a la escuela!

This morning I woke up with butterflies in my stomach. I felt all nervous and jittery, like it was the first day of school or something. As it turns out, it was. Not for me...for my 21 month old son. I didn't have the stomach for breakfast, not even coffee, yet I watched Isaac polish off 2 bowls of Cheerios while I packed his lunch. Just before leaving, we stepped out on the front porch to take the traditional "first day of school" photo with lunchbox in hand. (at least this was tradition in my family...no lunch boxes past elementary school though.)

Isaac was attending an amazing daycare in CT that we miss dearly. He is very used to having daily interaction with lots of kids in a structured, stimulating environment. Since we have returned, neither Kieth nor I are working, so basically, it's been the three of us kickin' it for a few weeks. Don't get me wrong, it's been wonderful, but we began to feel we weren't being fair to Isaac. We have been busy job searching and house hunting, and Isaac ends up in the car seat or tugging at our shirts often, begging for attention. I have always dreamt of a Spanish immersion preschool for Isaac. He is at such a crucial age, like a sponge! I speak it with him, but not enough. I need some help and reinforcement. So, one day I googled and, voila!, I found the Spanish Schoolhouse. We went to visit because we wanted to make sure that it was legit...you know, with native Spanish speakers teaching the classes...who are there to teach with heart and not just babysit with telenovelas on in the background. Thankfully, we were blown away by the school, the passionate teachers, and the curriculum. For now, Isaac will be attending 2 days a week.



When we dropped him off this morning, there were no tears. Bittersweet for Mommy. I was so proud and weepy because he was so eager to play that I didn't even get to hug or kiss him goodbye. Yet, when I went for pick-up, I found my brave boy (the only remaining kid from his class, poor thing) crumpled like a sad stuffed animal in the lap of his teacher, with a white band around his forehead, and big tears on his cheeks. Apparently, he was happy all day, but when the other parents began to show up he remembered about Mommy and Daddy and got really sad. Ah Mi Vida! So I got to scoop him up, wipe his tears, kiss his cheeks, and give him a big hug.



p.s. As it turns out, the white band was a doctor's lamp. A doctor came to talk to the students today and their craft was to make their own kit and lamp. Adorable. (the first picture is Isaac opening his kit to tell me what's inside...the second pic is only seconds later of him freaking out because a FedEx truck pulled up outside and he was afraid he would miss seeing it. this kid really loves trucks!)

p.s.s. We also learned today that Isaac is capable of taking a nap on a nap mat...and...without his "chupon!" (pacifier). Hmmm...I think it's possible the "Chupon Fairy" will pay us a visit in our near future.