First Day of Preschool

E started preschool.  Holy crap.  All of a sudden I feel like he is so big and that I am so old.  I had very mixed feelings about this, because I was sad he wouldn't be home with me all the time now but on the other hand I knew he would love it. 

The little guy woke up and couldn't wait to get dressed so he could go to school.  He was a little disappointed that he had to wait until after lunch to go.  But when it was time he was very cooperative about getting his school shoes on and going potty.  (Something that can be a battle sometimes...)

Here is his first of many traditional pictures in years to come of the first day of school. :)

 Sammi wanted in on the action.

  So big with an even bigger backpack.

 Smiling so big and so genuinely. (Not.)

This was him right outside his classroom.  There was a big line of kids and parents waiting to get their nametags, and he was so antsy to just go in there and get started because there were TOYS.  He was hoping there would be toys.

And all was right in the world when his BFF Tucker walked in.  What a great thing to have your best friend in your class.

The little buddies.

E's teacher asked him to pick out his nametag from the two left on the table and he very confidently pointed to the wrong one. It was awesome.

It came time to leave him and he wasn't bothered at all that I was leaving.  I was glad about that, but I couldn't help but get a little teary when I hugged him goodbye.  Yes, I'm one of THOSE moms.  I couldn't wait to go pick him up again in 2 1/2 hours and I wished I could be a fly on the wall! 

When we went back to get E, I couldn't spot his little navy blue shirt anywhere and finally my mom pointed him out to me (she's here visiting us!) and he was wearing his white undershirt while sitting alone at his little table kind of spacing off and looking a little solemn.  His teacher came over and explained that he had a little mishap.  The poor guy had been standing on a stool going to the bathroom when the stool slipped out from under him and he caught himself with his hands and totally fell into the urinal.  He started bawling because his hands and arms were soaked but he settled down once they got his shirt off and washed his hands.  The story is so funny and makes me laugh but makes me feel so bad for him too!  What a horrible first day.  He didn't seem too fazed by it though because he was excited to go back the next time.  So no permanent damage done.  (He told me after his second day that he sat down to go wet...so no falling in the big scary urinal again for him!)  I think the solemnity when picking him up was more due to the fact that he was tired and that afternoon preschool interferes with his nap.  But at least it's only 2 days a week.

My mom warned me that I would hear about preschool not all at once, but in little random snippets that would just come spilling out here and there and she was right.  E told me at different times that his teacher told him to keep his hands to himself, that he held onto his friend's shirt, and that his teacher told him "shhh".  In fact, walking out of preschool he wouldn't hold my hand because he had to keep them to himself.  And apparently what his teacher says is the law.