ice cream!

after the first day of school, where else would we go but for ice cream (it's actually frozen yogurt, don't tell)!  bear in mind that she had just come from school where there was lunch and two snacks, and she ate carrots and hummus in the school yard after school.
so imagine my surprise when this:

went to this:

in no time.

first day!

and just like that, she's a preschooler.  we all walked to school together, she played outside in the schoolyard, i hung her backpack on her hook, dropped her lunchbox in her class bin, she sat down at a table to do a project, we hugged and kissed her and then didn't know what to do.
the experienced parents waved us towards the door with a "run while you can!" expression, and alex and i took each others' hands and left!  this was our last view of her until 3pm:

she's doing great, we're doing great, and it's all so good!

orientation!

today was orientation day at preschool!  penny has been waiting for this day for so long!  the first time we took penny to school, it was for a tour and an informational interview for us.  then we told her she was going to be going to school, waited a few weeks, and told her we were going to a school party, which was at the park.

today we told her she was going to school, but it started at 11, and was only an hour and a half.  it was a GOOD hour and a half, though - she did a project:

(they made placemats - i assume they'll be laminated by tomorrow)

and played with a TON of classroom toys, including this unprecedented conversation between a penguin and an elephant:

she will eventually be going 5 full days a week, but the jewish holidays will be closing the school for many days in september, breaking up her weeks, which both keeps her schedule thrown off but also eases her into her new schedule.  i'm sure it will all work out!  it's got to be so confusing for her at this point!  she had a great time - she did not want to leave, which seems like a good sign to me!

here is her unofficial first day photo!  real first day tomorrow!

well, that's it, then...

this morning was our last regular walk to the subway all together.  every weekday morning (with very few exceptions) we have eaten breakfast together, gotten dressed, and walked me to the subway to work.  occasionally alex and penny would end up turning off early and going to the playground or bookstore, but the idea was the same.  recently, we have added the potty as part of our routine.  still, in essence, every day we have walked me to the subway as a family.
tomorrow is orientation at preschool, and wednesday she will be starting  five days a week.  the plan is for me to walk her to school and for alex to pick her up.  and that's it.  no more baby at home.  she is starting her school career.  the next 16 years of her life (at least) will be governed by the "school year".  so bittersweet - she is so ready for school, and is excited and wishes it all started today.  i am thrilled for her, and know we're sending her to a great place, but at the same time i am sad that she's growing up.  sad that she'll have experiences that neither alex nor i will be there for.  sad that she's not a baby anymore.  and of course that comes with a huge amount of pride in how capable she is, how quickly she integrates herself in a group situation, and how much personality and individuality she embodies at such a young age.

i hope preschool is ready for her.

dentist!

this afternoon, penny took her first trip to the dentist!  she was pretty freaked out initially, as the last time she was in a medical situation she was getting blood drawn and the phlebotomist rooted around in her tiny vein before giving up and prodding her in the other arm, but it didn't take her too long to warm up.  there's a new dentist joining the practice, and she gave penny a pair of gloves, handed her the mirror and had her check out alex's teeth.  the technician let her push the button to take alex's x-rays.  the dentist showed her the photos and video he took of alex's teeth.  eventually she warmed up enough to everyone to sit in the magic chair and drink some water, though she only let the dentist actually look at her teeth while i was holding her.
all in all, it was a successful first visit!  next time will be even better!

sometimes i amaze myself.

usually, i am pretty confident with my craftiness and my ability to creatively problem solve.  i am pretty pleased with myself today, and i feel like this is an appropriate forum to tell you all about it.  moms of little girls out there, listen up!  also, maybe you've already thought of this yourself and i should just be quiet.
anyhoo, penny is now all undies all the time.  she has had several accident free days in a row, and stays dry all night.  this is awesome.  she is mostly  able to dress herself as well - also awesome!  the problem is the undies themselves.  while some of them have one design on the front, most are either solid color or an all over print.  this makes it really difficult to figure out which is the main hole, and where your legs are supposed to go.  also, it's basically impossible for a two year old to tell the front of a pair of tiny undies from the back (parents of little boys, i assume boys underpants have little flies or something that make this easier?  if not, hoo boy - keep reading).
a flash of genius struck me today.  while taking the laundry out of the dryer and making our famed laundry mountain, i told penny to meet me in the living room.  "today," i told her "we are giving all of your undies bellybuttons."  that's right!  at the top of the waistband, right in the front in the middle i made a little dot with a black sharpie.  it's on the inside of the waistband so you can't see it from the outside, and when i say that she caught on IMMEDIATELY, that is no exaggeration.  halfway through the marking up operation she asked me if i would be putting bellybuttons on all of her undies and when i said yes he said "mommy, that's going to really help me!"
so spread the word!  bust out the sharpies!  make your kids feel that much more independent!  bellybuttons for all undies everywhere!

also, hi, curicon!

2 stories

penny has a hard time staying at the dinner table - she is so busy, she knows it's the end of the day, and is always looking to squeeze in a few more minutes of play time before her bath.  tonight, alex asked her if she could tell us a story.  we got two.

story 1

once upon a time there was a cherry in a tree.  the cherry said "where am i?"  a bird flew into the tree.  it said "you're in a tree".  the end.

story 2

once upon a time a cherry was in the street alone.  a car came and smooshed the cherry.a man  and a woman fixed it.  it was fine!  the end.