PRESCHOOL!!!!

Here it is ladies and gentlemen, the post you've all been waiting for. Behold, today was Drake's first day of preschool. Let's just get right to that, and the other (six) posts I have to write can wait. I've been wavering between crazy excitement and utter dread. I'm excited for him, I just wanted him to be excited. And I had very low hopes of that happening. You see, my biggest little has been showing some signs of separation anxiety lately. Primarily at the nursery when we go to church. Which is *precisely* where he goes to preschool. So, I was dreading today b/c I knew I wouldn't handle it well if I left him while he was crying and screaming. So, wanna know how it went? Well, let the pictures tell the story. Let's start with last Thursday, which was orientation day.


This is his preschool/our church. The area shown is strictly the preschool part/nursery.
The door to his room!
Of course, I had to take a picture of his leaf. So unbelievably cute!


Here we are, all ready to go to orientation. I couldn't wait to meet his teachers. He cried that day, but settled down after they bribed him with animal crackers.
They stacked up the supplies I'd brought it, and Drake went right over to ask for some snack. Stinker!
Sandwich, cheese cubes, blueberries, and cantelope for his first day lunch.
I love these stretchy bands to label his cups.




Can I tell you how much I love his little book bag and lunch box? I had a great time picking them out.
One big ball of cuteness. I hate that I didn't get a better picture of just how darn cute his outfit was. His little red shirt had whales on it that matched the blue of his outfit.
"Don't worry Mom, I've got this."
The bookbag was as big as he was. And his sweet little lunchbox was heavy! But he was doing his best.

He was looking a little unsure for a moment.
First day of 1k. I'm such a proud Momma bear.
"I'm ready!"
All buckled in. Let's do this!
Bye Fran! Bye Eli! (Next year Eli will be in the 1K class, and Drake will be in the 2K class)
We're here!
He looks like I'm taking him to a torture chamber.
A bunch of parents and students getting ready to walk in down the halls, after the doors opened at 9:25.
The last shot I had of him before handing him over to Mrs. Alicia....He went right to her, and in they went. I jumped behind the door frame so he couldn't see me.....and.......
And him in his room!!! NO TEARS!!! Can you believe it? I gave my camera to Mrs. Stephanie, b/c I was already "out of sight, out of mind". I was standing where he couldn't see me, and I knew he was doing just fine. No wailing! I didn't know at the time how on earth these two angel teachers accomplished it. Ah ha! Goldfish! Should've figured that they once again made friends with my big guy via his stomach.

So, I don't have any pictures from when I picked him up, but let me just tell you. It was NOT what I was expecting. He ran over to me, just grinning. And do you want to know what he did next? That little stinker turned around, and RAN BACK IN. O. M. G. If I wasn't insulted before, I certainly was then.

In all, I'm simply thrilled. We try to follow more attachment parenting philosophies than traditional parenting. And contrary to what the titles of those sound like, AP kids appear on the surface to be "less attached". So, I guess we are doing a good job with what we've tried to accomplish. My little man is growing up.