Back to school is here. The hustle and bustle of cramming in last minute family vacations, shopping for school supplies, getting back into regular bedtime routines and saying our sweet goodbyes to pool days and fire pit nights.

As a kid, I remember picking out new shoes for school as being my favorite part of the back to school season, so I let my two oldest do the same. My middle (starting kindergarten) picked out some red, white and blue shoes because they reminded him of Captain America. My oldest (headed to second) picked out some plain black and white shoes because the other shoes looked like "toddler shoes" in his opinion. When I look at these shoes it makes me excited for what they will experience this year, but also makes my heart sink a little bit.

Here I was, looking at these shoes … these cool, fun shoes that they are so excited to wear on their first day of school and can’t wait to show their friends. But what I noticed? They aren’t the shoes of a little baby, they are big shoes. Shoes of a boy. The shoes they will wear stand in line for lunch, play dodgeball in P.E., walk down the big hallways and climb the playground equipment. The shoes that will house those stinky boy feet for the next school year. At one time, those stinky feet fit in the palm of my hand. The toes were teeny and furled, and there wasn’t even a need for shoes because he never left the cradle of my arms.

They say that your kids grow up fast. “Don’t blink,” they say. And they’re right. Suddenly, my babies are starting the most exciting years of their lives. They're getting ready to develop identities outside of our house. They're preparing to learn, grow, change, explore, question and evolve into their own little people. They are going to discover favorite subjects, favorite teachers and best friends. They will also discover the subjects they don't care for, become discouraged when certain things don’t come easily to them and experience the heartache of playground quarrels. All of this will help shape and mold them into the grown-ups they will one day become.

All this being said, I’m excited for both of them. I know that this only begins some of the most fun years of their lives, but also some of the fastest of mine. They are ready for kindergarten and second grade and can hardly wait to go. But for the last few days, I’m going to snuggle and love them a little extra. Even those stinky feet. Because my babies are now boys. Shoes and all.