All About Costumes

I complain so endlessly about the dance studio that Baby Girl attends you would think that

A. I would no longer be sending her there

and

B. I would just shut up about it and find a new place that is cheaper/closer/not so all about themselves.

You would be wrong.

Because

A. I am too lazy to research another place

and

B. Baby Girl has declared that she would like to be a Toe Dancer and I know this is one of the few studios that will train her how to do that the proper way.

So I suck it up (for the most part) pay my money, drive her to the class every Monday night September through June and go through a never ending rehearsal schedule for their Recital/Showcase (oh, don't even get me started on why they are called two different things).

This is our third year with Baby Girl at this studio and the first two years just about broke me. It wasn't the schedule, or even the money. It was the costume. Parents do not get any input in what the kids wear, so it is always a "surprise" that shows up as a picture on a bulletin board a few months before the show.

For our first show I must have had a very naive idea of what a 4-year-old should be wearing for a performance because I certainly wasn't expecting this:

I was expecting pink frilly tutu and got Go Go Dancer.

I had high hopes for our second show. Baby Girl was 5 and the costume was a lot more expensive. Again, expecting miles of tulle and pastel leotards. Wrong again:

I couldn't stop thinking "Madonna, circa 1985."

I was really thinking that if we can't get a cute costume going for a group of ballet loving 6-year-olds I might have to bite the bullet and find a new studio.

Last week I saw the other Moms hovering around the boards and got that sinking feeling. I approached slowly...and then I saw it:

(sorry for the poor quality, camera phone picture)

I think I scared the woman next to me when I started jumping up and down and clapping my hands and squealing with glee. It was CUTE! It was AGE APPROPRIATE! It didn't involve animal print or studded chokers!

Ok Dance Studio...you win. We'll be back.

I'm On Ur Blog Riting Ur Stuff

I Married A Polar Bear

Yes, that is Dr. Dad jumping into a lake...in February. The temperature that day was in the 20s with the wind chill.
The local Polar Bear Club has a jump every year to raise funds for a worthy cause. This year they were raising money for the local food bank.
Over 215 people jumped, raising over $22,000 for the food bank.
This is the first time he has done the jump. Dr. Dad has a generous heart. But I still think he is crazy.

7 Months

Another month goes by and here we are at your 7 month birthday. This has been a learning month for both of us, Baby Boy. I think I got it in my head that several things would be happening after you turned 6 months old. I thought you would be rolling over. I thought I might see some teeth break through. I thought I would see an end (or a big decrease) in your spitting up. None of those things happened. You are learning at your own pace, and in your now famous laid back style. I am learning that just because you have already had a child, you can not expect things to go the same way twice.

You are doing many things better this month. You are sitting up on your own very well, and as long as I have the crash zone well padded, you don't seem to mind when you topple over. You have tried all your vegetables and are moving into fruits now, and even though I am not sure you liked the carrots, you ate them up anyway. You sit in your high chair and throw your arms out to the sides and clench you hands open and shut very excitedly when we feed you. I have learned not to put the bowl down on your high chair or it is fair game for grabbing. You will drink happily from a sippy cup and are learning how to hold it by the handles and give yourself a drink.

The most exciting development this month is that you have really recognized your sister. It makes my heart so happy to watch the two of you together. She is finally getting more interested in playing with you. Sometimes I think she likes to play with you because I have brought out a toy from the bins in the basement that hold all her old baby toys. Sometimes I think she is just so happy that she can make you laugh.

This past month you watched your first Superbowl, and I am happy that both my children have now witnessed a Pittsburgh Steelers Superbowl victory. You had your first Valentines Day. I would like to say we've gone out and done some other firsts, but we've been stuck inside because of the weather. Even today it is snowing again. You are sleeping better at night and beginning to get a real schedule going and just being your usual mellow, happy self.

Hopefully your Mom has learned this month to just let it all happen when it happens. One thing I do know for sure is that I love you.