Ashley graduated from her Bugs class at The Little Gym yesterday (tear, sniff sniff).  There was a ceremony and all of the babies got medals.  They had a little podium with an American flag hanging above and everything.  It was so cute!!  Daddy even came to watch and take pictures!  When we return in the fall, she will have moved up to the Birds class, which is for 10-19 month olds. 

It’s amazing to me how much Ashley has grown in the few months that we have been going to The Little Gym.  She has really opened up and gained self confidence.  When we first started, she hated the parachute and would cry when her teacher, Mrs. Leanne, got it out.  Now she will sit in the middle of the parachute with the other babies.  She used to cry when other people held her.  Now Leanne and the other parents can hold her without upsetting her.  She can sit up on her own now, perform back rolls and forward rolls.  She’ll put her hands down and tuck her head under.  She has learned to socialize with the other children.  Her favorite part of class is the end when we sing our Goodbye song and clap our hands.  She claps with me and laughs.   Sometimes she’ll even get a squeal in there!

I was a little reluctant when I first signed us up.  a) It costs money and b) How much would Ashley get out of it?  It’s not like she could run around and do somersaults.  After all, she was only 5 months old when we started.  She wasn’t sitting up unassisted and wasn’t interested in anything or anyone but me.  But each week she seemed to like it more and more and I am so glad we stuck with it.  It has been beneficial to us both.  We have made baby friends and Mommy friends and some of us have been getting together for playdates.  I hope we can maintain these friendships as our children grow. 

Ashley has really come out of her shell and I am so very proud of my Big Bug!   We can’t wait to see what the Birds class has in store for us come August!