Catherine’s senior portrait is Wednesday.
She’s wrapped up in hair and makeup, and will surely take some of her hard-earned babysitting money and drag me to the mall for a new shirt when we get home from our Massachusetts college visits this weekend.
Of course, this week I had to go back in time to her first school picture — taken when she was at the Mead School Childcare Center.
Catherine, October 1998.
She was 2, all smiles and snuggles, still wearing clothes I picked out and happy to have a bow in her hair — as long as it was only for a few minutes.
How the photographer managed to get her to sit still for this shot, I will never know. My mom made that jumper (it was one of several from the same pattern), and my mother-in-law was a little too zealous with the kitchen bang-trimming session.
There will be no bangs or bows on Wednesday.
I’ll bet she spends the whole morning preening in front of the mirror, much as I did 30 (!) years ago, as I got ready for my own senior photo (a task that involved a lot of hairspray and a lengthy session of mixing lipsticks to get just the right hue).
And heaven knows she won’t be choosing a preppy outfit.
Already she’s weighing quotes for under the yearbook photo, sketching out the college application essay, making plans for this year and beyond. The excitement has been building all summer as she gets ready to soar.
I just want to stuff her back into those purple feetie PJs.
Pushing on a Rope 
Aw what a cutie! It must be strange for parents to look back on pictures of there babies as youngsters.
Thank you for link up with the I Love My Post Blog Hop
Sarah
Life in a Break Down
xx
Posted by Sarah | August 18, 2013, 3:45 pmYes it is! Thanks for stopping by!
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | August 18, 2013, 3:47 pmOh my dear. My sons are presently 4 and 1 (both almost 5 and 2 with birthdays in Oct and Nov.) And I am already missing their baby moments and growing sadder each time I notice how big they are growing. I know that I will be sooo proud of them in that way that ONLY a Mom can feel, that heart-bursting pride mixed with a deep longing for them to once again be little in your arms.
But I will also wish I could protect them forever from the big scary world, just like I am now as they start riding their bikes, going to school, and facing challenges outside of our tiny, little space we’ve created inside our home.
My heart goes out to you in a tremendous way. I know you are proud of her – and she will always and forever be your baby girl, no matter how high she soars.
Posted by lonlon558 | August 16, 2013, 11:42 amPlease show us a picture of her senior photos when they are done (if you care to post them – I understand some people would not want to) so we can compare it to her first school photo. Is she your only child?
Posted by lonlon558 | August 16, 2013, 11:44 amI will … after the grandparents get to see it in person! She is our only child!
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | August 17, 2013, 7:10 amYour boys will do just fine — I know it!
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | August 17, 2013, 7:10 am