so excited, can't sleep

this little girl is so excited that she can't seem to go to sleep!  she is so cute.  she keeps coming out to tell me how excited she is and that she loves us.  she also told me to make sure that we aren't late so that we can take lots and lots of pictures.

i made her lunch and had to control myself with putting too many 'treats' in for the first day ('treats' mean strawberry milk, dried fruit, yogurt - her favorites).  i need to pace myself...  but i did cut her sandwich her current favorite way - finger sandwiches.  she was playing tea a few weeks ago and i told her that we could make 'finger sandwiches' for lunch.  i was thinking cucumbers and cream cheese (something she enjoys as a snack), but this is what we ended up with and it has been her preference ever since.

hopefully, i will sleep tonight!  i think i am just as excited as she is!  i am emotional too.  it is less about "my baby growing up" because i haven't considered her a 'baby' since she first started walking, but more about me not being able to protect her any more.  i can't filter the kinds of people she is around or what she is exposed to on a daily basis.  i told matt that this is when the real parenting begins (or maybe it is really a test of how our early parenting is going to pan out...).  i know that she will be fine (i was a girl in school once myself) but i feel that kids (especially girls) have to grow up so much faster than they used to (don't i sound like i am a hundred?).

i know that she is going to be fine and that she is going to love going to school.  i can't wait to see what she likes and where her interests develop!  tomorrow is the start.  i can't wait! love.