*Sob*

Hallie went to school today.

Just now, actually.

I held it together, but just barely.

I wasn't even supposed to be there today. I was going to be there when she got OFF the bus, not ON it. My thinking was that she might cry or cling to me when the bus showed up. I didn't want to be responsible for starting her first day of school with tears. Know what I mean?

But...

I got a phone call at 11:30 from Irma saying that we had forgotten to send Hallie's name tag - her apple name tag that matched all of the other Pre-K kids. Uh oh.

I made it to Irma's by...well, I'm not going to say, because I will get in big trouble for some major speeding.

But I made it. And I became Hallie's hero. We screamed and jumped up and down together. There was no way I was going to let my kiddo go to Pre-K unprepared. Not on the first day, no way.

So we waited for the bus, and I will never forget how she just hopped up the step with Mackenzie and Addison as if she had been doing it her whole life. They have been waiting for this for an entire year though, so they were ready.

I'm not.

My baby is now in school and will be for a loooong time. She looks so little. Look how freaking LITTLE she is? Good grief I'm going to cry just looking at these pictures. Pull it together!! Whew.

(see the damn nametag???)

(Good grief...Hallie looks tiny!)

You can see the nerves on her face. The frozen smile. That's my girl!

Off they go. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry....

Wait! You forgot me!!

Not happy.

So that's it. I will be there when she gets off too. I can't get enough of that kid.