Summer is Almost Over

I can tell! The wind has a slight chill to it in the afternoon, darkness falls earlier, the leaves have fallen of the buckeye tree, and I had to set an alarm instead of using Fiona as one. Do any other parents do that? Sleep until their child wakes them up and drags them out of bed? Fiona likes to dress me and I wonder if I am the only one? I think she is going to grow up thinking she has a lazy mommy who always asks for five more minutes. Or maybe the tables will turn and I will be the chipper morning person while she will hide her head under a pillow.

Anyway, even though students do not return until next Tuesday (so a week from today) I am back at work. I had a training yesterday and one today, two meetings tomorrow and a “prep” day on Friday that will involve listening to the superintendant for an hour, then a faculty meeting, then a department meeting, then maybe some prep time if the person I share the room with lets me use the computer. That was a long sentence, but it feels like a long week. Also tonight is a meeting at Fiona’s preschool (she’s doing excellently and brought home more art today) and my parents’ anniversary plus my father’s and my friend Shelley’s birthday! Like I said, a long busy week. At least I did a lot of the work for the first day of school already. I’ve been working on stuff for over a week now. I think I’m ready for that day! Yay! I even have my outfit picked out.

I did not have a chance to purchase a present for my parents yet. I know what I want to get, I just have to get to the store to do it. I’ve been planning for a long time, just haven’t executed said plan. Instead, I will make them a nice dinner tonight at my house so they can watch Fiona and put her to bed while John and I go traipsing off to the preschool meeting.

Like I said before, I had to set an alarm today and wake Fiona just before leaving so I could say goodbye to her. She was already sort of awake anyway. It was 7am. She has been sleeping later and later, but taking slightly shorter naps. John had to drop her off and my mom picked her up. It was exciting for all, except me, who now misses her! Sniffle sniffle.

Here are some photos from the last few days. I anticipate that I will not have a lot of time to blog in the coming month, so my posts may be even fewer and farther between than they are now. There will likely be fewer photos as well.

Lounging in her chair, reading her photo album:

Last weekend we went to a little music festival/block party. The party was really boring and we left early, but we did eat a nice lunch then go to a park. Fiona wore this adorable dress that her auntie Jen bought her in Ecuador (I think it was Ecuador). I am so excited that it finally fits her:

These photos are awful:

Just strolling down the street, hands in pockets:

She’s too cool! Isn’t she cute?

Can’t resist an Adirondack chair:

We went to the park when the party got boring. So did the lady next to John:

Fiona was lounging in the hammock and wanted to read. These photos don’t really capture that because I didn’t take them, ahem...:

Then I read the book with her:

Then I got in the hammock too:

She requested the book specifically. She said “Bay! bay” meaning “Down by the Bay”.

Fiona, so glamorous dahling:

This is the first time she wore this romper. It’s for an 18 month old, but it fits her really well now. She usually refuses to wear it because it doesn’t go over her head.

One of Fiona’s new favorite hobbies, reading the photography book with John:

Reading a magazine with Grandpa “Mommy Daddy”:

And that’s it! We went to the orientation at Fiona’s preschool and I am more convinced than ever that it is the place for her. She brings home art and soon challah. I am sad to go back to work but excited for what this year is going to bring and for all the things Fiona will learn at her school. She already has conversations with us and is speaking in sentences, she remembers things from days and sometimes weeks ago. She is growing up so fast...aye. I’m also nervous about this school year for myself. I am excited to wear my “cute” clothes and “cute” shoes (ie non-mom clothes and heels) but at the same time, I don’t want to have to think about what I wear or what my hair looks like. I am excited for new students, but nervous about memorizing all their names. I am nervous about my project that I will be doing this year, and for so many other reasons. I just hope that I don’t get so stressed out that I take it out on Fi or that I lose too much time with her.

I’ll leave off on a happy note...Fiona’s smile and laugh make my heart melt. They make the sun shine and I imagine rainbows and puppies, and whatever happy things happen.

Have a great rest of the week!