August 30, 2010

A whole lot of firsts


A week and a half ago, my oldest turned six years old.


In some ways I can't believe six whole years has gone by. In other ways, I can't believe it's only been a mere six years since the doctor placed her slimy white body on my lap.

I remember just staring at her. I had no warm fuzzy feeling, no sudden out pouring of love. I'm pretty sure I was feeling nothing outside of pure shock. It seemed so surreal. Did I really just make that?

It wasn't until later that morning when the nurse came to take her away at about 4am so I could get to sleep, that it finally hit me. She was mine, she was my baby! And then I cried as they wheeled her out of the room.

The first week after we brought her home was rough. Not as rough as my friends and family had it when their babies had to spend a lot of time in NICU, wondering if their little one was going to pull through.

But at the time I had no close friends or family with babies and I didn't know squat. I just assumed everything would be easy peasy, happy joy after we came home.

Ha! 

First she wouldn't eat. For two days she screamed and screamed as I tried to get her to nurse since the "how to be a good mom" videos and classes at the hospital put the fear of bottles in me. I know better now.

Finally we took her in to see the pediatrician. Turns out she had an infection in the back of her throat, so they put her on an anti-biotic.

After that her jaundice was in the danger zone so we ended up putting her in UV lights for three days. 


Since I was terrified that the eye pads would come off, allowing the lights to damage her eyesight, I did my best to stay awake for the whole three days she was in lights, dozing with my head propped up on the edge of the bed so I would wake up every time she stirred and I could adjust her eye pads accordingly.

While my husband slept soundly next to me.

Then I developed the most horribly itchy rash, sent from the depths of hell itself to torment me, all over my legs.

I don't think I slept at all for the first three weeks of Savannah's life. 

Now she is a sassy yet sweet little six-year old.


Since last year she had her first big friend party, complete with painted murals on the walls, we kept it pretty low key this year.


Just us, and a batch of cupcakes.

Which the kids used there very best manners to eat.


Because if they had actually made a mess, they would have felt guilty, obviously.

Her presents consisted of two bags of "new" hand-me-down clothes for school, (does that make me lame?)


a new Fancy Nancy book, (best books ever! I highly recommend them)


and a dry-erase activity center.

Special thanks to Jody for the wrapping paper.  (still laughing over that one)

Without you, Savannah's presents would surely have ended up in Christmas paper... or plastic bags.


And so today, I sent my first-born off to school for her first day of first grade. She was so excited she could hardly stand it, because she loves school. 

Sorry about the bad photo

And no, I didn't tell her to pose like that, she did that all on her own.

I was only mildly freaking out that I was sending my JUST BARELY six-year old off to school for the whole day.


If they had half-day first grade, I totally would have put her in it.

We had her whole outfit picked out last night. But since it was only 50 stinking cold degrees and raining this morning, we had to alter it.


In the meantime, I'm bemoaning the loss of our 6-week long summer,


and wearing my fuzzy pink slippers.

33 super cool people speak:

Kristina P. said...

How did that dark hair turn into a major towhead?

Vanessa said...

All these posts about kids first days of school are making me soooooo sad... My baby will go to kindergarten next year and over here it's a whole day thing. Sniff Sniff

Lisa said...

Okay, darling first day of school hair. Love that she received new hand me downs and the cupcake manners just make me love you even more.

Susan Anderson said...

She is completely darling...and so, so sassy!

=)

TisforTonya said...

the sassy pose says it all :)

and the weather there reminds me why I love it so much here (now that it's not 115 and my AC works again)

Larsen said...

Our school outfits were hidden by jackets too!

I can't get over sending Landon off. He was pretty laid back about it but had peed his pants a bit by the time he got home.

I am not sure I should blog that though....what do you think?

Doran & Jody said...

Oh happy times for FIRSTS.
Happy Birthday Savannah!

Jenny P. said...

Love that first picture of you and the baby... so sweet!

Jocelyn Christensen said...

Now she is BEAUTIFUL!!! What a sweet and spunky girl! I'm heading in that direction next week when I send my son to preschool. We have ALL DAY kindergarten...I am wondering how much political activism I'll have to instigate to get that changed between now and then...

mCat said...

What a fun little girl!
And no fair at how great you looked just after childbirth! I don't think I had cheekbones again for like 8 weeks

Braden Bell said...

LOL "Slimy white body." I love it when parents are objective.

CB said...

