My Kindergartner

Here’s to you
You were pink or blue
And everything I wanted
Here’s to you
Never sleeping through
From midnight till the morning
Had to crawl before you walked
Before you ran
Before I knew it
You were trying to free your fingers from my hand
‘Cause you could it on your own now somehow

Slow down
Won’t you stay here a minute more
I know you want to walk through the door
But it’s all too fast
Let’s make it last a little while
I pointed to the sky and now you wanna fly
I am your biggest fan
I hope you know I am
But do you think you can somehow
Slow down

Here’s to you
Every missing tooth
Every bedtime story
Here’s to Barbie cars, light saber wars
Sleeping in on Sunday
Had to crawl
Before you walked
Before you ran
Before I knew it
You were teaching me
The only thing love can
Hold hands through it
When it’s scary, you’ve got me

Slow down
Won’t you stay here a minute more
I know you want to walk through the door
But it’s all too fast
Let’s make it last a little while
I pointed to the sky and now you wanna fly
I am your biggest fan
I hope you know I am
But do you think you can somehow
Slow down

Please don’t roll your eyes at me
I know I’m embarrassing
But someday you’ll understand
You’ll hold a little hand
Ask them if they can

I am your biggest fan
I hope you know I am
But do you think you can
Somehow
Slow down
Slow down
 

That song. The tears. If the lyrics weren't enough, watch the video (at least listen to the song). And sob. And think about your own babies. This song has been on the Christian radio station for a while, and since I have been pregnant this song has moved me to tears every single time I hear it. So as I sent my oldest baby off to Kindergarten Friday, the lyrics to this song came up in my mind and then I ugly cried.

In case you cannot read it, my 6 year old wants to be a Paleontologist when he grows up. Love it.

Finn really wanted a picture with Keagan before we left the house. And he wanted to hold the sign, too. Keagan didn't really want to share the holding-of-the-sign duty, but with a little encouragement finally relented. And I reminded Finley that his first day was coming up and he would get a sign of his own! Little brother struggled all day long with Keagan going to Kindergarten. He moped around like a lost puppy dog. It was pitiful and made me sad to know he was missing his big brother.

The beginning of the school journey at Benton Elementary and the obligatory picture in front of the sign! We saw our friends Amber and Scott bringing Nick to school and so had the boys stand together for a picture. These two boys are big buddies and now classmates, both in Ms. Denise's class! Amber and I are so super thankful the boys are together.

While Josh and I were dropping off Keagan, Mallory was hanging in the car with Finley and Maclyn. So thankful that she was able to help because that allowed us to give all of our attention to Keagan, which is rare these days. While we were in the school, she texted me a picture of Maclyn posing, flexing her muscles. And the text read: "Be Strong, Mom!"

After drop-off, Amber and I decided to do a first-day of Kindergarten for Mommy picture...and we were both sad. Next year, I imagine that these frowns will turn upside down at back-to-school time!!

As strong as I was at drop-off and even getting home, I truly did lose it once things settled down and I started to process that my baby, my first born, was in Kindergarten. It just seems like yesterday we were struggling to even get pregnant, then when he was here and tiny in the NICU, and then all the fun baby milestones. It was just yesterday, wasn't it? That is when those lyrics popped into my head...cue ugly sobs.

The longest day ever (because I actually was looking at the clock all day, counting down to when I could pick him up) was made so much better when our friend Paula texted this picture of the boys to me and Amber. She said they were having a great day! And this picture and text made my heart so happy. (And when I asked Keagan about his day that afternoon he really only told me about how awesome the food was and how he loved the cafeteria!!!)

Time to pick up my boy!! He was so excited to see me but even more excited to return on Monday! I am so thankful that he had such a great day. It makes my heart happy to know he loved it, even if I struggled letting go. After school I took him to get ice cream at DQ, and hoped to hear all about his day. But, in true boy fashion, he really told me very little.

Oh Keagan, please slow down.