How did it get so late so soon?

How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon...
December is here before it's June ~
My GOODNESS how the time has flewn -
How did it get so late so soon!

We saw our little girl off this morning for her first day of first grade...

A month from today, she'll be 7.

I swear it was just 7 months ago we brought her home from the hospital for the very first time!!

Last year, she was up hours before her bus was to come...raring to go...

This year..not so much...
Almost seven, going on almost seventeen???
I had to wake her up to get her going....

But after a shower and a blueberry waffle...

She was a tish more awake and ready for all that this day will hold...

 You may or may not know - we let her choose her clothes, completely...

Hence, the reason last year's first day of school outfit left a little something to be desired. 

I'm not going to lie...I was a little bit thrilled with what she choose for this year!

I was starting to panic that she has nothing to wear for the first day, or for picture day which is already next week...

Thankfully, a quick trip to the store for a birthday present resulted in a few new items for her that she actually loved...And an added bonus - so did I!

And I, I love watching her grow into her own person, always evolving on her own terms, not giving into the peer pressure that is her classmates, friends, or even me, her mom!

Remember how upset he was last year that he didn't get to go to school?

Well, he's still a bit bummed that he has to wait a couple more days to start kindy - 

but he was much more pleased to let her go this year... 

 Damn shadows from the early morning light! GRRR!

There she goes...  ::sigh::

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This year, things are going to be different for our girl...

Like, she has REAL textbooks...and workbooks.

I may have gotten a bit teary eyed seeing these on her desk at our open house night!

 Her own desk with her own stuff inside...

(These pics are from open house - her bus was too late for me to get her first day of school pics at her desk! GAH! Why does that ALWAYS seem to happen!!)

 Her and her Bestie are sitting directly behind/in front of each other ~ 

We'll see how this goes...

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Her bus was late getting her to school, where yes, I was waiting! 

HA!

I got her photo coming down the hall to head to her classroom....

SO SO excited to be a first grader.

BFF's

It really does get late so soon...

I love how each stage of life brings such amazing new adventures. I miss the cuddly newborn stage, the language development stage, the wonderment of all that is new in this big big world - but this age presents it's own unique and amazing things too.

Seeing the world through the eyes of a young lady, who is just shy of her 7th birthday......
A little girl that has gone from being a quiet, shy, reserved...and even somewhat anxious in many situations....little thing, to a girl who has grown her wings and taken off flying over this last 12 months.

We are so very very proud of you Hailey Elizabeth.

My cup runneth over....