Preschoolin'

Henry started preschool last week, yay! It's been a wonderful thing, but definitely a transition...and because he only goes two half days so we're still in the transition really. On his first morning I was a little emotional- half sad that this was the start of Henry being away from me more and more, and half in shock that this day was already here. The whole morning went by quickly and before I knew it we were right there, walking up to the gate to enter the school. Right away he let go of my hand and ran off to the playground, yelling "see ya, Mommy!" with a big grin on his face. So funny. I had already known that that part wouldn't be hard for him. As much as he loves his mama, he's fiercely independent and not shy about new people or situations, so I knew that saying goodbye wouldn't be too bad.

I went over and talked to the teachers, put his lunch in the fridge and his water in his cubby, found Henry for a little hug goodbye, and Charlie and I headed home. It was very weird to have Henry away from us all morning. Weird and a little sad, but also great to have one-on-one Charlie time. I thought about that more throughout the day, and how Henry had undivided Mommy time his entire life until Charlie was born. Subsequent children never really get that, and I'll be soaking up every minute of it with sweet Charlie boy.

So. The very quiet day at home flew by of course and before I knew it it was time to pick up the big preschooler. When I arrived the kids were outside again and Henry ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug. "Mommmmmyyyy!" Smiles all around- the best feeling ever. I talked to the teachers for a bit (there are three of them for 10 kids, very awesome), and they let me know that he had a great day and that it was no big deal but he had had some trouble with the transition- playtime to circle time, or sitting still when it was time to sit still etc, and would get angry when told what to do. It made sense to me because although we're around other kids all the time, he's never been in a structured environment with someone else giving him direction.

We went home and Henry and I talked about it and ran through scenarios together, and ways he can respond and act, but I will still nervous for the next day he attended school. That drop-off was great again, but when I came to pick him up he was sitting in a side yard with one of his teachers, crying and angry. The teacher let me know that Henry had refused to sit at the lunch table while eating and got very upset when he was told that he had to. The three of us talked for awhile once he calmed down, and we left with him smiling (which is what matters) but I was feeling a little upset that this second day not only didn't go better than his first day, it actually seemed to be worse.

So over the weekend we talked and talked about school. We practiced sitting and eating our lunch at the table, we role played circle time, we discussed saying "okay!" instead of being obstinate. And this morning while driving to school we talked about it again. I dropped him off and made a little wish that today would go better. And guess what? It did! I went to pick him up a little early and watched the class for a bit (Henry didn't notice I was there) and he was being so great. Sitting when it was time to sit, listening when it was time to listen. He ate lunch at the table, no problem, and the teachers told me he had the BEST day. I could have cried.

I know it's only week two and there are all sorts of days on the horizon- good, bad, terrible- but we're a week and a half in and I'm just so happy that he's loving it. It's weird this uncharted territory stuff- aka all of parenting with a first child. We're all just doing the best we can, and it always seems a little harder when you introduce outside things into your little bubble. School, sports, new friends...it's all such a new world for us and it's exciting and a little scary too. At three years old and this is just the beginning for Henry, and I feel lucky I get to be on this adventure right alongside him. Here's to week two!

The Big Kid Haircut

I've always loved Henry's shaggy hair but more often than not I found myself sticking a beanie or hat on his head to avoid dealing with it. It was in his face constantly and I think I avoided cutting it for so long because I just didn't know what to do with it. Since he was starting school this past Monday I knew I needed to do something, because I didn't want him to have to constantly be pushing it out of his eyes. So Friday became the big day- haircut day.

He's gotten two haircuts before, one when he was much younger and another about six months ago that was a DISASTER. Not even kidding, it was the worst thing ever. If you wondered why he had been living in beanies more than ever for a few months there, there's your answer. Poor Henry literally had Lloyd Christmas bangs and it was so bad it was funny. So we spent the past few months growing it back out, and I knew once it got long again I would get over my fear and try for another haircut.

This time we went to my friend Stephanie who has a little boy of her own, and I asked for an undercut. She blended the back and sides, and left the top pretty long. As she was buzzing off Henry's locks I got kind of sad, but the second she was done I knew we had a totally un-Lloyd Christmas winner!

It's crazy how much older he looked the second we cut it. He's so much happier too, and has mentioned more than once how nice it is to not have hair in his face, to wake up with sweaty hair, or have knots to comb through in the morning. I don't think I'll ever let his hair get that long again unless he wants it that way, and Charlie will definitely have a short little 'do himself.

Moral of the story: yay for haircuts!

 Right after his appointment- couldn't get a smile out of him but had to get a photo of his fresh cut.

"It Was All A Dream" tee c/o Cut and Burn

In A Flash

So yesterday we went to check out a preschool for Henry. Before we even visited I had a feeling it would be "the one" based on what we've heard from friends and the research I did, and I was so happy to find that it was indeed everything I had hoped. But my goodness, I was not prepared for the emotions I'd be feeling as we sat in the class Henry will soon be a part of and watched them sing and laugh and answer questions. Henry jumped in and found his place in the circle, sitting right down there on the letter "P," singing the ABCs with all of his heart. And at the end he clapped, turned around and smiled at me, making sure I was still there and making sure I saw how wonderfully he had sang the song.

I know next week when he actually goes off to his first day my tears will come, but tonight I'm feeling them too. I've written countless times about how I feel like such a huge part of parenting is letting go a little more everyday. And it really is. There was a part of me that thought the day when Henry would be starting school wouldn't happen for a long time. And I guess three years is a long time, but it doesn't feel that way. Not at all.

But even as I type this I'm filled with so much excitement. It's a small program- 2 teachers for 14 kids, and it's a really special school that focuses on "the whole child." When we took our tour I saw art everywhere, music, a community garden, and in the preschool classroom itself I saw learning mixed into everything they were doing. It's hard, because there's a huge part of me that would love to homeschool my babies all of their life, but what's right for my family and our boys is this. And so off he goes next week, taking those first teeny tiny steps towards growing up. Leaving behind a bit of his baby-hood and stepping into these new bigger-boy shoes. And I guess that means I'll have to step into some new shoes too, as I navigate this next phase of our life, dropping off and picking up and filling time. Like I always tell Henry, we're both learning. And next week he'll be stretching those wings a little bit more all while I'm learning how to let go a little more. We're both growing up in a way, and even though tiny bits of me may be sad about change, I know the best is really yet to come.

STRIIIIIKE! (kind of)

The last time I went bowling I was newly pregnant with Charlie, Henry was home asleep with our babysitter, and Hank and I met a ton of friends out for a fun evening. This time, I wore Charlie in a wrap and watched Hank and Henry bowl their hearts out. What a difference almost a year makes.

This time I wasn't too sure how bowling would go- although Henry is sports-obsessed, like any almost three year old he doesn't have the longest attention span. Playing a whole ten frame game seemed like it may be a tall order, but as it turned out, we have a bowling-lover on our hands! Henry had the best time, and I had a great time watching them have the best time.

Our bowling alley has an option for bumpers and they also provided us with a neat metal slide, even though Henry wanted to do it the "normal" way about half the time. He was most excited about wearing real bowling shoes and using a real bowling ball (we have a plastic Fisher-Price set at home), and I think I was most excited about the fact that this is one more fun indoor activity we can do during the cold winters. I am always, always on the hunt for something to keep us occupied when it's too cold to play outdoors and this fits the bill perfectly.

Best parts of the day: Henry's little bowling shoes (the smallest size fit like a glove), his enthusiasm any time he got remotely close to hitting the pins, the serious look he'd get as he waited patiently for the ball, and this video, which kind of sums up our day in a quick 18 seconds.