Ashley's First Day of Preschool

Ashley just completed her first week of Preschool on Friday at the Child Development Center at UTSA.  She did great! It has been a rough week emotionally (mostly on us) and Ashley has adapted quite well.   On her first day (November 1st) , she didn't cry, but I went to work with mascara-stained cheeks.  I didn't let her see me cry, I held it in until I walked out of the door.

When we arrived, she was so excited and ran right for the sea animal toys.  "Look Mommy, they have a little Shamu!" were her first words.  We were planning to be there for the first hour to get her acclimated, but there was no need for that.  A quick kiss and hug and me saying over and over again, "I love you, goodbye.  We're going to work now".  I must have stared at her from the little peekaboo window into the classroom for at least 20 minutes just observing her little actions.  She didn't notice me, but I watched her as she walked away from the sea toys and some of her new classmates, to go and do some puzzles on her own, looking up every so often to see who came in the room, or just observe the teacher and children.  I constantly wondered what was going on her mind. She certainly was taking it all in, and my heart was breaking because all I could see was my little baby Ashley.  (ughh, tearing up as I type this....still rough....I am going to be a mess when she starts REAL school).  Anyhow, her first day was good other than her saying at dinner that night that she didn't like her teacher (only to tell us later in the week that she does in fact like her...thank goodness!)  Then to wake up on Tuesday morning puking from 5am until about 9am!  Paul stayed home with her that day.  We haven't quite figured out whether it was nerves or just a virus, but she was only sick for the morning part of Tuesday and was back to school on Wednesday.  She did well during naptime on Wednesday, ate all of her lunch and started a little "journal".  She likes circle time, and came home on Friday singing songs in Spanish ("Cinco y Cinco es Diez")!  So all in all, we've adjusted well and are happy that she is liking school.  We knew she was ready, but it is just really hard knowing that our little girl is going to "school" now and before you know will be starting kindergarten.  Thankfully we still have about 2 years for her in Preschool since she is missing the cutoff and will start Kinder when she is about 6, so she's still our "baby" for a little bit longer!! :) I'll take what I can get.  Attached below are some photos on the front porch from her first day...new Tinkerbell backpack and all!

My crazy girl is ready for the day!
(check out the "doggie eyes" watching her in the doorway)

"if you are a good girl getting ready for school, you can have a piece of Halloween candy"
(that explains the Dum-Dum in hand)

Walking with Daddy to school.... (my big girl)