Growing up!

My little girl has officially started preschool!  She did completely fine the first day I left her...walked right up and gave Ms. Lana (who was greeting the kids at the door) a hug, then walked into the room without looking back.  Her second day she did great as well.  She was very excited to show me the picture she colored during school.  It is now hanging on the refrigerator :-)

Cheese!

Austin has entered a new (and painful) phase of life that seems mandatory for most kids now...braces!  I think he was excited to get them, but it didn't take long for him to start counting down how many weeks he has left to wear them if all goes as planned.  He was in quite a bit of pain this first weekend with the braces, but he just told me today that his teeth are starting to feel better.  He'll have a few weeks of relief until they get adjusted again!  I do NOT miss those days myself!  It will all be worth it in the end though.  Here are his before and after pictures:

Little Bluebird

Brianna is officially a Bluebird!  She had her preschool Welcome Days Tuesday and Thursday of this week at our church.  She was very excited Monday night - asked me if she got to get on a bus to go to school.  When I told her that she didn't have to take a bus because I would take her, she said "I don't want you to take me!"  Then she proceeded to keep telling me that she didn't want me to go with her on the way there Tuesday morning.  It was a different story once we walked into the door though.  I thought she would be fine because she is used to being in that classroom every Sunday during church.  I think the number of people was just overwhelming to her.  She teared up and was telling me she wanted to go home for about 10 minutes.  She got more comfortable as we started playing with some toys.  Then the kids all got to sit in a circle for some songs, which she enjoyed.  She especially liked getting her school bag before we left Tuesday morning.  She keeps telling me she wants to put some stuff in it :-)  Here are some pictures from her first day.

Thursday was a whole new day.  She was ready to go to school and excited about singing songs again.  She asked me to take her picture in front of the Bluebird sign again as we walked in, and she played well the whole time we were there.  This coming Tuesday will be the first time I have to leave her there by herself...keeping my fingers crossed that it goes well!!

Waiting patiently for a sticker from Ms. Lana

Growing by two feet!

Austin and Brianna will have a new baby brother or sister in March!  My due date is March 18th, so I am officially 12 weeks along today.  We've had two doctor dr. appointments so far and everything has been great both times!  We shared the news with the kids on August 7th.  Austin's first question was "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"  He wants a brother :-)  Brianna just kind of looked at us like she didn't know what we were talking about.  She understood better than we thought though!  She is actually the one who spilled the beans to her Mama Marianne and Mama Thompson by saying "Mommy has a baby in her belly" before we got a chance to tell them ourselves.  A few days after we told her, Brianna asked me where my baby was.  I said "Well,  you're my baby!"  She asked "Where is your other baby?"  After I told her it is in my belly she said "And when it grows I will hold it, and it will be my sister!"  Guess she understands more than I gave her credit for!  We are all very excited for the new addition to our family!