And we have a SECOND GRADER!!!!!

I am not sure how I am even old enough to say that!!?!!

Second grade seems so big and grown up! 

Our little  BIG guy is off to second grade!

He is practically a pro at this whole school thing!

We are so blessed to have the opportunity to be in Mrs. Cottle's class again this year. She looped up to the 2nd grade and all of us parents got to choose if we wanted to loop up with her. Needless to say it was a unanimous decision for the whole class. Having the same AWESOME teacher in the same classroom with all the same friends (plus a few new ones too!) has made the last few weeks leading up to 2nd grade pretty easy!

There wasn't as many nerves or anxiousness from Hensley or us in the weeks before school started.

We had a great open house and even though we were in the same room his teacher had totally transformed it into a camping theme and it looked AWESOME!

This really made Hensley excited to start!!!

We took our yearly first day of school pictures :) He is getting so big!!!

Just look how much older he looks from last year :(

We had a nice little talk on the way to school. He was excited for everything. I thought for myself this year would be super easy because we had done it so many times before......however it wasn't. I cried all the way home :(

I went to school on the second day and had lunch with Hensley and his sweet friend Noah :) 

Going back to school also means we get to see all the early morning glory :)

The first week of school was amazing! Hensley has been dressing himself and he clearly doesn't care if his shoes match his outfit! He is getting so big and we are so proud all his amazing talents and abilities. He is so smart and independent. We pray for him every day to continue to have a good heart, follow GOD, and do his best in everything he tries.

Can't wait to see what 2nd grade has in store for our sweet boy!

**Update: The next two weeks of school came with lots of fear and anxiety. We were not sure where it was coming from but he would be very nervous the night before and we even had a few mornings with tears. He had one morning where he had a full blown panic attack in the drop off line. We spent lots of time talking about his fears (which most of the time it came out that he was afraid I would not be ok while he was gone or that something would happen to me while he was gone.) We did a lot of reassuring and giving extras hugs. We also did a lot of distracting in the mornings looking out the windows at things or talking about video games so he didn't have time to think about the day ahead. It finally did pass and his teacher was super helpful. She would allow him to come in the class room each morning and play on the computer instead of going into the gym with the entire student body. This was so great for him because he could be alone and also focus on something else for a little bit. We were very blessed to have her and are so thankful that he has now moved past it :)