As promised, here’s a picture from Zoe’s first day of school – as well as one from last year. Some things – like the curly hair and the panda lunchbox (which has held up remarkably well) are the same – but she’s definitely older! “Look how small she was then,” Q just said, looking over my shoulder. “And we thought she was so big.”

-M

After dropping off Zoe at school today (picture of her first day coming soon!), I walked past another mom who had just said good-bye to her child and was strolling out with her newborn. A lump formed in my throat, as I remembered Zoe’s first day last Aug. and thought, “That was me and Avery last year.” As sentimental as this time of year makes me about Zoe, Zoe’s school also makes me think about Avery, who was still very new (barely 10 weeks) when her big sister began. My routine – of getting Zoe to school while pushing Avery in her stroller, and then running errands or working out with Avery afterwards – was the same for many months – and it’s hard not to get emotional when thinking of how little Avery was back then.

Of course, though Avery is a lot bigger these days (she can actually walk inside with me when we drop off/pick up Zoe now), it’s all relative. And I know in a year or two – when Avery starts preschool – I’ll be sniffling over how little she was this year!

-M