Saturday, June 27, 2009

Ashton goes to school... A short story by Ashton's mommy.






Yes, my little man is growing up. Daddy and I decided a while back that we wanted to start Ashton at a day school when he turned two. It has been just he and I and, before that, it was just he and Nanny Laura. So, we agreed that it would be so wonderful for him to be able to socialize with some other little cuties his same age, as well as develop his social skills (i.e. sharing, interacting, the way a school day will go, being away from mommy, etc.) Not that he is lacking in these areas; he does quite well when he is with other little ones. Actually, one of the main reasons was that he was really starting to get separation anxiety when we would leave him in the church nursery. He would actually still be crying and clinging to the nursery sitter when we would go to get him after church was over. Not good. OK, so the wonderful day school that we really like (coincidentally the church that we attend; St. Luke's Methodist) has a waiting list. A long one. However, there were openings for their summer session. And even though Ashton won't be two until August, Daddy and I decided to take the plunge and enroll our little man for summer. Well... as the days led up to his first day, I was the one developing anxiety! I had NO idea it would be so hard for me!! The crying started about three days before his first day. I had so many fears; fear that he would wonder where I was and why I wasn't coming back to get him...fear that the teacher wouldn't console him if he was crying or upset...fear that the other kids would leave him out...fear that he would be lost in the mix of screaming, crazed children and would get no attention, etc. Yeah, lots of totally irrational fears. (I seriously hope other moms have felt this way and this is not a pre-cursor that I am going to be a psycho worry wart mom.) The first day came, and I was up about two hours before anyone else. Heart racing, sweaty palms, upset stomach. I packed and re-packed his lunch box and "pack-pack". I ironed three different outfit choices. When Ashton woke up, I spent some special quiet time with him, rocking and reading books. I kept thinking, "Poor little guy. He has no idea what he's in for today." I dressed him and re-dressed him, finally settling on outfit number one...pausing for hundreds of kisses and hugs throughout the process. I arranged for Daddy to stay at home with Emory so that I could stay as long as Ashton needed me in his classroom. His big, scary, smells like pine sol covering up the smell of throw up, over stimulating, cold classroom. We loaded up, said our goodbye's to Daddy and Emory and headed out. I cried silently in the front seat most of the way. I would wipe my eyes every so often and look at Ashton in the rear view mirror and reiterate how wonderful and great and fabulous SCHOOL was going to be. Putting great emphasis on SCHOOL. He looked at me like I was crazy. We got to the school, and I unloaded him, put his "pack-pack" on his back, and grabbed his lunch box...all with trembling hands. We got to his classroom. "Here we go", I thought, "No turning back." Well... the child RAN into the classroom and immediately starting playing with playdoh! "Well, at least he doesn't hate it right off the bat. But just wait till I leave", I thought. I put up his lunch box and backpack and introduced myself to the teacher. The room was not huge. It smelled nice. It wasn't cold. I warned the teacher that he was going to freak out when I left. I suggested that I just quietly sneak out. She giggled and told me to go give him a kiss and tell him goodbye. She assured me that she would be ready to cuddle him if he got upset. So, I went over to where he was playing and gave him a big kiss and told him that I was leaving. He looked up at me and said, "Bye bye Mama!!", turned around, and ran off to play. The end.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Houston to Orlando to Tallahasse to Tampa to Houston!

Last month, we had quite the whirlwind trip to Florida. Aunt Emmy (my sister, Emily Anne) graduated from UCF! We started our trip with her graduation in Orlando. Grammie and Papa put everyone up in a gorgeous villa for weekend. We had a wonderful time visiting with GGdad, GGma, Aunt Lori (my Godmother), my parents, and Emily and Zach. Emily chose to go to "Medevil Times" for her graduation dinner, and man, I wish I had pics from that! Ashton got SO into it, and was clapping and yelling go! go! go! as the knights rode their horses and competed in different tournaments. It was hilarious. Only my family would go to medevil times (with my grandparents in tow!), wear ridiculous paper crowns, eat drumsticks off of metal plates and get seriously competitive about our knight winning. Wow. At any rate, the day after Emily graduated, it was Mother's day. John, my dad, and GGdad got up and fixed all the ladies breakfast, and they had cards and flowers for all of us. It was really sweet. After we enjoyed our wonderful pancake breakfast, we got all packed and loaded and headed to Tallahassee. On the way to see Aunt Emmy graduate!




