Nakita Grinie

You'll have to excuse me as I add to the many 'Back to School' posts in your feed today. But this is one of those events that feels heavy in my head, like it needs to be blogged immediately to prevent any of the details from sliding away.

Today Truman had his first day of 'junior kindergarten'---which is the same thing as 'pre-school', '4K', 'pre-K', etc. It was the start of something huge, a new chapter in Truman's life and therefore our lives. From this day forward, he is a school-aged boy, one that will be doing this daily routine for the next fourteen years. Don't even mention what will happen after high school, alright? My mommy heart cannot handle the thought of *that* giant transition. We'll stick to the junior kindergarten transition for now.

For two-and-a-half hours today, I had to let my first born go a little bit more than I've ever done before. Sure, he's gone to daycare and has done plenty of 'big kid' activities without me right next to him. Sure, it's only a few hours and the school is literally across the street. Sure, it's something that every mother has to do with their children; letting them go a little bit at a time. It's something that we've been anticipating all summer long and I've been completely excited and not too sad. Today both extremes of emotions hit hard as I waved goodbye to my Truman, and walked home, and let him start his next phase of life.

I knew the morning would be really chaotic, since Nate wasn't able to take off of work and it was all me with the three kids, trying to get us all organized and out of the door by 8:15. I could barely sleep after 5am and just kept going through the check list of things to do before we left: get myself presentable, feed the kids, assist in dressing, take hundreds of pictures, try not to cry, and so on. Truman and Cecelia both slept in until a mind-boggling 7:15 today which gave me time to get dressed and prep for their breakfasts. They came downstairs and Truman was all smiles---I said, 'Today is your first day of school, buddy! I'm so excited!!' and he was, too.

I only had to crack the whip a few times to get the sleepy heads moving in the right direction. Breakfast, clothes on (and he even let ME pick out his outfit today!), brush teeth, and then picture time. I pulled out the photoshopped sign I had made and explained where everything was inside of his beloved backpack. We snapped pictures on the front porch as we watched all of the cars parking on the street, kids and parents walking to school, a flurry of activity and excitement and the start of a new year. I truly cannot believe it's our turn, that we were a part of this milestone today.









(my usual trick of saying 'Don't look at me!!' which usually causes a huge smile, didn't work like I expected. He actually turned away this time!)


(Oh, but then he flashed me this smile. This is SO Truman with that closed mouth grin, dimple, and half squinty eye)


After a few mediocre pictures (his backpack was too heavy with all of the supplies, my sign was way too glossy, CC was getting annoyed, etc) we walked up the street together. Porter was sleeping in the Ergo, Cecelia wouldn't leave Truman's side, and my big boy was practically skipping on the sidewalk. He asked if his friends were there and I spotted a few of the neighborhood moms, happy that five of his classmates are neighbors that we already know.





We got to the crowd and chatted with friends, and then Truman's teacher started coming around to check everyone in and confirm who would pick each child up at the end of the day (ha ha, at 10:55am, I mean).



All of the parents talked about how hot it was, whether or not anyone slept in their houses last night, and how the kids seemed to be handling it. Eventually they all lined up against the brick wall and we were allowed to walk up to the room with them just for today, but usually we will say our goodbyes outside. The moms took turns taking pictures of each other with our kids. My crew in all of their glory, and silly Porter stretching his neck to get a good view of the camera;)


And big boy, lined up outside.




Up in the most adorable classroom ever, the parents read over the instructions on the projector screen: place backpack in cubby, folder in white bin, school supplies on table, and get a name tag. It was totally crazy in there since Truman's class is a HUGE twenty-four students, plus twenty-four nervous/happy parents trying to maneuver their way around the classroom. We found his cubby and his name tag and then T found a spot on the 'square-colored rug' next to some friends. I stood in the back with Porter on my chest and Cecelia at my side and tried really hard not to cry.





The teacher welcomed everyone once they were sitting. She asked them to turn their bodies so their eyes could see her, and one of the kids said, 'But your eyes can't see yourself!' She agreed, and Truman piped in, 'But if you had a mirror, you could see your own eyes.' My brave boy, talking in front of everyone----I know he is going to be just fine;)



Then she said, 'Everyone look at those mommies and daddies back there. Can you give them a wave? And now tell them 'goodbye!'' and they did. My big boy looked right at me, smiled, waved, and blew me a kiss right at the same time I acquired a huge lump in my throat. This was really happening. It was time.

I left the room with my two littlest kids and fought back the tears, yet again. I chatted with some of the other moms and said, 'See you in two hours!', then took Porter and Cecelia home with me. It was a surreal moment in time and one I probably won't forget anytime soon. CC was totally out of sorts at home, asking where Truman was, saying she was 'super tired', being a little whiney and unsure of how to play without her big brother. I eventually took Porter and CC for a long walk because it was just too weird at home, and then we headed right for the playground to wait for mister man. I realized that a few of the trees in our area already have a few orange leaves----back to school, and it's almost Fall. Wow.





