First Week of School!

After nine weeks with wonderful, sweet, answer-to-prayers Mrs. Patsy, Ben's first day at the UAB Child Development Center was this Monday. Because we'd been on that waiting list since before Ben was even a zygote, we were very excited that a spot finally opened for him. But transitions are hard (for me), so there were lots of tears (mine) on Ben's last day with Mrs. Patsy and even more (mine again) as we left him in his new school.

Mrs. Patsy:
Ben's Birmingham grandmother will always be special to us.

"I'm ready for school!"

Fortunately, my car was in the shop getting a new transmission while we were going through the transition. "Fortunately" because Tyler and I were carpooling and got to do Ben's last day and his first day together, which was nice because there were lots of instructions and procedures to learn at his new school, and as I mentioned, I was a bit overwhelmed with it all. And I had a driver when I needed a comfort vanilla latte after the drop off. :)

Ben and Daddy bringing in his supplies.
Yep, I'm that Mom. I took pictures every step of the way. Not as embarrassing now as it would be if it were his first time to ride the school bus as a third grader...not that I would know or anything.

See his cubby? He has his own coat hook and crib too. So sweet. This is Ben's new, scrunched-nose smile...and Tyler's didn't-get-enough-sleep eyes.

Ms. Nikki and Ms. Susie: Waddlers Room teachers

So far things are going OK. Taking after his mom, Ben is quite the sensitive napper. Since his Sleep Sheep sound machine has been replaced by a roomful of busy babies, naps have been hard to come by during the day. He's been surprisingly chipper in the evenings however, and we're looking forward to his transformation into "sleep anywhere" baby. We are already enjoying our drastically reduced commute. And Ben is so close to my office that it's quicker for me to walk there than drive...which has come in handy for my two pop-ins this week!

"School is cool!"

Doesn't he look grown up and so mature? Aside from enrolling in school, this may have something to do with another first he recently experienced: first haircut! Yes, he's only 6 months old, but after one too many Ben Trump jokes in reference to his comb-over, we decided our shaggy baby needed a trim. Well that's what I decided anyway. Tyler apparently decided he needed a military cut. (Sigh) It will grow out soon!

Ben's first time at the Prentice Barber Shop.
This is also where Daddy gets his hair cut (minus the Bumbo).