I watched him with a warm smile as he walked into the room. Paper graduation cap on his head. Trying to contain his proud smile with a little grin. And waving to me the whole time as sweet a little bird.

My Carter. My middle guy. The one who is so tiny and cute and sensitive that I want to keep him forever just as he is and protect him from the big huge world.

But last week, he graduated from Pre-K, and that means the beginning of a new era for him. Real school. With a bus, lunch in a cafeteria and many hours away from my momma nest. And he sat on his tiny chair, still barely able to touch his feet to the ground, and he sang what seemed like a hundred songs reminding me that Kindergarten was on it’s way and preschool was a thing of the past. Once again, it was a reminder of how the days go by so slowly, but the years much too fast.

I have him home full time for the next three months. So we are playing hard–play dates galore, friends over for cookouts, ice cream cones in the yard, trips to parks, playgrounds and the library. And until September, he’s still my little preschool guy. 🙂