Last First Days

My kiddos started school last Tuesday (I know, I'm late to blog about it)...and it was kind of sad. 

This is my beautiful daughter, Alexys, and one of her friends, Amanda.  Alexys is a senior this year.  That means it is her LAST FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!  sniff sniff  She humored me and let me catch a photo before they dashed out. 

This is my handsome son, Devon.  He is in 5th grade this year.  What does that mean?  It's his LAST FIRST DAY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  Where the hell does the time go?  I still remember taking him on his first day of kindergarten and crying my eyes out.  Not going to lie....I might have gotten a little emotional again this year.  But this time I waited until I got to the car. 

It is funny how when we were kids, the school year use to take FOREVER to be over.  Now that I'm a parent, the school years fly by.  I know before I know it, my youngest (now 19 months) will be starting kindergarten.  That will be the last of my babies....and the hardest for me.  

My beautiful daughter!

My beautiful daughter turned 18 yesterday!  A day mixed with sadness and happiness.  She is an adult now.  And that means my baby girl is no more.  But I do know, that no matter how big my little girl gets...sometimes she still just needs me.

For those of you new to my blog, Alexys is actually my step-daughter.  I came into her life right before her 7th birthday and have been a constant ever since.  She gave me my first taste of motherhood.  She also let me know the love between a Mother and a Daughter.  She was my first.  I've always told her, she was my first child. 

It has always been important to me from the beginning that Alexys was treated the same as my boys.  If anything, I'm more over protective of her then them sometimes.  This became more so when she moved in with us a year ago.  She began introducing me to her friends as "her mom".  Now, in the world of step-momhood....that is the ULTIMATE compliment.  I've always said that I have 3 kids, her and my two boys that I gave birth to.  People often say I don't look old enough to have an 18 year old, I don't even correct them.  I just smile and say thank you.

My baby girl has given me so much more then she will ever know.  I hope she knows each and every day just how much I love her.  Without her there would be a void in my life.

I love you baby girl!  Hope you had a wonderful birthday!