We saw the teacher come out first, followed by twenty-four of the most adorable, huge, but tiny junior kindergarteners ever. She went down the line and had each kid give her a high five and/or a hug before they were released to the designated parent. Truman was blowing the little whistle on his backpack, waving to CC and I, and smiling his classic grin. I got a video of him giving the teacher a five AND hug, running over to us, and returning two big hugs from Cecelia. Apparently she missed him more than I knew, hugging him and giving him a leaf as if to say, 'I'm so glad you are back.' It's the cutest video ever, in my humble opinion.



We played on the playground for awhile and I met a few new moms---women that could possibly be a part of my life for many more years now, which is both strange and really awesome to consider. Truman said he met a lot of new friends and they all pretended to be puppies on the playground together (?!). Talk about an oxymoron: seeming SO big and yet obviously still so young at the same time. ;)

Walking back home, Truman and Cecelia wouldn't listen to me and got scolded for refusing to hold hands as we crossed the street. Porter was crying in my arms, I was pushing an empty double stroller, and the emotional fall back was hitting everyone pretty hard at that moment. Cecelia went up for her nap, Porter is now sleeping in my arms, and I got a full report from Truman before his iPad time began.

Apparently they listened to a story told by his teacher, they got to choose between playing with trains, playing house, or playing with blocks---and he chose playing house. They colored, they ate their snacks packed by their parents, and then it was time to get their backpacks from the cubby holes. Pretty fantastic day, it seems.

I am just so proud of my boy. He is going to love school and I think his teacher will love him, too.

I guess I never really understood this big milestone until I went through it myself. It's so awesome and such an amazing event to see your first born growing up, moving forward in the big world, while letting go of him at the same time. It's terribly cliche to say, but I swear I was just taking his monthly baby pictures and posting about him learning to walk on this blog. Wasn't I just making his 'first year' collage? Posting about his second birthday party? Then him becoming a big brother two times? The little boy who made me a mother is now making me a mom with a child in school. Where on earth did the last four years go?

As I looked through the pictures I took this morning, added some text to announce this big occasion with an image that seems to capture his innocence and potential, I realized that this is the next big step. After the weekly and monthly posts about babies growing up, come the yearly 'back to school' posts. The 'end of the school year' pictures will follow, and true summer fun in between. You've read about Truman growing up over the years and here I am, posting about him going to school. Funny how that works, huh?

I've never felt more like a legit MOM than I do right now, you guys. It's such a wild, fast ride and I'm so honored to travel along with my Truman as he enters these phases for the first time. My big boy. What a ride.

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One of my super talented childhood friends (and bridesmaid) Lindsey, is an amazing photographer and owns her own business - Lindsey Koch Photography!  She took our Christmas card pictures and does family portraits, babies, senior pictures, you name it!  Check out her Facebook page here.

Lindsey is so sweet and generous and wanted to help me with my retched cell phone only pictures in posts.  Now we can get some actual photography skill in here with her help of a new section - Fashion Friday!


I think fashion is such a way to express yourself and I absolutely LOVE seeing others personal style.  I have always tried to be creative with what I have (ask my mom - she always brings up my pastel floral jeans with neon penguin sweater combination - but thank you mom for always letting me dress myself and learn the hard way!)  I also get very inspired by other fashion blogs and try to recreate in my own way what they wear.  In no way am I pushing these brands/labels or even styles and I know I am NOT a model. This is just one way I love being creative and love to share!

Not sure I will be proactive and ready to have this for every Friday, but I will try!  Sneak peak below of what is to come!

A few random updates...

1. The kids and I all had colds last week. Nothing too bad really, until Porter woke up from his afternoon nap on Thursday with a red, disgusting, goopy eye. Uh-oh. None of our children have ever had pink eye before, and after consulting Dr. Google I wasn't totally convinced this is what Porter had because the images online were frightening. Porter's eye seemed only slightly offensive compared to the big dogs on le internet, but I still put a call into our doctor's office and Lori said she'd prefer if P stayed home on Friday.

Post-bath, which is the best it looked that night.


Tony is a saint and even when he's sick Porter isn't too difficult these days, so Tony agreed to watch P for me on Friday while I worked. But when Porter woke up that morning, both of his eyes were just totally not right. At all. I won't even discuss the amount of gunk coming out of his eyes and nose but it was horrifying and I knew I had to take him to the doctor.

This was after a solid 5 minutes cleaning up his nastiness. He was not a fan. My poor baby!


