Orions' 1st Day of Preschool in the Mountains!

Dearest Orion Smith, 

Today, September 13th, 2021 is your first day of preschool at an epic little school tucked in the San Bernardino Mountains that we humbly call home. You'll be going two half days a week. You are two years and two months old and for the last couple of months, you've been asking to go to school and play with your friends.

It is time. It feels so right and even with that, today, after dropping you off, I bawled my eyes out on FaceTime with your dada while he was at work. As we arrived, you were so incredibly excited, nearly jumping out of your seat to play at the park. You walked right into the gate, straight to a group of three girls your age and you all started giggling about who knows what. I sat there, tears under my sunglasses, watching you in amazement. You asked once, "Mama, come in." I said, "I couldn't." And that was that. They shut the gate, I asked to say good-bye. You ran back for a kiss and immediately started to play. 

I sat in the car, tears streaming down my face. It really does go so quickly. It really does go so quickly. 

I am so inspiredly proud of you. Truly. I live in absolutely amazement, been enamored by your every growing love, curiosity, and sweet, sweet soul. 

You are curious.
You are so adventurous.
You are extremely loving.
You look like your dada, more and more everyday. 
You love playing with your friends and turn anyone you meet into "a new friend."
Your vocabulary is exceptional.
Your ability to understand a concept, at your age, constantly blows my mind.
Your love for narrating our lives makes me smile so much my cheeks hurt. 
You love the moon, rocks, water, dirt and being outside. 
You love Bob Marley, your Oprah book and reciting affirmations before going to bed. 
You love making animal noises in the car, pointing out every color you see and bringing your mimi's (what you call your stuffed animals) along for the ride. 
You giggle when I tickle your chin. 
You say cheese the moment I take out my camera. 
You love cuddling with mama and dada in bed just before the sun starts to rise. 
You are a dream, truly my dream come true. 

I am honored, every single day, you chose me to be your mama, your incredible dad to be your dada and this life to call ours. Keep shining my love. Keep shining. 

As I picked you up, I could tell you just had a good cry - some snot coming out of your nose, your forehead freckled with red spots like it gets after you've had a good cry. I walked in and you immediately ran to me saying, "You're here! You're here!" Hugging me. Asking to be picked up. Your excitement still there. Your peanut butter and jelly sandwich ever more there. 

We talked to your new teacher for a bit, you nestled in my arms. You kept repeating that you cried at the gate and that I was there. My girl, I will always be there.