Firsts

Yesterday was our kids' first day of school.  We officially have a 6th grader, a 5th grader and a brand new kindergartener!  Aaron is happy about having a locker for the first time and having a group of friends to play soccer with at recess, and Nathan is happy about being with friends again, as well as lunch, recess, gym and music. 

Given the way that her preschool experience went, I expected some tears from Anya Rashi when it was time to go into the school.  She surprised me, however, by chatting happily with a pair of twins we know from our local Y, and walking in with a wave and a smile.  After school, she seemed chipper and excited about her new adventures (which may have been helped by going out for ice cream after school.)  She reported that her teacher is "beautiful."

The tears did appear this morning, however, while she was getting dressed. She says the day away from me was just too long, and cried for about ten minutes.  Oh my heart!  We'll see how tomorrow morning goes . . . and I will have a little one-on-one time with her while the boys are at their piano lesson today.

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I also wanted to record another "first" for our K -- her brothers' and sister's first reactions to seeing her first photo.  Anya Rashi loves to hear what her brothers thought of their first glimpse of her, and we hope K will be just as happy to hear everyone's reactions.  Just as we did for our first referral, we gathered everyone on the couch with the laptop, then opened up the document with K's photograph.

Aaron was overwhelmed that we had some news at last, after waiting and praying for 25% of his life.  He came over to the end of the couch where I was sitting, leaned over and gave me a huge hug.  He was a little choked up, and said into my neck, "I can't even believe this is really happening."  He just stayed that way for a few minutes, then went back where he could see K's picture.

Nathan absolutely LOVES babies and little kids (and says he wants six kids when he's a father), was beside himself with joy.  His first words about K were:  "She looks so cute!  SO CUTE!!!"  He also came over and gave me a great big hug, then scrambled back to his seat next to Peter so he could look at her picture a little while longer.

Anya seemed entranced by the fact that there was now a face to match up with what, for as long as she can remember, has only been an idea.  We started the adoption when she was still two years old, so waiting for a sister is literally all she can remember.  Her first words were:  "She's a tiny little fairy!  Her name has to be Hello Kitty!"  (This is high praise from a girl who would wear her two Hello Kitty shirts every day if her mother would let her.)

So, dear K, this was your first introduction to your big brothers and big sister.  We hope they will be your teachers, your protectors, your companions in everything our family does, and most of all, your lifelong friends.