New Day, New Starts

Today was a day of new starts for the O'Neal Family!

First, Bailee started "school" today! As many of you know, we've been building up to this day for a LONG time! We have been so blessed to have Patrick's mom (Rita) keep Bailee for the last year. I have never once worried about her because I knew that no matter the time, circumstance, etc. she was loved unconditionally. But, Bailee's getting bigger (much to our dismay), and Patrick's sister is expecting Baby Emma ANY DAY NOW! So, we couldn't ask Rita to watch both a newborn and a wide-open 1 1/2 year old. Wow, that'd be a lot of work!

Well, it just so happens that things work out for a reason, and a spot opened up for Bailee at Whitefield Baptist CDC. I was thrilled to enroll her there because not only will she be around other children her age, but it's a place I know where she will blossom. The director there, Joan Ellison, is my roommate Niki's mom, so I know Bailee will be loved and watched over carefully! Plus, Bailee would be in class with her buddy, Eli (my friend Ashley's son).

I thought I'd cry, but I did good, and she did good too! She's stronger than I am I think!!! She did have some trouble at nap time, but considering #1-she's in a new environment, #2-she's around people she's never met before, #3-she's not good at putting herself to sleep, and #4-she's never slept on a mat before, I didn't expect nap time to be great the first day. But, she got a glowing report in all other areas! Her teacher even told me that people from other classes were coming by just to see how pretty she was! And, when painting her hands, she asked the teacher, "My turn?" Oh! so cute!!!

All of this on the day that I started teaching a new grade level too! So, all in all, today-the day of new beginnings-was a success!