New adventures...

We've now been in Washington for 3 weeks!  This week has been particularly busy!  Maya and I had two play dates with new friends and we tried a new class at Little Gym.

We had been doing Gymboree Play and Music in California and loved it!  Once we moved, I discovered that the Gymboree that was near our new home had closed down and the closest location was 30 minutes away :(  Desperate for our normal routine, I signed us up anyways and we went to our first class last week.  It was generally the same, but they changed some of the songs and some of the movements with those songs.  I know it shouldn't be a huge deal, but Maya knows those songs and I was so excited for something familiar for her, it was really disappointing that even our trusty Gymbo was now different.  Add that to the long commute and I decided to look into other more local options.  

Deanna had told me about a Little Gym that was nearby...I had heard about it in California, but never checked it out.  I signed us up for a free trial class for this morning.

The sweet sign for us!  Made me feel so welcome!

We loved it!  Maya was a little hesitant as expected, but slowly detached herself from me and wandered around to check out the different gymnastic equipment for the kids to play on.  All the kids in her class were 10-19 months old and were in different stages of learning how to roll, grab and hold on to bars, walk on the balance beam, etc.  They also incorporate songs, parachute time and bubbles; all things we are used to at Gymboree.

baby steps towards new friends...

playing on the mats

Today was the end of the Spring session so it was "show" day and many dads and grandparents came along to see what the little ones had been learning.  At the end of the class there was even an awards presentation and everyone clapped and cheered while each child received a medal.  I wasn't expecting anything for us, but after everyone else was called, the teacher called out Maya and had a medal for her for "being brave".  I brought her up to the podium to receive her medal and held back the tears...seriously, my baby girl got a medal for being brave... so sweet and totally hilarious!!  I was so proud!

I decided this will be a great new activity for us!  I called and cancelled Gymboree and signed us up for a 10 week summer session at Little Gym.  We are turning over a new leaf!  Bye bye Gymbo, hello Little Gym!

We also had two play-dates this week.  For the first one, we met a friend of one of my old co-workers. Elizabeth and her sweet son Eli met us at a place called the Happy Nest which offers open play time in an indoor playground.  Maya and Eli had fun playing with all the toys and equipment while Elizabeth and I got to chat and hang out.  It was a great day and I definitely see more trips to Happy Nest in our future and hopefully more play-dates with Elizabeth and Eli!

Finally, we met my friend Mandy's friend from high school, Miriam and her daughter Kate.  There's a cute little place in Mill Creek town center called The Spotted Cow that serves ice cream and coffee.  We picked up a couple drinks and headed out to a great trail right behind the town center.  We had an awesome walk together and it was great to chat and get to know each other more.  Maya only lasted half way in the stroller and then needed to get out and walk!   She actually kept a good pace and towards the end of the walk, the girls got to see ducks!  

I'm excited for more play dates with Miriam and Kate!