First Grader

Molly was all too happy to get in on the posing

Lily Grace on the first day of first grade holding a photo from last year's first day of Kindergarten

A gift for her teacher

The front steps of school

With her principal on the way down to her class

With her first grade teacher

Her new seat and a real desk now

Too cute!  She wore her new pink stethoscope to lunch and checked all of our heartbeats.  

This morning as Matt and I sat downstairs having our morning coffee, we heard a loud "Woooo-hoooo, I'm a First Grader!"  We knew that Lily Grace's alarm had gone off.  
She woke filled with excitement.  (Ok...some of that was due to the fulfilling of her back to school breakfast request, Prosciutto Cups.)
She couldn't wait to get her uniform on and get going.  Before leaving home, she was all too happy to pose for pictures and even informed me that she had some new "first grade poses."  
Once at school, we couldn't get her in the door fast enough.  I managed to hold it together (considering that the tears started hard the night before I'm not sure if that statement is accurate) until we got out of the room and then.........
Once in the car, through the tears were several words like Memphis, home, worried and the ultimate- My Baby!!  It was hard people.  I thought Kindergarten was a tough goodbye, but moving to a new state to a new school was hands down harder.  Matt listened like a trooper and eventually the tears did subside.  He and I ran a few errands to keep occupied and finally I realized that I had been praying for her and now I needed to let God take care of the rest.  
Lily Grace only had a half day today so we picked her up at lunch.  She said she had a good first day and wasted no time making new friends.  We were so happy to see her exit the building holding hands with a new friend she made in class and the excitement on her face as she called me up to introduce me to her.  They were so cute yelling and waving goodbye to each other after we had entered the car. 
Once all buckled in, she tore into a first day surprise Gran had sent her (a new doctor's coat and real pink stethoscope so she could play her favorite character, Doc McStuffin) and we were off to enjoy lunch down by the marina.  The weather has been unbelievably BEAUTIFUL today.  
Thank you God for always hearing our prayers.  Thank you for always taking care of our girl when we can't be there.  Thank you God for the blessing of Matt's job so that Lily Grace can attend Catholic school and freely talk and learn about you each day.  Thank you God for the blessing of the MOST wonderful first grader in the world!