At the end of the school year last spring, one of the after-care teachers playfully asked Zoe for special instructions for taking care of Avery. We haven’t seen Steve all summer, but Zoe remembered his request, wrote up a list, and brought it to the preschool a few days ago. On the sheet, which she labeled “Things to do to help Avery,” she wrote:

1. Avery likes to be walked around on the playground
2. She likes to be hugged after her nap
3. She’ll need help going to the fence to wave at me on the Brandeis playground
4. She’ll want to play “baby” with other kids
5. When she asks where Mommy is, say, “She’s at work but she’ll be here soon”
6. She’ll need help if she falls down

She’s a pretty good big sister!

-M

Today was the day: Zoe’s first (real) day of kindergarten. Mirroring her sister’s drop-off yesterday, Avery and I walked Zoe into her classroom and left as she was putting the finishing touches on a picture. Zoe’s classroom is overlooking the playground, which is where Avery and I had to walk through to get to Avery’s school, so we wound up having extra kisses and good-byes through the window. When I turned away for good, I burst into tears – and later went to Zoe’s beloved teacher Erica for some comfort. “She’s doing great – it’s me who’s having a hard time,” I told her.

This afternoon at home, Zoe kept singing a song and dance her new teachers taught her, and she brought up Mr. Ferris’ name a lot. I think it’s going to be a good year.

-M

Today marked a new chapter for us, as Zoe started a new school and Avery headed to the preschool on her own. We started the day with a breakfast treat (blintzes) and the traditional photo shoot; then Zoe and I dropped off Avery at school. I don’t know if it’s because her classroom is where Zoe’s was for the past year (and Avery feels comfortable in it), or because one of her teachers was with her during camp, but Avery was amazing at drop-off: She sat down to draw when we walked in, and she didn’t sniffle, whine or run after me when Zoe and I said good-bye. (A small miracle for my historically clingy daughter.) When I picked her up she asked if she could come back tomorrow (yes!), and she literally jumped up and down and screamed in joy when she told Q about her day tonight. (“Mommy said I can go back!”)

Zoe, too, impressed me by showing few nerves leading up to her big move, and by heading to orientation at her new school without batting an eye or even really saying good-bye to me when the students and parents were separated. I teared up as I watched her march down the hallway with 20 other students, holding the hand of her good friend and classmate Zachary. “This is it,” I thought. “My baby is in kindergarten.”

-M

I interview people for a living, so I thought it only appropriate that I talk with Zoe about her thoughts on kindergarten and the future. Below is a partial transcript of our recent conversation.

-What do you think kindergarten will be like?

It’s going to be kind of new to explore the classroom. I remember when I was in the Elangarden classroom [at preschool] and it was hard to figure out the classroom and the teachers. I’m kind of a little sad to move to a new school but it might be fun to move to a different school and make new friends.

-What will you miss most about preschool?

I’ll miss Mira and Erica and Emmanuel and some other friends.

-Do you think you’ll make new friends at the new school?

Yeah, except it’s kind of hard because I don’t remember how you make friends. Except I’ll try.

-How do you think Avery will do at preschool without you?

A little sad on her first day. It’s going to take her practice to be on her own. Other than that I think she’s going to be okay.

-What do you think you’ll learn in kindergarten?

To read. And I’m probably going to learn more about space. I might learn about science because I have a science teacher.

-When you’re done at this school you’ll be 14. What do you think you’ll be like at the age?

I won’t mind moving to a different school.

-You’ll still be a kid at that age. What’s the best thing about being a kid?

That I get to have a wonderful mom and dad.*

-What’s the hardest thing about being a kid?

I can’t learn things that easy. And it’s hard to not do bad stuff to my sister – even though I don’t do that too much.

-At what age do you think you’ll be a grown-up?

24.

-What do you want to be when you’re a grown-up?

I want to be a teacher, I want to be a mom, and I want to be a doctor.

-What do think will be the best thing about being a grown-up?

To be living by myself. It will be exciting because I’ll get a baby and I can marry a new friend.

-M

*No, I didn’t bribe her to say this

Speaking of kindergarten, Zoe’s new school hosted an ice-cream social for incoming kindergarteners this afternoon. Zoe has been looking forward to this day for months, and it’s hard to believe the start of school is just about here!

