First Day of Preschool

Today was Gracie's first day of preschool. I went in to work late so I could take her to school, and the entire experience was a little bit surreal. It didn't seem possible that my baby was ready for a classroom. I was so proud of Nathan when he started...I was excited about that first milestone. But with Grace, I just want to hang on to her and keep her small. As I snapped pictures of her wearing that pink backpack that is bigger than she is, I couldn't help but feel like I was having an out of body experience.

This was someone else's baby traipsing along the parking lot, turning around every few seconds to make sure that I was still coming. Surely this was not my daughter greeting her friends from church and hugging her teacher as she went in the door. This little girl was not a baby anymore...she was a child who has shed all the remnants of babyhood for the strong, straight limbs of childhood.

The first day of preschool. The first milestone of many, and I pray that she reaches each one with as much wonder and excitement as she met this one.