Sniff, sniff. :-)

My baby took her first ballet class today.  It's a 5/6 combo type class where they do a little tap and then a little ballet, and an hour later, they get to leave with a butterfly stamp on their hands.  It's what is appropriate for this age of kids...  I've seen the dancers that this school puts out.  In about 3 years, the intensity will match desire, for sure.

But, for now, she's taking ballet.  And she was SO excited today.  Heck, she's been excited for months now.  She has had August 17 scored into her memory for just as long.  But today has been a mix of excitement and nerves about doing this new thing for the first time.  And she acted JUST like I used to before going on stage.  She didn't really want to talk or be talked to as she changed out of her street clothes and put on her tap shoes.  She needed to deal with her nerves in her own way.  It made me smile way deep down in my soul, because there was an understanding for her that she couldn't even know that I had.

Those who know my background know that this was probably a bigger deal for me than even for her.  But, this I promise you.  I don't expect her to love ballet.  If she does, then I'll be thrilled.  It will be such a joy to be able to share this endeavor and all its emotion with her, because I'll know where her mind is taking her and what her heart is feeling.  But I don't expect it of her.
All I really, really want for her - for any of my children - is for them to find that activity that they truly love to do.  To have a physical activity that you love to do adds a dimension to one's life that can not be matched by anything else.  To be blessed to be able to pursue that activity because of the sacrifice of your parents while you're growing up is a great thing.  To have something that may not be your profession, but is your passion, (even during the time of your life where you can't always pursue that passion), is a greater thing.  I truly believe it is a gift from God to have that in your life.

I had no idea when I was 5 years old and just starting ballet that it would turn into what it did for me.  She doesn't know where this will take her either.  But I pray that God will bless her and Toot and Sparkie with a passion for a physical activity.  It's a great, wonderful blessing.

Thank you for that verbal indulgence.  And now, what the grandmothers actually want.  Pictures!  :-)  Make sure you see the last couple of pictures.  My sweet, precious husband did a most wonderful, precious thing for his firstborn.

Poodle strikes a pose before we leave the house for the studio.

A little arabesque for the joy of dance!

We're at the studio, and she's getting her socks and tap shoes on.  They take their bags in with them and will change into ballet shoes at some point during the class.  The killer thing for me was the fact that I couldn't watch the class.  At all.  Not even through a little window in the door or anything.  At least I knew that going in - but it was still hard not to sneak in the studio so I could watch her having fun!

Waiting with her classmates to go into class.  She's all grown up and still a baby at the same time.  To me, anyway.

And when her sweet Daddy came home from work tonight, he walked in the door saying "where's my little ballerina?" and bearing beautiful flowers just for her.  I had no idea he was planning to do it.

And it meant as much to me as it did to her!!!

She can throw a baseball.  She can kick a soccer ball.  She can whack a ball with a bat better than her mom can (admittedly, this isn't a huge stretch).  She's fearless with so many things that she does, and isn't afraid to sweat.

But, for now, she's Daddy's little Ballerina Girl.