Hollie is my little princess, always has and always will be. She is the little girl that made my dreams of becoming a mother come true. She means the world to me. I remember so clearly the first day she was placed in my arms and how I stared at her beautiful round little face with the cutest chubby little cheeks. She had a perfect button nose with the most perfect little lips. I remeber how long her little eyelashes were and she was only a day old. The softness and smell of her skin is still so fresh in my mind. I remember looking at her long tiny legs and saying, to myself, they will always look so perfect and will never get a scratch or bruise. I remember her fine dark hair and the little green bow that was in it. I remember her soft little cry, the coos and cute little noises she would make. I held her little hand with her tiny fingers wrapped around my finger as I stroked the top of her hand and whispered how much I loved her and told her all of my dreams for her and how I couldn't wait for her to come and be a part of our family. She was so perfect in every way. I remember thinking to myself that I don't ever want her to grow up, that I had 3 years with her until she started preschool and thinking that those 3 years were going to be everything I have dreamed about and that the time would go by slowly. Well, this tiny little baby girl of mine is starting preschool tomorrow and I cannot believe it. She is starting preschool with bumps, scraps and little bruises on her little legs because she loves playing outside and I have had to learn that those are things that just happen to our little children. Her tiny little hands are still cute as ever but even prettier because they are painted pink with sparkles. Her fine dark hair is now dirty blonde, very long and she loves to tell me how she wants it done. Her lips, nose and eyes are prettier than ever. Instead of hearing little cries, coos and cute noises I now hear a beautiful voice that says, "mom I am so excited to go to school tomorrow, I love you," and many more sweet beautiful words. She is still so perfect in every way, but now she is growing up, those 3 years have gone by SO FAST and were everything I have ever dreamed about and more. Now, tomorrow, I will be dropping her off at preschool and allowing someone else to help her learn. I am trusting someone else with my baby girl for a couple hours 3 days a week. I cannot believe it. Yes, I may sound like a sappy person and I am. Hollie is my world along with my wonderful/amazing husband and my adorable little boy. These 3 people mean the world to me. Watching Hollie and Ethan grow and meet different milestones in life is VERY exciting! These are moments that will come and go and I have learned to treasure EVERY moment. Life is to short. I have learned if I don't document it, write it down or take pictures that moment is gone and will just be a memory in our mind. Whereas, if we write it down and take pictures the moment is more fresh and we WILL remember more.
Tonight Ryan had the wonderful opportunity to give Hollie a Father's blessing before she starts school. Yes, it may only be preschool, but it's school and Ryan was so excited and proud that as a father he could give Hollie this special blessing. Hollie was perfect absolutely beautiful as she sat there reverently, arms folded and listenend to the special words that were told to her in her blessing. Ofcourse, I cried, she is my baby girl who is quickly growing up. Following the blessing she gave hugs and kisses, was anxious to read from our scripture jar and head to bed. Because she knew the quicker she went to bed the sooner tomorrow would be here and she would be going to school all by herself. She has her high school musical backpack, some new school clothes, fingers and toes painted and is ALL ready! Tomorrow here we come!
Hollie, I want you to know how much we love you. You mean everything to your dad and I and we want the best for you. We want you to grow and succeed in everything you do. We want you to have every opportunity possible and we will do our best to make that possible for you. We love you so much and hope that you have the best first day of school EVER!
As I reflect on this day one year ago, my heart becomes SO full. I am so blessed to have this little man as part of our family. I am SO grateful for him and for ALL he has taught me and continues to teach me each and every day. I know without a doubt that Ethan was to come to our family and I am so grateful as to how he came. The finalization process in an adoption is just that, final. It makes our child ours and is seen no differently. This day is a day of celebration and will always be his "special" day. We LOVE you Ethan and are SO glad you are a part of our family!
On Sunday night we stayed with Ryan's dad and stepmom in San Diego. We had a great time with them and enjoyed part of the day Monday with them in La Jolla...I LOVE it there!
On our way back from La Jolla we decided to stop by the Temple. I am so glad we did. I LOVE that Temple for many reasons. First and foremost, that is where Ryan and I were married 8 years ago. Second, I was sealed to my mom and family there and third, I watched the Temple be built and was able to work in the Temple before it was dedicated..amazing experience! It is my most favorite Temple.
Following breakfast we were upstairs to get dressed and do hair. Getting dressed can sometimes be a battle in our house and today it was very easy. She had a few new outfits and knew exactly what she wanted. Doing her hair was very easy also because she wanted it done just like Paris (Paris is her cousin and always wants to have her hair done just like her...too cute). So, before we knew it our girl was ready to head out the door, she grabbed her packpack (as she calls it) and was out front ready for pictures. And guess what? My girl even SMILED for her pictures... I was so impressed. 
Then we were on our way to Ms. Becky's for our first day of school. Ofcourse, on our way, we had to call papa and tell him that Hollie was on her way to school. Papa was excited to talk to Hollie and it was cute hearing Hollie tell papa how excited she was to go to school. We arrived at Ms. Becky's and Hollie was ready to go, packpack on and all. We walked in and Ms. Becky had little mats on the floor for the kids to sit on while they waited for everyone to get there. Hollie, ofcourse, picked pink...because it matched her shirt and then when she sat down she decided she was going to be shy for a couple minutes. I gave her a kiss, told her I loved her and then had to take her "shy" picture.
I got in the car, no tears, and there was Ethan saying sissy, sissy. Hollie hadn't been gone 5 minutes and Ethan already missed her. I told him she was at school and that we will pick her up soon. As I drove away, I couldn't believe my little girl was at school. This days starts the first day of school for the next 18+ years. She will never have a Tuesday of sleeping in (except for summers and vacations) for the next 18+ years! Wow. Yes, I know, I am weird for thinking that, but it's true.
