Miss Durham Goes to Kindergarten

Okay, it seems like ten minutes ago I was astounded that this little darling could roll herself over:


Today she walked on her own two feet around the block, waited patiently for the driver:


and then fearlessly loaded herself onto the school bus (I offered to drive her for the big day, but she insisted on taking public transportation. How green of her, no?):


Then she went off by herself to school, looking all tiny and cute:


She was so brave! I wish I could say the same for myself. I was left fighting a lump the size of Rhode Island in my throat as I pushed the stroller home. I immediately unloaded the little girls and spent the next hour going through Chloe's entire life in pictures. Honestly, how can the first day of school already be here?

Anyway, we all survived. Although, I have to admit, Miss Chloe wasn't as chipper hopping OFF the bus. Apparently the fact that one bus takes her to school and another takes her home really threw her for a loop. She said she was "feeling very worried" that they wouldn't take her to "the right house." I asked her if that made her cry and she said no, it made her mad to be worried. (Uh, what should I do for the bus driver who had to deal with her following that incident? Cookies? A tip? They CANNOT be paying that person enough!) Then we had a long talk (lasting the entire walk home and then some) about how, during stations time, the yellow table (her table) had to play with blocks when she "was expecting to do the puzzles station or play with the kitchen" instead. She's still skeptical that she'll get to do something besides "dumb blocks" tomorrow, but I think I managed to talk her through that major emotional blow. Once the realization that the bus got her to the right spot sunk in, and that she could potentially be making pretend toast in that sweet kitchen tomorrow, the clouds lifted and she told me all the highlights of the day. Those included some letter cookies and a nice trip to the playground for recess. She was all smiles before too long:

Here she is donning her School is Cool crown and showing off her certificate praising her for making it through the first day of school.

I'm pretty sure she'll give kindergarten, school bus and all, another shot tomorrow. I hope I'll be strong enough to. I was worried they'd take her to the wrong house, too.