The walk in clinic didn't open until 12:30 but luckily my Pediatrician's office finally called back and agreed to squeeze us in at 11:45, even though they had said they were booked when I called the day before. PERFECT. Just had to move patients around to make this appointment happen, but was relieved to see our actual doc. Oh, juggling my job while having a sick kid still ranks as one of my least favorite parts of the gig.



Verdict: probably pink eye. And probably viral. But just in case, we got antibiotic eye drops to treat it. Ears looked great, chest was fine, and Porter was smiling through his crusty eyes, turning on the charm and giving the doctor his best grins.

Not for the camera though, obvi. Way to amp up the 'pathetic baby' face, Port!


Within twelve hours of starting the eye drops, he seemed good as new. Both he and I have continued to have congestion and I personally feel some crazy sinus pain and am sort of losing my voice but overall we're fine. And I'm not so sure he even had pink eye since it got better insanely quick and nobody else in daycare or our friends or our family had it. Whatever! Putting the ointment in his eyes four times per day for a week was pretty awful but at least he seems to have always felt like his normal, happy self. My little trooper.



Note the pulling on the ear which had me freaked about pink eye turning into an ear infection. (also: blueberries)


Seems too happy for an ear infection! His gummy grin is killer, yes? Don't grow teeth and get all big on me, Porter, okay?



2. The in laws had us over for dinner last Sunday night because our power was randomly out for a few hours due to wind or something. Can't complain and I love that they welcome our chaos into their house with open arms. Our kids go nuts for playing with grandparent toys (i.e. Nate's old toys from the 80s). Seeing how much fun our kids have with Nate's old things makes me soften my reserve for donating EVERY toy in this house someday.



But seriously though, how does one tackle the enormity of donating/consigning/passing off all of the baby paraphernalia? I'm not quite ready to start this process but wonder what most people do. How do you even decide what to keep for sentimental reasons, stuff to keep for your kids' kids someday, and what do to with the rest?

3. What is your favorite go-to gift for a new mom? Our neighbor had her baby (their first!) and I made them two of my favorite freezer meals (chicken enchiladas and cheesy quinoa casserole), with two six packs of beer and some biscuits. I'm a big fan of making meals for new moms and usually just make the same two over and over again. I also like the idea of giving the mom a fun little package of treats just for her (maybe like this). But I also can't help but get the new baby a little something, too. It's hard to resist little newborn baby clothes since it will never ever get old to marvel at how TINY they can be. For my neighbor's baby, I had a discount code from Pear Tree Greetings. I went through their gifts and home decor section and selected this adorable personalized book:









These are only a few of the pages, others have the baby's birth weight, birthday, mom and dad's name in there. I love the colorful pages, sweet words, and personalization of this book---something about a 'hello world!' book makes me a little teary and I can't wait to hold this sweet baby soon!

4. Spring is FINALLY starting to make an appearance and we have been loving the crap out of sunny weather in the 50-60 degree range. Do not speak to me about the tease of Wisconsin Spring---a few nice days, then a week of gloomy 30-40 degree weather is our normal. But those warmer days feel like a slice of heaven. It's like everyone is emerging from some deep hibernation, remembering that life can be full of fresh air and sunshine, and EVERYONE seems to be extraordinarily friendly and happy all of a sudden. Like, 'Hi! Isn't it nice to breathe air that won't penetrate your loins with daggers of ice? Let's be friends. Life is good.' This newfound warm air means lots of playgrounds and oh, how we've missed outside physical activity!

All three kids on the swings! (Yes, a baby swing for gigantic Truman, too. He demanded to be next to Porter and I nearly broke my back hoisting his gangly body into this thing, but whatever. Life is good when not hibernating during winter!)


This guy LOVED his first swing experience. I couldn't stop taking videos and pictures because his cuteness was overwhelming. Gahhhhhh, that grin!


One evening after C and P's nap, we went to a different playground (no swings) with Truman riding his bike ahead of the double BOB. I wanted to play around with this concept of transporting three children with one bike + double stroller, instead of the tried and true Bjorn + double stroller. Truman did awesome with his bike for this little adventure but the shortest way to the playground includes a road without sidewalks. And drivers on the road staring at their cell phones. And therefore, a mom having a panic attack while stuck behind a double stroller, visualizing her biggest boy getting hit by a car speeding toward them. If we do this method of transport again, we will be taking the longer way with sidewalks and a nice little trail. Because I am NOT cut out for this type of road trip just yet.


But the playground was worth it;)


And the clouds were ridiculously pretty this evening, almost fake!


SPRING! NO COATS! NO SNOW! YESSSSSSSSSSSS.


That's all for now. This daily blogging thing is super time consuming, huh?

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