thinking about it. And I don't think about it too much! Nightly though, as I lay next to her warm and cozy self, I feel so strongly how enormous she is. When parents say that their kids are their life, this is what they mean. She is my absolute entire life, and that's wonderful and frightening at the same time!

And soon we'll have another baby to obsess over and worry about.

Sigh.