E's First Day of School

I've been amazed for the last few months at how much our little toddler boy has been turning into a kid.  And a few weeks ago he made the big jump from toddler-hood by starting school!  

Aaron and I had thought we would wait until he turned three or after to put him in preschool, but we decided it was a good idea to give his speech development a boost now by giving him some time surrounded by his peers without his mom around.

Ethan was so excited to go to school and play with friends  It has been a very positive transition for him.  He goes for three hours twice a week and seems to enjoy every minute of it.  He is gaining independence, speech improvement and making lots of friends.

The first day he didn't even cry when I left him, which to me was amazing because this little guy has not spent many of his waking hours away from his mama.  

He just gave me a kiss and a wave and I was off.  When I came to pick him up, the teacher said he had a great day, played well and didn't seem to be overwhelmed by all the newness. But then when he saw me, he broke down in tears and wailed "I missed you!". 

He is now used to being away from his sister and I and is so excited on the mornings he gets to go to school.    But he reminds me over and over that Beebs and I need to come back and get him.  Like I would ever forget.  

This transition was a tough one for me.  For almost three years I have followed this little guy around, knowing everything he does and sharing in all of his experiences.  I know when, what, how much he eats, when and what makes him laugh and I was always there to be the one to play with him.  

It was heartbreaking for me to walk out the preschool door and know that he was going to have all kinds of experiences and I was not going to be there to share them with him.  I was not going to be there to comfort him if he needed it, get excited when he did something new and I had no idea who was going to open his yogurt for him!  

Now that we are into the routine of school I realize that six hours a week is really very short and I am truly enjoying watching how much Ethan loves school.  That first day I was not so rational.  I felt like being a stay at home mom is by far the best thing I have ever done and Ethan leaving for school was the beginning of the end to this wonderful time in our lives.  

Since he is only gone a few hours a week, we still get our moments every day where it is just he and I hanging out.  My favorite ones are on the front porch swing after school when he gets a lollipop, I get my tea and he tells me about school and we sing songs together.  He calls it our PopTea Time.

One of the best parts of Ethan being in school is extra one on one time I get with Kels.  And it has come at such a fun time in her development.  Her little personality is coming out so strong right now and I love having a few mornings a week to just focus on  her.  

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Our man in action over the last few weeks: