My daughter started Kindergarten this morning. She is not nervous about it, just curious. She's remaining at the same private preschool she's been going to for three years. I reminded her last night about the other kids who have completed Kindergarten the year before, and she seemed reassured of any questions. I'm not freaking out, but I am a little sad that time has flown by so fast. It used to be that the days dragged on and on, waiting for the baby to take a nap or go to bed, and then for her to wake up so I could kiss and love on her.

The difference 5 years makes:

Bubba, aged 9 months: eating green beans from a jar, getting it in her nose, hair, under her fingernails, and making a decorative pattern on the wall with it.

Bubba, Kindergartener (Fartengartener): won't touch a green bean unless it's for an art project.

9 months: washed hair every other night, in a baby bathtub with a huge 44 oz cup doing the majority of the bath and rinse.

Kindergartener: wash hair once a week on average, in the shower, and the baths are filled halfway in a garden tub so she can lay down and float in the water like a lilypad

9 months: her hair wasn't long enough for clips all over, but one long section in the front would get in her eyes sometimes

Kindergartener: her hair measures 24 inches from scalp to ends, tickles her bottom, and she has to move it around to the front when she uses the restroom to avoid getting tangled in it

9 months: would say Hi and Daddy

Kindergartener: says, Hi Daddy, can I have my allowance and some chocolate milk?

9 months: slept peacefully in her crib for a two-hour nap and 11 hours at night without waking

Kindergartener: no nap, sleeps 10 hours a night without waking, and can sneak out of her room soundlessly to awaken me and make me crap my pants when she sticks her face into mine and says, Mommy, in a drawn out whisper that sounds like a ghost

9 months: a full 2 years away from potty training

Kindergartener: has been known to read a book or magazine on the pot

9 months: was the sweetest little girl that could break my heart with a look or a smile

Kindergartener: is the sweetest little girl that can break my heart with a look or a smile

I love you, Bubba. No matter what age you are, no matter what you do, I will always love you.