Preschool at Last

Last Monday Spencer's long-awaited first day of preschool finally arrived. He was so excited and so nervous. He looks so tiny to me in these photos. Probably because of his oversize backpack and giant lunch box and his new clothes that were fitting a teeny bit too big on him.

Mostly though I think he looks so tiny because he's my baby boy and how in the world is he old enough to be going to preschool already???

Kalen stayed at home with Kaya and later Lilly (the girl I babysit) while I took Spencer up to the school. We were met in the lobby by his teacher who took a picture of us and gave Spencer his name tag. Once all the other parents and students arrived we were escorted down to the classroom where we were given a scavenger hunt sheet to complete with our child. Very important things like where is the bathroom, and the reading rug, and the block center, etc. I rushed through this very quickly because the clock was ticking away and Kalen had a nine o'clock class that he needed to teach. The other parents were taking their own sweet time and finally I just had to leave Spencer on the reading rug all by himself so that I could go. Both he and the teacher were understanding of this, thank goodness. Spencer didn't shed a single tear and didn't even seem nervous at all anymore. I didn't have time for nostalgia to set in because I knew I was going to be in trouble with Kalen who now had 5 minutes to get to his class! He met me in the driveway and I raced him to campus as fast as I could.

Then I went home and waited for it to be 11:50 when I could go and pick up Spencer. It sure was quiet at home with just Kaya and Lilly. At last it was time and I loaded the girls into the car and headed to the school where I was met by a very happy and excited boy who was already excited about going back the next day. He described his first day as such: "First we ate some breakfast and then we played and then we went outside and then we came back inside and then we played some more and then we ate lunch and then you came to get me!" Eating and playing--sounds like a good day to me.

Kaya was so happy to have her big brother back. And I think Spencer missed his sister a tiny bit too.

The next day Spencer was up bright and early and ready to go back but with one extra exciting event: His very first bus ride.

This time the nostalgia hit when we walked up to those big doors and I watched Spencer trying to climb those mountainous stairs. His little legs were so short that he actually needed help getting up. Shoudn't that be a stipulation for school? You're not old enough until you can get on the bus all by yourself? I think it should be.

But regardless, at pick-up that day Spencer raved about his bus ride as if it were the biggest adventure of his life and gave me the rundown of his day again (more play and more eating). And every day since he has gone off happily and come home even happier so we're thinking this is a good thing for him. I'm just glad that for the remaining hours of the day, he's all mine to enjoy.