Silly Jilly: Sunshine Days

Happy First Day of School to everyone!  Today was Jillian's first day in a new class, the Sunshine class!  

We have been talking up her new class for quite some time now because Jillian does better at adapting to something when she knows it is coming (don't all kids?!).  So at school and at home, we've been talking to her a lot about how much fun she's going to have in her new class and how much she is going to learn.  

In order to be ready for the big day, we told Jillian that she would get to wear a pretty, new dress and fun, new shoes to her first day of Sunshine.  She was very excited to get to put on her purple dress and purple shoes from Grandma, Grandpa, and Auntie Manda.  And of course, Bubsy had to dress up too!  Don't they look so cute?!

I think the new dress/shoes thing worked because Jillian was excited to go to school this morning.  We stopped for a quick picture in front of the school.  

It's funny because it feels like her first day of a new class happened just yesterday.  While her smile and her hands-on-the hips pose may be the same, she has gotten so much bigger and smarter since this same time last year (and so much more full of personality).

Then it was time to head in.  We went to her class first, but she decided that she'd rather go drop Bubs off instead.

Alex just recently transitioned into his new class, but it's been a little bit of a rough transition for him.  For the first week, he would cry everyday we left him.  He is adjusting better now, and I think it's because we get him there right on time to sit down and eat breakfast, and he loves eating.

Bubsy in his chair, ready to eat!

I was a little worried that taking Bubs first was just a stall tactic by Jillian to avoid going into her new class.  We stopped for a picture in front of her new door and she still seemed happy and excited.

Once we got into her class, I could tell that she got a little nervous.  But I was fully prepared for this so I had saved one last surprise for her.  I got her a Minnie Mouse that could be clipped onto her backpack.  I took it out, put it on, and told her that now she could have a little Minnie Mouse with her all day at school.  I told Jillian that Minnie was excited to get to be in the Sunshine class and that she would learn, listen, and be right there with her every step of the way in her new class.  It seemed to be just the extra little support she needed to turn the nervousness into excitement.  (#momwin)

After a few twenty kisses and hugs, she went and sat down, ready to start her new adventure with her new teachers.  She started learning the new song and dance right away.

Truth be told, I stood outside her door and watched her for a few minutes.  Half of me was wanting to make sure that she was ok, and the other half of me was wanting to make sure that I was ok.  After a few tears in my eyes, and after seeing her settle right back into school, it was time to leave her in the care and trust of her new teachers.

Silly Jilly, you have a lot of Sunshine Days ahead of you!  We can't wait to see all the new things you will learn in your new class.