Is that my little girl?

Bailey started dance on Saturday and it was beautiful! We were a few minutes early so that she could observe, but she didn't need it - she's a big girl (duh, mom). For the first 22 minutes, Bailey actually did everything that the teacher asked her to do. I don't think that she has performed that task (of following directions) since she was born, and even that was a forced obedience (via c-section). Oh, and I actually know the instructor. I've directed her in shows and played a number of rehearsals for another show that she was in.

Back to Bailey, about 1/2 way through the class, Bailey went to the teacher and told her that she needed to use the toilet - so I took her into the bathroom, but she had a pull up on so I was sure that she was just fooling us. SURPRISE - she was dry and actually did use the toilet - I was STUNNED!!

Needless to say, I sat there as a proud mom watching my girl be like a bunny and wave her arms like a tree and thought about what a beautiful little person she is becoming. I just love her spirit and love her spunk (with the exception of when she tells me, "I'm not going to do that mom") and just soaked it in.

Oh, and when you see her looking behind the instructor, it's because there's a wall length mirror that she just loved to watch. She couldn't take her eyes off of herself.

Here's some video of my tiny dancer:

Tiny Dancer - Part Deux

"I'm a beautiful Tinkerbell, Mama" is what Bailey has been exclaiming every time that she walks by a window or a mirror. Bailey and I went to pick up her dance "duds" today. She tried on ballet slippers and tap shoes, and then it was time for us to pick out her leotard. The only "rule" is that it has to be pink. So we looked through the leos and she found the one that she wanted. I felt like we should try it on first so we hit the dressing room and as soon as she saw it on she took a deep breath, spread out her hands in an "oh wow" expression and declared, "it's beautiful". And, she has been wearing it since. I hope we'll be able to get her out of it for her bath. I just don't think that it will dry before bedtime!

Tiny Dancer

As is well known, I grew up a gymnast. By the time I was in 7th grade I ate, slept, and breathed gymnastics. While I loved what I was doing, there is a part of me that, every once in a while, wishes that I'd tried other sports.

True story - during high school assemblies they often have "class competitions". In these competitions they would choose one person from each class to go to the main gym floor, in front of EVERYONE, and perform some "wacky" competition. At one of the assemblies my senior year, they had a "sport competition" where they chose one person from each winter sport. That person had to cartwheel out to a mat (gymnastics), jump rope a certain number of times (wrestling?!?!), ride a little square scooter thing on their stomach to a line (swimming?!?!) and then shoot a free throw (basketball). Well, the cartwheel gave me a huge lead which no one made up - until the free throw. I kid you not, I stood with that damn ball trying to make a free throw at least 3 minutes past the last person. Someone yelled, "aim for the backboard!" They could have said it in Amharek - it wouldn't have made a difference - I had no idea what they were talking about!

Of course, I don't share that story to indicate that I have always wanted to play basketball. At 5 ' 4 1/2" I don't think that I'd be of much use, and the game really never interested me. I simply note that I was a clod in any sport other than gymnastics.

Well - I've certainly strayed from the path on this post. The whole point is that Bailey has really enjoyed a number of sports (at her advanced age of 2 3/4). She had a blast in gymnastics. Totally loves soccer. Thinks that puddle jumping is the best of all (I include it as I think it should be named an Olympic sport). Enjoys swimming (when it doesn't hurt her ears). And is going to try dance this fall. It's a mixed ballet and tap class - I'm hiding the tap shoes when we're at home!! Can't wait to see my "tiny dancer" in the studio!! Of course, I'll have video to share when she begins - keep your eyes peeled for a full report on September 6th!

Oh, and did I ever make the free throw. Finally, after they had cleared all of the equipment used in the competition, I "sunk" one - while I didn't have much "skill" in other sports, my persistence never wavered!