Papa and Emory







Grammie, Aunt Lori and GGma



Three generations




Sisters




Aunt Lori and Emily Anne



Mom, Emily, Me



Aunt Emmy and Uncle Zach




PROUD parents and the graduate




Ashton and Daddy



Emory Anne











After our wonderful weekend in Orlando, we headed up to Tallahassee to continue our Mother's day celebration with John's family. We met everyone at Mary Liz's house (also known as Aunt Izzy) and cooked out and hung around the pool. Ashton, of course, stayed in the pool the entire time we were there and did NOT want to get out when it was time to head to Monticello. Emory loved getting carted around in the pool by Aunt KK, Aunt Izzy, and her cousins Suzanne and Kelly. We had a wonderful time and loved spending time with our fam. Cousins!



Emory testing out the water with Aunt KK



Mamaw opening her Mother's Day gift





Cousin Riley and fiance Jenna




Sweet cousins




Aunt KK and Mamaw




Aunt KK being silly




Haley and Aunt Debbie




Daddy and Emory






Aunt Angie and cousin Haley




Emory sunbathing on Kelly :)




Cousins Kelly and Emory




Ashton and one of his best buds, Uncle Tripp





Sweet Haley Nicole

Ashton




Aunt KK and Emory

Aunt KK, Aunt Izzy, Haley and Emory
We left Tallahassee and headed down to Clearwater Beach on Thursday, for Katie and Kyle's wedding. Katie is one of my oldest and dearest friends, and I was so anxious and excited to get to the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater and start celebrating! John was super dad and took over most (and I mean MOST) of the kid duties, while I did wedding "stuff". (showers, brunches, etc.) He and the kids spent most of their time at the pool area, where Ashton perfected wearing his swimmies. Grammie and Papa (my mom and dad) arrived on Friday, offering John some relief just in time for the rehearsal dinner. Aunt Jordan and Aunt Tots arrived on Saturday, and we had a fabulous time celebrating Katie and Kyle's union. Ashton served as ring bearer and did awesome! The funniest moment was when Katie (looking absolutely stunning) walked down the aisle with her dad, and Ashton looked up at her and exclaimed, "WHOA!" So funny! Aunt Lori and Steph (my Godmother and Godsister) came to the resort and babysat the munchkins during the wedding. It was such a treat to have so many people that I love in one spot, at one time.
Aunt Jordan, Ashton and Papa

Ashton and the boys
Headed to the reception!

Grammie and Emory


Daddy and Ashton





Emory Anne and Papa poolside

Guerrin and Suzanne... Bridesmaids

Emory enjoying her brunch

Kates and I





Marlene and Katie - Mother and Daughter




We presented her with a scrapbook filled with photos and notes from all of us.
Bride, bridesmaids, flower girls, and brunch hostesses



Getting beautified
Guerrin!
SUCH a beautiful bride


Ashton getting down at the reception
Ashton, mommy and Aunt Jordan

My mom and dad


conning Aunt Jordan into giving him Sprite

JAT and JAK



The babysitters




We capped off our trip with a little family get together at my Aunt and Uncle's house in St. Pete. After a wonderful visit with my Gdad and Gma (known as GGdad and GGma to Ashton and Emory), Uncle Chris, Aunt Joyce, cousin Nikki and her son Ricky and husband Ron, we were off to the Tampa airport to head HOME! Such a wonderful trip... Ashton with Grammie and Great Uncle Chris
Emory Anne and my cousin, Nikki

GGma, Ashton, Grammie and Emory







Ashton and his GGdad