For her birthday, we enrolled Natalie in a gymnastics class at the Y. We thought that it would be a great way for her to burn off some steam from being cooped up because of cold, that it could be a day for Nat and I to hang out without brother Ben, and that she could get some socialization with kids her own age. Check. Check. And check.
To be truthful, I wasn't sure how much content there would be in a class for 2-4 year olds (and is it just me or is that a BIG range at that age?). But the instructor is a sweet college age girl and does a wonderful job with the 6 crazy toddlers she has on her hands. She has different stations around the gym and the kids move from area to area and take turns doing the skill at each station: walking on the beam, stepping over blocks on the beam, swinging on rings, somersaults, handstands against the wall. Beginner stuff, but actual gymnastics nonetheless. Nat was so shy at first and stayed close to me for nearly the whole first class. But three classes in and she's a model student. She has even bonded with (no surprise here) the biggest kid in her class. She's the youngest and smallest.
We are also loving our Wednesdays together. Ben goes to Aunt Beth's to play for a couple of hours while mama and Nat go to gymnastics, then to lunch, and usual run and errand or two before heading home. She's such a funny kid, with so much to say. It's been really nice to focus just on her, because honestly it's easy to overlook all the cool stuff she's doing lately because Ben requires so much time and attention.
Speaking of Ben...
Ben's trying really hard to roll over all of a sudden. I have been giving him little pep talks, because immobile Ben is a sitting duck on days when Jack is here. He has to dodge both Jack and Nat, and that's not easy to do when you're defenseless!
Natalie is talking in multiple sentences now. She's "reading" books to herself and to Minnie (speaking of Minnie, check out her sporting her Minnie night gown!), and she's coming up with some real gems that I'll casually overhear:
"Jack Hamburger" Tuesday she was referring to Jack as Jack Hamburger. I'm guessing she's heard me call him by his full name and Hamburger is how she remembered it sounding!
"I'm so gorgeous." She was walking around saying this to herself and to any of her toys that would listen!
"Oh! Nat Nat made a piggy in church." That was actually said in church after she did, in fact, burp. Lovely.
"Nat Nat is a girl and Ben is a baby." I've been trying to teach her the boys versus girls concept....
our mama and Nat dates always include cookies...obviously!
Hahaha, oh my goodness, she does say the funniest things! Her little voice and pronunciation make it so much cuter too.
ReplyDeletePoor Ben in that headlock! I think that there will NOT be a day that he retaliates against her because... he's just too sweet.