Tears of Happiness and Pride

Today Ryan started at his new daycare/preschool and there were many tears.  However, I am happy to admit that they were all mine!  Tim and I both brought Ryan into the school together, since it was the first day and we were prepared for it to be rough.  It couldn't have gone better!  As we walked him around his new classroom, met his teacher and the other children, Ryan was a little quiet but he did not shed one tear.  I was blinking back tears the entire time - both out of fear for how the day would go, and out of relief that he seemed to be ok with it.  When it was time for us to leave, he waved goodbye and we left the room.  He never said he didn't want to stay, he didn't cling to us and he did not cry.  Not at all.  As we walked down the hallway I broke down.  I was experiencing so many emotions but the overriding emotion was pride.  I was so proud of him for how well he was handling the change....The move in general has been a non event for him!  From the first night he has slept fine and showed no fear or uncertainty being in a new place.  This kid continues to amaze me...

First swim in the new pool!

Goodbye La Petit!

When we decided to move to Ellicott City, one of the hardest parts was acknowledging that Ryan would have to switch preschools.  We had switched him once before, just after he turned 2, and that did NOT go well!  HBowever over time we all grew comfortable with this "new place."  So naturally, we were nervous to say goodbye to the place he had grown to love...to teachers who had become family over the past 2 years...and to all of Ryan's friends that he looked forward to seeing everyday.  It was another extremely emotional moment for me, as I picked up him today I burst into tears as soon as I walked in the door...This place has become so much more than a "daycare" center or even a pre-school.  Ryan has spent more time with the staff and children at La Petit than he spends with us, his own parents.  He has learned SO MUCH there from his teachers - From reading to math to science to manners to speaking properly and being a gentleman.  I know he will be ok, but nonetheless I am sad to say goodbye to his teachers Miss Nicole:

 

and Miss Cookie

and this cast of characters that has become Ryan's best buddies

Ryan presented his teachers with a goodbye card and he chose the words inside himself (Tuesday is his first day the new school)

 

I think that says it all!  Now fingers crossed that Tuesday goes well...

 



First morning at the new house...

And both boys are in heaven!

 

A new beginning

Movin on up!

Today we said Goodbye to our little city house.  A house that was full of SO MANY memories!  I'm not going to lie, the emotions of it all caught up with me as soon as the moving truck pulled up outside.  I choked back tears as we prepared to watch the house be emptied out.  After Tim and the truck had left, I remained at the house to finish up some cleaning and gather the last minute items.  I held it together all afternoon, and then the very last item I took down was a stop sign that Ryan had made and attached to the basement door.  That started the tears again.  As I drove away, I'm not embarrassed to say I sobbed as I remembered our times in that house and in the city.  I was excited to move on, but feeling very sentimental and I let myself feel those emotions....And of course before we left we HAD to take some final photos!

One more Sunday Funday...

We certainly didn't plan to spend our last Sunday in the city doing anything other than hanging out, finishing up packing and cleaning, and just enjoying the house.  But Mike D decided to drive up from Virginia for the day to help us say goodbye to Clinton St and with him he brought some beers to toast the move...and the rest just happened.  Impromptu and unplanned Sunday Funday - Hung out on the stoop while Ryan played on his scooter and colored with sidewalk chalk, Walked down the street (Ryan scootered!) and stopped at Mike McGoverns, met up with my friend Chrissy and then headed further down the street as a group for crabs at Canton Dockside. A fantastic day!

T-7 days!

Almost all packed up and ready to move!