I Think We're Past the Licensed Character Backpack Stage!

Today began Julian's first day as "Oldest Grade in the School and Therefore Cooler Than Cool, Get Outta My Way or You're Gonna Get it, Kid!"

He's kinda stoked about it.

His elementary school only houses kindergarten through third grades, so this morning when I mentioned that, "Wow, you'll be one of the biggest kids in the whole school this year!" I noticed a spark ignite in his very soul. He simply smiled a half smile while looking out into space and uttered dreamily, "wedgie....heh."

Preschool was a great time for him, as an only child. He finally had some little people to hang with and something to look forward to three days a week. We lived in Ohio, with no friends or family, so it was good for him to have something social. It was a co-op preschool, so his pregnant mom even got to haul her big belly into class a few times to help out. She also held it together pretty well on the first day.

He was quite nervous. Quite QUITE nervous.

But then, with some experience under his belt, he was much better equipped to deal with kindergarten, and really frickin excited about his lunch box and new shoes...

Not as excited about riding a bus for the first time...

First grade was easy as pie with all of that worldly knowledge and bus stop know-how in his noggin....

Then, partway through the year, we moved him. Took him away from this:

...which was tough on everyone....but New York has been good to us. Even second grade was good, but not without some academic challenges. Challanges are good though, they build character. Second grade sees another first day polo shirt, I see a trend:

And now here we are at THIRD grade. Insane, just insane. I have a third grader. Who cares a whole damn lot about his hair:

He also looks like he is about to pull a set of keys out of his pocket and drive his own tall self to school....

Watch out ladies. Big bad third grader coming atcha.

Comments

[Lori]

He is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!! He will definitely be breaking some hearts in the future. Did you see my daughters first day of schol pics on facebook? She started grade one yesterday. hse was so nervous, but brave. She did it, and when she came home she said, "That was easy." PHEW!

[Mom]

Ju, you are so good at these damtearjerkin posts. This was precious as hell and I have to go blow my nose now.
I miss you so bad.

[BuffaloJenn]

Great post!

My daughter started first grade today and I don't know how because it seems like she was born last year. How does time go so quickly?

[Hazel]

He has grown so fast. And gets more beautiful every year.

[Bridget]

OMG, I remember the first time I started reading your blog and you had was this little guy. So big and so handsome!

[Luann]

You guys got to wait till after Labor Day?!? Donovan started the 28th of Aug. (stupid having 2 days of school then 3 days off) He is growing so tall and handsome!! We miss seeing him and all of you.

[Natalie Murdick]

I realize that as my boys are getting older(kindy-garten and second), so are everyone else's, but holy crap! He is so handsome! I actually see a lot of your mom in him (not that your mom is handsome cause she's a girl and ya know...beautiful is the word for her).

[MamaKaren]

It amazing how fast they grow up, isn't it? My husband looked at Princess the other day (our big 5th grader, OMG!) and asked, "When did she get so big?" My reply was "About 2 weeks ago," because that's what it feels like.

[Chris]

Wow. How exactly does this happen?!

[heathabee]

Holy crap. I remember reading about his first day of preschool! and you're right, he DOES look like he's about to pull out a set of keys from those pockets! He is so handsome. I hope he's enjoying Grade 3 :)