All She Wants for Christmas...

On Monday, Cate's second top front tooth came out, so she is officially without her two front teeth! Just in time, too, as the first one is already starting to grow in!

Anna's First Day of School

Today was Anna's first day of school! Unlike last year, she knew what she was going into and was genuinely excited, in her quiet Anna kind of way. She is going to the same classroom and has the same teachers as last year, so I think that helps, especially with with her personality.

She also was much more cooperative with the 1st day of school photo shoot before we left this morning. She had picked out her outfit and was more than ready to say "cheese" for the camera. (Although, last year's non-cooperation did yield some pretty awesome photos of her cute and sometimes funny little face!)

She was cuddly during drop-off, but had no problem when we left. Our little girl is growing up!

When Nate went to take the picture of Anna and me together, Anna was so cute and told him to make sure to get baby brother in the picture too. What a sweetie.

First Haircut and First Grade!

Last week Anna had her FIRST HAIRCUT! Yes, she's almost 4 and it's the first time scissors have touched her hair. Since she's so old, it was painless and easy. She was such a good girl! The lock I kept for her {sorely neglected} baby book has a tinge of green from a summer of swimming!

Cate got a haircut too. She's an old pro. This time we put some long layers in and her hair is as gorgeous as ever!

Yesterday Cate started FIRST GRADE. I can't believe we have a first grader. It blows me away. Her first grade teacher seems wonderful. She loves frogs and has them all over the classroom, and she reminds us of Ms. Glass from the Fancy Nancy books.

She may be a big first grader, but her book bag reminds us how small she still is.

Cate has her very own desk for the first time ever. She gets to go to recess three times a day. And she's uber excited about a family reading party that their class will be having at some point. She separately gave Nate and I the rundown on that event in great detail. I am just so excited for her to learn how to read on her own. I think she's going to love it. It's going to be a good year!

Walking to school on the big day.

Cate sitting at her new desk, back center. First grade parents weren't allowed to go in the classroom, so I had to snap a shot from the door. And I had no idea that kid in orange blocked the shot...stinker.

Anna and the baby

Ever since I've gotten pregnant, Anna always talks about the baby "popping" out. A few weeks ago, I was spying on her and discovered she literally believes that he will pop out. She had a baby doll, which she put under her shirt. She then pulled it out and said with a cute, enthusiastic little voice, "Pop!"The only thing I could think was, if only it were that easy!

Just now she was feeling my belly, trying to feel the baby move. It was really sweet. She leaned her head on my belly and said, "I can even hear his dreams." I thought maybe I misunderstood her, so I said, "You can hear the baby dreaming?" "Yeah," she replied. So, of course I had to ask what he was dreaming about. "He's dreaming about us." Does it get any sweeter than that?