Thursday, June 18

little fish, big smile

Yesterday was my daughter's last day of nursery school. It was the first time in her little lifetime that she woke up and actually yelled "LET'S GO TO SCHOOL!" And yes, she said it with an exclamation point which for the record looks like a fist-pump in real life. Both her dad and I were kinda confused by this reaction and when I asked why she was so excited to go to school, she said without missing a beat "IT'S THE LAST DAY!"

Once again definitive proof that my child was not switched at birth.

It's hard to believe that the little girl who didn't know how to dress herself back in September now just refuses to dress herself. Before it was "I don't know how" and now it's just "Dressing yourself is for chumps because I know my parents will do it and if they don't, I still have no issues with public nudity." It's also hard to believe that the child who didn't know how to share back in September now knows she is supposed to share. Not that she does it but dammit, she knows it's expected. I love that my daughter is still defiant and that one of her first leaps into conformity / working for the man hasn't broken her spirit.

So for you my child, I play some Alice Cooper and try not to think so hard about how much you've grown up in the past nine months. Come September you will go to a new school filled with big fish and I really believe this last year has prepared you to hold your own. Because as much as I try not to think about it, my job is to arm you with the strength to be an independent and confident fish, even if that means I have to let you explore the oceans without me. Damn it's going to be lonely in this here anemone.


the smile reserved for candy stores and last day of school

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love the photo, love the caption, love her attitude and love the inclusion of entirely appropriate Nemo references.

Elisa @ Globetrotting in Heels said...

LOL - she look adorable! And is clearly very happy. With reason ;-)

Anonymous said...

The last day was always my most enthusiastic day of school too.

for a different kind of girl said...

She is scrumptious! What a grin! She sounds like a take no prisoners, let them eat cake (but only if she shares the corner pieces with me) kind of girl. She should write a book. I could learn a lot from her.

Stimey said...

She is so, so cute. Congrats to her!

Chicky Chicky Baby said...

Holy crap! Look at how much she's grown. She doesn't even look like a baby anymore. She's still scrumptious just not so squishable. Sigh.

Dammit, now I'M getting all teary.

Jeze said...

OH, my hell. She's...shes, BIG. Damn these kids and their insistence on growing up.

Ali said...

Isabella woke up chanting "last day of school! last day of school! last day of school!" this morning..
oh yes, and she and gigi? would get along swimmingly. ha.

Lisa Jo Rudy said...

Oh wow, this IS the power of small, isn't it? my daughter at 3 was a top-notch tumbler, but flat out refused to stand in land for her turn to do back somersaults. Tough gals, our daughters!

Lisa

petite gourmand said...

love this post and this photo.

Heather said...

Love the smile! Last day smiles are always the best!

Kyla said...

Awww! Happy belated last day, Gigi!

Heather said...

Adorable, that Gigi.

Tania said...

Wow she's changed since I started reading this blog. So big! Congrats to y'all.

Jess said...

She looks more and more like you, K.
She's a bonny thing!

musingwoman said...

What a cutie! That smile would win anybody over.

karengreeners said...

OHMYLORD - Gigi is looking SO much like her adorable mama!

I love how you describe their uh, reluctance to getting dressed. It's the same at our place. Princesses. Ugh.

mamatulip said...

Julia and I talked about her last day of school this morning on the way to the bus stop and she started to cry.

Heh.

I know exactly where Gigi is standing in your pad. ;)

Anissa Mayhew said...

Awww, that couldn't possibly be the face of a cat-taper!!

she's seriously teh cutest, Katie

And want me to totally depress the living shit out of you? My firstborn is going to midddle-freaking-school this year.

j.sterling said...

LOL this cracked me up.. she is too cute!

Amo said...

She has her mommy's beautiful smile!

I can't WAIT to see you next month.

My oldest starts kindergarten next month! (Yes, next month...it's year-round here. Ug.)

Mandy said...

She is absoloooootely gorgeous.