Grand finale

One week ago today was a very big day.

Two little girls left things behind.

One of them was planned, expected.

The other one was a complete surprise.

Last Friday was Olaiya's last day of preschool (say what? I thought we just saw pictures of her graduation? What's the deal? Yeah. They had another week of school following that. I have no idea.) Whew - the year went so fast! Four days a week since September, Olaiya got to go to school (three of four days with neighbors...let's hear it for a four family, neighborhood carpool!), sing songs, learn literacy, experience science, do show and tell, eat snack, and play amongst peers. Being part of this preschool, one that just happened to be like the neighborhood preschool, really dropped us into a friendly community that we didn't know we had, literally, right across the street and down the block. We love that we fell into meeting these families that are all within a two block radius of our house.

But wait, isn't this supposed to be about Olaiya and her closing chapter?

Oh, right. Onward and upward.

So the last day of preschool. It was a Family Fun Day of sorts, with parents and siblings, a moon bounce, friendly local firemen (talking with the students, not "doing their job"), and thank you gifts for teachers. Olaiya had made a bracelet for both of her teachers and had them wrapped up nicely for the giving. As we were walking out the door, I was putting on Naomi's jacket and she says to me, "Mommy, don't see what I have in my hand." Umm, okay, Naomi. Then I heard the telltale clink clink of little plastic handle on plastic - her paci.

"Naomi, you may not take your paci out of the house," and I snatched it out of her hand and put it on the desk, with protest-whimpering at my back.

"No! Mommy, I want to give it to Courtney's babies!"

What?

"Courtney's babies" means mother-to-Olaiya's (and therefore Naomi's - ah, the plight of the second child) friend-Kiran and her newborn twin baby boys.

"Really, Naomi? You want to be all done with your paci?"

"Yep!"

"And you want the Paci Fairy to come tonight?" (An eventual possibility we've discussed over the past six months, that when this last paci was broken/lost, that she would come.)

"Yeah!"

"You're sure?"

"Yes!"

"Okayyy..."

Now for sure she's just trying to get out of the house with her illicit soothing device, right? Well, she carried it out of the house and to the car where she put it in the car seat cup holder.

Hmm, so no attempts to use it; alright, we'll see what happens...

We got to school and I was completely wrapped up in Olaiya's last day - seeing all the moms, watching Olaiya give her teachers their gifts - and then above the din, I hear, "Naomi, did you find it on the ground?"

Eyes go off of teachers admiring their beautifully beaded bracelets and turn to see Naomi holding up her beloved paci to none other than Courtney.

Shouting and my arms half flailing in the air, I immediately interject, "NO! Big moment here, Courtney! Naomi is trying to give up her paci! She's trying to give her paci to the babies!"

Courtney quickly and sweetly switched gears from curious to coddling, showering Naomi with appreciative and encouraging words.

And just like that, she was done.

Were there cries of, "Paci! Paci!" when the rubber hit the road and we were putting her to bed that night?

Yes.

Did she weep and cry out when she realized the magnitude of her generous gesture?

Yes.

Did Mama leave the house at 10 pm for Target in search of Paci Fairy presents?

Yes.

Did baby girl sleep through the night?

Yes.

Did baby girl wander into our room in the morning and again lament her decision?

Yes.

Was she super stoked to come downstairs and discover a baby doll that swims, a new Princess beach towel, a beach-themed Polly Pocket, and some puffy Pony stickers? (Hey, mama was cool her having her paci in bed until she was forty-two...best $40 I've spent.)

Yes.

Several nights of rocking my baby to sleep (my baby is three! I'm definitely not complaining about getting to do that last few precious time!) and a couple of later bedtimes riddled with an awake, talkative and restless three-year-old, we have a little girl putting herself to sleep.

I wasn't ready for it. I wasn't even calling for it. But it's done. And we've got one baby girl, who despite being the tiniest Tiny Dancer at her recital, has very much become a big girl.

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Olaiya and her teachers Karen (awesome, positive, get-the-kids-confident-included-and-moving woman) and Teri (circle-time literacy rock star, loves-Jesus-but-knows-how-to-run a-tight-preschool-ship head teacher that was born in the same Iowa town as me! Isn't small world great?!)

Naomi and her pal Sachin, half-recipient of one used, year-old, slightly punctured paci.

(Straight from work Daddy had surprise bunches of roses for his girls that he purchased from "the guy" at the Metro! They were perfect, ballet pink, and the girls felt incredibly special.

Worth watching the first 10 seconds to hear Naomi's entrance, and you know, if you like 3 year-old ballet (she's #3).

Determined to not miss a step in her long routine, you will rarely see more than the side of Olaiya's face. (Teach, why do ya gotta be off stage? Faces! We want to see faces!)