-M

Zoe’s start of elementary school is almost upon us; she has orientation on Monday and her first real (though slightly shortened) day on Tuesday. We just learned her closest friend from preschool (someone she’s been with all three years there) is in her class – which is exciting. And when I asked Zoe yesterday what she’s most looking forward to about kindergarten, she responded, “Doing science.” Attagirl!

-M

Still off of school, the girls have had a variety of people caring for them this week. (Mommy Camp no more.) On Monday, Angela was the one who spent time with them – and the girls not only had a babysitter but a yoga instructor!

-M

Some more pics from our first visit with Isaac.

-M

We woke up yesterday to news that Jenny and Dan had their baby. We went to visit the girls’ cousin right after swim class; Zoe had so much fun holding Isaac that she cried later that day about not being able to see him again. We assured her she’ll be able to do a lot more holding (and playing!) in the future…

-M

A few months ago, Zoe asked if I could insert her cousin-to-be’s name in our family lullaby. He was born today, and Zoe was super excited when I included Isaac’s name in our song at bedtime tonight.

Pictures of the newest member of our family coming soon!

-M

With so much going on, I forgot to mention here that Zoe had her annual check-up with the doctor last week. The bad thing was that she had to have five shots and wasn’t feeling so hot for about 24 hours after. (I completely blanked on the fact that she might have side-effects! Poor thing complained non-stop that her leg – the site of her injections – hurt, and we had to cancel our post-appointment plans.) The good thing is that she’s basically done with immunizations. Aside from annual flu ones, she likely won’t get another shot (for tetanus) for a decade!

Oh, and another benefit of the exam: We got to track her growth. She’s 55 pounds and just over 48 inches (95 percentile for weight and off the charts for height). She’s the size of an 8-year-old.

-M

It’s been a bittersweet week: I’ve been terribly sad about the loss of my uncle, yet I’ve been home and enjoying my time with the girls.

Zoe and Avery have two weeks between camp and school, and I took off work this week to run what I call “Mommy Camp.” On our agenda were visits to the Bay Area Discovery Museum and the beloved Hop-n-Play, trips to several playgrounds and an ice-cream parlor, little projects like making edible Play-Doh (a big hit), and many, many science activities. (Thanks to Dan and Jenny for getting Zoe My First Mind Blowing Science Kit.) The girls seemed to enjoy all our activities (with Zoe especially liking the daily schedule that I left in front of her door each morning), and we had very few bad moments. I also clearly wore them out: Zoe has taken a nap three of our five days together!

I think Mommy Camp might become an annual tradition…

-M

As I was poised to become an aunt this week, I lost an uncle. As some of you know, my dad’s brother – and my godfather – had a stroke on Monday and died yesterday.

The last few days have been really weird. I told Q that it felt surreal to be waiting for news about the birth of one family member (Jenny’s due-date was Sunday), while also awaiting news on  the death of another. I can’t help but think about the circle of life, and how these things come to pass. Someone wonderful is about to enter the world, just as someone wonderful has left it.

My uncle’s passing has also made me think about childhood and, naturally, my memories of him. He liked to do that thumb magic trick for me when I was little. He and my dad took me to my first Packers game. He never forgot a birthday and always signed his cards with a “You’re not getting older, you’re getting better.” He liked to say, “Ya betcha.” He always had a smile on his face. He and my dad loved to laugh – and tell stories of the naughty things they did growing up and in college – together.

We weren’t terribly close geographically, but he was a definite presence in my life. And it’s comforting to know that my kids will someday have memories of their own beloved relatives. The circle continues…

-M

The other day, I asked Avery what she wanted to be when she grows up. “A face-paint girl,” was her response.

(When I told Q, he commented that this isn’t a terribly lucrative career. Ha!)

-M

Avery stayed home much of the weekend (she had a cold and low fever), but Zoe did a lot. The two of us went out for breakfast and shopping in a fun neighborhood on Sat. morning, and yesterday after swim class we had a picnic together at Crissy Field. The highlight of her weekend, though, was probably the Giants game and on-the-field party that she went to with her dad. (“We are just laying on the grass eating ice cream,” Q texted when I asked if they were having fun at one point. Uh, yeh, I think they were having fun.)

-M