Little Gym

Molly and I went to the Little Gym today for a free visit. It is a mommy and me class that we went to for 10-19 month olds. The Little Gym has classes for kids starting at 4 months on up. It turns into gymnastics training as you get older. Today, Molly did her first summersault. Ok, really she put her hands down and I flipped her over in total control. (don't worry Grandpa she is fine) She loved every minute of it. She was the youngest in the class and the only one not walking yet but that didn't stop her from doing anything. Steve (the owner and teacher) said that she is a very active little girl and when she starts walking-watch out, we won't be able to keep up with her. He was impressed with how strong she was. She was able to do the London Bridge (hold onto a bar, feet on the wall so you are parallel to the floor while being supported so they don't fall) better than some of the older kids. GO MOLLY!!! She is our strong little girl with a crazy grip. Don't mess with our little girl! Sorry no pictures. I was too busy chasing that girl around the gym. It is a room full of mats and all sorts of gymnastics equipment. I loved the parallel bars that were her height. She held onto them and took a few steps. We also did barrel rolls down a sloped pad. And bounced on a springboard. She was so cute. Laughing all the time. You could see her brain taking it all in when she would stop and watch the other kids. I think it will be good for her to be in a class with older kids. We will she how much we get to go. The summer sessions are the most convenient times, I would need to change her napping routine for us to go once a week. We shall see.

crazy!

It is crazy to think our little girl is going to be 1 year old in 6 weeks. Where has the time gone? I know, everyone says time flies and they grow up so fast. It's still hard to believe. We have so much fun watching her explore and learn. And WOW can she get into everything!!! Some days it hits me harder than others about how much she has changed. Molly is a very happy girl, always smiling. Such a little flirt. She is clapping her hands and waving more and more. So cute!!! I had been showing her how to clap but she wouldn't do it with me. Then all of a sudden last week, I realized she was clapping. I don't know exactly when she started doing that.

Yesterday, David came over to play with Molly and I while the boys played softball. David is 3 months and cute as ever. I was having a hard time remembering back to what Molly was doing at 3 months. What our routine was. They have 2 different perspectives on the world. David is laid back taking in everything while Molly is busy touching and tasting everything. I forgot how easy a diaper change can be when the child isn't trying to crawl or walk away from you. We change most of Molly's diapers while she is standing at the coffee table. It is easier for her to entertain herself and stay still long enough for us to get the old diaper off and a new diaper on. Of course, the diaper is usually crooked! But that would happen if she was laying down or standing.

Molly is a strong little girl. For such a petite thing, she is strong and stubborn. She will let you know if she doesn't want to do something-like get in her highchair or carseat. Those have become my latest struggles. She goes straight and stiff as a board and doesn't give up. I know this is only the beginning for our power struggle. She hasn't eaten a jar of baby food in awhile. We still try and sneak one in every now and again to use up what we have. She only wants what we are eating. I have never gotten so much use out of my Magic Bullet until now. Makes mealtime so much easier. She has 4 teeth now with 2 more showing signs of coming soon. She started biting me again yesterday so I know a new tooth should be coming in the next 2 weeks. I hope I can last that long!!

She is getting so independent but always comes back to me for a snuggle when she wants a break from exploring. She has been super excited about the weather getting warmer now so she can go out and play on the deck. She is so funny about going thru the slider. We have a welcome mat just outside the door. She won't touch it. She also hasn't decided the track that the slider sits in is ok to crawl over. She will hold on to the door or to me and stand up to "step" over it. Floyd set her in the grass yesterday. Molly didn't like it. She held her hands up in the air so she wouldn't touch it. And then hurried to climb onto daddy's leg so her feet didn't have to touch the grass either. It was pretty funny. Well, my sweet little girl is napping so I should try and get some of my to do list done before she wakes.

feeding herself

this is Molly's first attempt at feeding herself with a spoon. we missed recording her getting a huge bite. she was so surprised when she put it in her mouth.

tornado molly

She is so proud of herself. And look standing all on her own, not holding onto anything!!

New Daddy

Is that not a sweet face or what?
It's that time again. Floyd cut off 12 inches of hair to be sent to Locks of Love. When Molly got there, his hair had already been cut off. She just stared at him for a few minutes. He was talking to her and she just looked at him. All of a sudden she realized it was daddy and was all smiles again. It was fun to watch her figure it out.

the last few weeks

Molly at her job. She is part of a research project at UW. She currently is learning Mandarin Chinese. Well, only a few words. Pretty much she gets paid to play. We have a good time.

Another view of her play area at her "job" She'll have quite a savings account when she gets older.

Playing with David

Molly had to get in on the picture and momma's lap. She was a little jealous I was holding David.

crazy face after bathtime. Floyd thinks we should buy an ad in her senior yearbook with this photo. I think it might make it into the finals.