I won't talk about how much I missed my boy today, or how much I cried, or the fact that I was the crazy mom that followed the bus to school and stalked her child from the parking lot's edge just to be sure he found his teacher. Instead, I'll let the pictures do the talking... These pictures were taken after Carter's first FULL day of Kindergarten. I think he survived, to say the least.

Here he is on his way back home!!

I was so happy to see him!!!

Feeling SO cool.

Holding back the smile. Trying to stay cool.

Big smile for Daddy :)

Big smile for Mommy (and a hug)  :)

More changes

Since I'm already sad about my Carter starting Kindergarten, I thought I would add one more thing to be sad about. Carter and I took the crib rail off of Blake's bed today and made it a "Big Boy Bed." Carter was so proud to help me with it, and then show his baby brother the end result. Blake was ecstatic when he saw it, and squealed, "Oh Wow!" Much to my surprise, he slept in it all night without any escape attempts. Well, he was up at 5:45am when Evan was up...but otherwise, it went very well! Now I don't have to worry about the little stinker climbing on his pillow and hoisting himself over the edge. It's only happened once, but that was enough for me. 

Snoozing in his Big Boy Bed - always with the booty up and arms tucked under

And there's my REALLY Big Boy, getting rest before his first full day in Kindergarten

First Days of Kindergarten

I cannot believe that this day is here...the first day of Kindergarten for my first born baby boy. He's been excited for a loooooong time. And he's been practicing for Kindergarten, too...good behavior, good choices, using manners, being kind.  The day is finally here. And I'M the one that's not ready for it. I mean, I'm super excited for him - because I know how excited he is for it. And I know that he's ready...more than ready...he needs this a lot, actually. But for me, his Mommy, it feels like his childhood is ending. I know it's not, but the next 13 years of his life will be spent in the school district. And then there's college. School is stealing my boy from me!! I love our stay home days together. And I'm SO going to miss him. Chin up, woman. Look at how happy he is for this!! 

Waiting for the bus.

Do you know how long he's been waiting for the bus to pick him up for school?

Since he knew what a bus was. This. Is. Huge.

He can hardly contain himself. (PS: I don't know why this picture looks so pink...)

No hesitation. He hopped right on.

There goes my life...

Parents were invited to spend the first (half) day in the classroom. It was great...until his teacher read "The Kissing Hand." Carter was a champ. It's me that melted down. Yes, I cried...in the middle of a classroom full of Kindergarteners AND their parents. I had to open the box of Kleenex we donated for school supplies.  Good Lord.  I should have known.  I cried at every one of Carter's milestones.

Singing "Rise and Shine" - a song he knows from preschool.  But, he didn't really sing or do the motions.  Why?  "Because when we sing it, we say 'Rise...and Shine' {insert preschool hand motions} and my teacher was doing it different."  He was also excited to hear another favorite song - The National Anthem - on the morning announcements. This place is cool :)

Drawing a self-portrait, which will be compared with a self-portrait drawn at the end of Kindergarten. Notice that he's using a purple colored pencil...

Drawing his shoes

Painting his hand for a Kissing Hand project

Magnetic Letters

Carter's Kindergarten teacher - He loves her already!