Well, today is Ava's LAST DAY in the "baby room" (aka "The Hatchlings") at The Red Barn. Effective Tuesday, she will be in the one-year-old room, and will be a "Chick". It's sad to see her transition to the older classroom, but exciting at the same time. I know that this will be a good thing for her...she will probably start walking and talking more, and learn to be more social. (And if her couple hours there yesterday was any indication, she'll learn some less than desirable traits as well, ie: throwing fantastical fits!)
The thing that is most endearing to me? I was talking to who will be her new teachers, telling them little things about Ava. Like, her nose gets red when she gets tired. She loves to read (and chew on) books. She likes to show off her two bottom teeth (even though she has four top ones). If she is upset, her brother Ryan can make her smile like no other. For some reason, she finds it amusing and fun at the same time to chew on her shoes while they are on. She grinds her teeth. She loves Elmo. She pulls off her socks at every chance she gets. She has a personality. She's a little person.
Part of me doesn't want to believe it, so I can stay in the isle of denial for as long as possible. I want to keep my last baby a baby. But in talking to her new teachers, I realized that she is, in fact, growing up. She's not a baby anymore, she's a little girl. (Be warned: I will very possibly on several occasions in the future, still deny this.) She will always be my baby, just like Ryan is, but I need to let her take her cute little chunky legs and make a run for toddlerhood. The thing I need to remind myself is to enjoy every moment that I have with her, and soak it all up. Before I know it, Ryan will be asking for the keys to the car and Ava will be lacing up her pointe shoes.
God gave me two precious gifts. One will be entering second grade in the fall (!!!) and one will be a "chick".
Guess it really is time for me to let my babies truly hatch and (semi) leave the nest...
