The Graduate

Today Gavin said good-bye to Dawn, the only daycare provider he's ever known, as he moves on to broader horizons. He's been at her house since he was three months old, when I went back to work at DBD. And then I stopped working, but he stayed there a couple days a week because I was taking classes. And then G2 showed up at the same time that D got very, very busy, so I needed G out of the house for a couple of days a week while I got my bearings with the new baby. And now...he's almost three years old, I finally have a grip on this mom-of-two gig, and it's time for him to start school.

We owe Dawn for teaching Gavin his ABCs and 123s and colors and shapes and sight words. And all the other things that he knows. You know I'm not patient enough to sit down with him and teach that stuff. He's learned how to function as a member of a larger group of kids and has had valuable playtime with his buddies. Heck, he even got potty training lessons at Dawn's house. He's brought home lots of crafts and has partied there for every birthday, Halloween and Valentine's Day. He gives Dawn the most sincere hug every morning when he shows up and every afternoon before he goes home. It's been a wonderful ride. Dawn and I were just reflecting on our time with baby Gavin and the days of the endless crying. We find it hard to believe it was ever like that with him...like it was a figment of our imaginations. We've all come a long way since Gavin's early months. It has flown by, but at the same time it hasn't at all. We will all miss Dawn so much!

First cookie of the day, compliments of Safeway bakery...8:45am. 

It started raining on the way home and Gavin said, "Can we NOT go through the car wash right now?" #arizonakid

The rain was such a special occasion that Gavin ate his dinner on the patio outside while soaking wet. It was pouring so hard he almost lost his mind and shouted, "What is happening?!?"

He insisted that he needed to warm up in this towel, even though it couldn't have been any less than 85 degrees outside.

Gavin picked out flowers and cookies for his last day at Dawn's house, and when I picked him up this afternoon he shouted, "We almost forgot our cookies!" I suppose the next lesson he'll be learning will be about manners. But...Dawn happily gave us the cookies. (I did enjoy one on the way home...they were Lofthouse...who could resist that?)

It's a bit of a trek to get to Dawn's neighborhood, but it has been worth it to keep Gavin at a place where I know he is loved. I don't think Graham will miss the extra time riding in the car, even though he is such a champ when I drag him all over town all day long. Luckily I find my way down to Dawn's neck of the woods fairly often, so we will be back to visit before too much time passes. I'm excited for the adventures that lie ahead for Gavin, but I will always be so thankful that we had Dawn in our lives for his first three years!