Growing so fast

I can't believe it, but Jack is starting preschool soon. Today was an unofficial first day, what they call a "phase-in" day. It was shorter than the three hours he will normally go, and parents (and baby sisters) got to attend as well.

Jack had a great time. He, of course, immediately gravitated to the trains. It will be interesting to see how his social skills develop over the next several months. I could tell he was getting anxious when other kids were getting too close or touching the trains and tracks he was playing with, although there were thankfully no tantrums. Hopefully that's not just beginner's luck.

After snack time, the kids had outdoor play time. Jack immediately took a shine to a little girl and followed her for the rest of the play time. But when it was circle time, he sat next to the one little boy that he already knows. It's nice that he already has a built-in friend. Hopefully it will make the transition easier for both kids. I think he's going to do just fine on the official first day, when he goes on his own.

Speaking of growing up, Violet went to bed for the first time in the crib last night. We had been putting her to sleep in a Moses basket up until then. Both she and Jack found it really overwhelming as newborns to go to sleep in the big crib. The Moses basket is smaller and makes them feel cozier. But Violet tends to sleep on her left side, and her feet were starting to bend the side of the basket. So we finally took it out of the crib yesterday and put her to bed on the mattress without it. And I never even got a picture of her in it. :(

Of course, the main reason why is that she really only sleeps in her room for a few hours in the beginning of the night anyway. She always eventually ends up in our room. And she naps on our bed. But still, putting away the Moses basket is just another sign that my baby girl is growing up and getting bigger.

One of the Jack's newest "games" is to tell me, "Soon I will be too big for you to pick up!"

I make a big show of being so sad about it. I say, "No, don't say that! That makes me so sad! You're still my baby!"

And he'll say, "I'm not a baby! I'm a big brother!"

And on and on, in that vein.

For some reason, he thinks this little back and forth is hilarious, and he laughs and laughs. The sadder I seem, the more he laughs. And of course, I make a big game of it all for his enjoyment, but I really do get a pang thinking about how fast both my babies are growing.