That first picture is a treasure - what a beautiful picture of mother and daughter!
Your kids are so cute they totally look like little Precious Moments babies!!
Happy Birthday and Happy First day of School to your "big" girl!!
Love her pose!

Anonymous said...

Her first day of school hair is just adorable!!!

Neisha said...

love her pose and her hair!

Unknown said...

Ah, the first of many, school, sports, boys, heartbreaks. . . . thanks for reminding me what all I am missing now that my children are grown and gone.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Darling pose!
Happy Birthday to her! Wow, 6 years does go fast doesn't it? Try 31 on for size and see how dang old you feel. And I promise...it was just yesterday.

Glad Jody's paper came in handy. Leave it to you to really use things well.

Saimi said...

What a sweet tribute to a very sweet little girl!

Hope she had the best first day of school ever!!

Pitterle Postings said...

I have learned that the kids usually have a better first day than the mom. Just remember that this too shall pass away! My girls love school and everything that goes with it. I love the hairdo. By the time you get to your last one, you will have a harder time pulling that off!! Now, mine are lucky if I make their barretts. Sigh!!! One of these days! Hope you both had an awesome day!!!

Melanie Jacobson said...

No lie, my word verification is: kisses. What the what?

Anyway, I feel you on the stress of the biliblanket. We've had to do that with two babies in a row now and it's NOT fun. It's nice they grow up into such cute kids, right?

ldsjaneite said...

I'm finally starting to read Fancy Nancy. I figured if I was going to throw a Fancy Nancy party for the girls, I should be familiar with the books.

Charlotte said...

My first grader doesn't turn six for another month (late deadline here). Of course, since he is my 5th, I'm like, "New clothes? Oh shoot, I guess you shouldn't go to school dressed like that. What do you mean you need school supplies?"

Amy said...

Congrats to the first grader! What a diva.

And Serene? No, hand-me-downs are SO not lame.

I just shuffled through a huge bag of 'em and squealed over how many cute baby clothes I got!

Marie said...

She's darling. They sure grow fast!! And you look incredible in that hospital picture by the way.

Teachinfourth said...

Hopefully you did something for yourself 1 1/2 weeks ago; after all, you did all the hard work back then.

Cheeseboy said...

Wow, what a bunch of stuff she went through as a baby! Poor kid. She looks pretty happy now and double thumbs up that she is in first grade!

Mikki said...

Totally does NOT make you lame. My daughter loves hand me downs. She thinks they're so comfy. It's all about enjoyment. I gave my boys a hand me down present for their birthday this year too. So if you're lame then so am I. And there's just no possible way that I am lame. :)

SWeet birthday post!

Mama Smith said...

To think YOU were "6" - 21 years ago!!!!! (smile)

Jess said...

haha, Never noticed the button, love the rockin' first day of school hair, think the recipe for that spaghetti looks awesome, LOVE the idea of hand-me-down-presents cuz I think kids generally have WAAAY to much cr*p and parents spend way to much mula on it. Just sayin. I love you!

And yayyy Savannah pantz! Hope your first day was sunny on the inside!

amber_mtmc said...

Her first few weeks sounds exactly like my first few weeks with Emily. The nursing was awful, the juandice and lights was awful, and the no sleep thing was awful.

Hey, but I loved her! In the end, she turned out to be pretty darned awesome.

Like Savannah. : )

(Oh, and hand me down clothes are just my type of present.)

Lisa S said...

One year when my kids were 4 1/2 and 1 my mom bought a bunch of small plastic toys at Salvation army for about 89 cents each and wrapped them up for them for Christmas . They loved these toys more than any new ones I could have purchased....oh and I hardly ever bought new clothes because there were 4 girl cousins older than them and we got all the hand me downs. My younger daughter is a very thrifty shopper now. Loves new and used clothes, especially vintage. The older one is too but doesn't like thrift shops.

editor said...

Serene, I think you are way awesome. I totally understand and feel your pain about the rash from hell thing. I had a severe reaction to some poison ivy when Azure was born. Waking up because you are itching out of your skin is not fair when every minute of sleep counts. Congrats on being a mommy for 6 whole years. It is a wonderful achievement worthy of celebrating (chocolate style if you ask me).

See Mom Smile said...

Love the newborn pics. How pretty were you just after birth. My husband slept soundly next to me in our bed while I was in labor with #6 who I had at home. That was fun.

Evelyn @ Hanging by a Silver Lining said...

What beautiful blond locks she has too. Happy Birthday to her...quite belated of course. :)

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