Matthew's First Day

I truly have no idea how Matthew is in 2nd grade. That is for big kids. But I get it now. I remember his first day of Preschool 3's and Preschool 4's and Kindergarten and First Grade like it was yesterday (please humor me and go back and click on those links before you continue to read.  I'm not kidding.  Do it so that you fully appreciate my sweet boy).  When other mothers would smile at me knowingly when I was pregnant and say "It goes so fast," or nod sweetly saying "When my son was this age ..." and I would think that I they didn't know me and that I was going to treasure each little memory and somehow make it slow down, or that they couldn't possibly remember in detail how it was to have a child the same age as Matthew, because their child was in elementary school and that was years away. But now I see. They did know. They did remember the details. Because it does go too fast. And it does seem like just a few months ago that we brought him home from the hospital and held him in our arms for hours on end. But somehow he's 7 and started 2nd grade today. And while I love his Matthewness, and his giant personality, and his intensity, his sweet side, his hugs and kisses, etc., my heart still aches for that tiny baby that he was for just a few minutes. Oh my...there is nothing like being a mother. 

Even I was shocked when I saw how old he looks in this picture!

Matthew's friend, Annabelle, is in his class again.  Love her!

Matthew's best friend, Reed.  Oh these two are quite a pair!