My Oldest Baby is Starting School

I cannot believe that almost five years have passed since I was in the hospital getting ready to give birth to my first child. We knew we were having a boy and that was so exciting for us.  He has been a surprise from the start by turning himself right before he was born to a breech position and making us decide to have c section or turn him.  We chose c section and he was born at 7 p.m. on the dot on July 24, 2009.  It was hot and stormy that day.  It was hot today as we hit another milestone in his growing up.  It is hard to believe that little boy in the hospital (he only weighed 6 lbs 14 ounces) is getting ready to start kindergarten.  He is really growing up too fast.  He is so excited to start school and I am excited for him even though it also feels bittersweet.

He has always been an independent child and he was the same today.  He walked right into registration introduced himself to the principal as Alex Constantine and shook her hand.  He was so confident!  I hope that he is the same when it comes time for us to leave him on that first day of kindergarten in August.  I know that I will be a mess just as I was the day I left him at daycare for the first time when I went back to work after he was born.  I am excited for him though.  I am excited to see his love of learning grow each day.  I am excited for his new friends and new experiences.  I am excited to see him grow into a confident and smart young man.  This is just the beginning of a 13 year journey that will have its celebrations and defeats.  I know that we have raised him to be ready to take on these challenges. (I mean this is the kid that will eat anything once - he loves sushi and miso soup.)  I have had five years to prepare for this.  As a former teacher, I know he is ready to learn so much and that he will succeed.  As a mommy, he is still that tiny, long, and lanky baby that I brought home 4 days after he was born in that very hot July.  I still have a few months to get ready and love every minute we get to spend together from now and the rest of the summer.  I cannot wait to see what he will accomplish!!!