School, school, we love school!

Will's second first day of preschool went better than his first.

Here he is back in June, when he went to Mother's Morning Out at Leesville Baptist for the first time:

And this was him this morning, eating breakfast before the first day of preschool at BayLeaf:

Happy on both occasions. (But only because he didn't know what was about to hit him!)

Back in June, the ladies at Leesville had to call me to pick him up early twice -- yes, twice -- in a row because he wasn't happy and wasn't settling down. I couldn't decide whether to feel like a failure or take it as a compliment. I mostly felt like a failure (all the other kids are just fine, what's wrong with my kid!?). As far as the compliment goes, I know I'm an all-star mother and all, but really, Will? They have a playground. A Playground. Don't tell me you'd rather be inside with your mama because I've got 1 year and 9 months worth of evidence to the contrary (which is why we enrolled you in preschool in the first place)!

Everything aside, after two times of picking him up early, he started doing great. I'd pick him up (at the normal time) and hear comments like: "He did great!" "We love him!" "He's so busy!"

I'll chalk his early difficulties up to him having a hard time with change, even good change. He gets that honest. And of course I'll chalk it up to the all-star mother that I am (ahem: pouches for lunch, M&Ms to keep him awake in the car, five-dollar trips to the Rainbow Room. I'm obviously fabulous.)

Needless to say, I was geared up for today to be a difficult transition just like it was in June. On our way to the church this morning, I enthusiastically sang our little cheer over and over again in the car: "School, School, we love School! Yay, School!" (Believe me, I got good at that cheer during his time at Leesville this summer!)

With a quick kiss, "I love you," and commendation to "be big and brave," I dropped him off and made a beeline for the car before his quivering lip had me asking for a refund right then and there.

I had made no plans for the morning (except to be by my phone).

But it didn't ring.

When I picked him up, Mrs. Katelyn's first comment was: "He did great!" When he saw me at the door, he didn't start crying, remembering I'd left him, nor did he happily run towards me (bummer). I honestly think he was trying to decide if he was really ready to leave his class of Joyful Giraffes.

Preschool success.

(Now before things start to sound perfect over at the Thomsens, let me say that he screamed bloody murder at me the whole way home. I offered him my phone (I never do that), I offered him some tic tacs (all-star!), but he wanted none of it.)

Either he was exhausted or he just missed me that much.

I think it was definitely the second.

My precious boy is growing up!

(Here are more pics from today!)

That huge gap between his front teeth?
Yeah, he gets that honest, too.
(Sorry, buddy.)