Lyla's First Day of Preschool

My plan was to wait until September when Lyla is three to send Lyla to preschool. However, with the new baby and cold weather I started feeling guilty that Lyla was spending countless boring hours watching me care for baby Caroline indoors. Lucky for us a spot opened up in the two year old room at our church's preschool. Lyla will go to school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9-1. She takes her lunch, so I bought her a cute little lunch box and a huge backpack to carry everything in. When I dropped her off this morning, she clinged to me a little until the teacher called her over to the toys. She didn't cry when I left. I on the other hand cried when I got into the car. It's hard for me to watch her grow up so fast. Here is Lyla with her super huge backpack before we left for preschool this morning. They wanted her to have one big enough to hold her lunchbox and any artwork she does. When I picked her up they said she did well. They told me that she asked the teacher for a hug at one point. I had told her if she felt sad that the teacher would hug her, so I guess she needed one. It was quite a challenge getting to the car to come home. I was pushing Caroline in the stroller and trying to hold Lyla's hand in the parking lot. All of the sudden Lyla decided she didn't want to hold hands and when I grabbed her she fell. She didn't cry but she looked pretty silly rolling on the ground in her puffy pink coat and backpack. After that, she held my hand all the way to the car. I think next week, we will do the drop off & pick up where they come and get her out of the car so I don't have to get Caroline out. When I asked her if she wanted to go back to school next week, she smiled and said an enthusiastic "YES!" I'm so proud of my big girl. Here are some pictures of her before we left for preschool.