Dance Class!

Today Lilly started "deencing class!" The morning was a bit shaky (thank you Krissy for your encouragement) because she woke up telling me she didn't want to go. She started freaking out saying she wasn't old enough to do dancing and didn't want to go. This all stems from school... the school trauma... I assured her I was staying there (which I also told her when she went to school this year so that wasn't very helpful) and that I'd be watching (oops they don't let you watch). She pitched a fit and I finally just told her she didn't have to dance but we were going and she could just watch.

By the time I put on her in her leotard and tights she was happy to go. I was just grateful and hopeful there wouldn't be a scene once we got there. Here she is all ready to go...
Here's the dance school. Lilly said, "Mommy is this my deencing fool?"When we got there we figured out which class was hers and I was happy to see that her teacher was a cute, young girl named Tiffany. Lilly showed no signs of being anxious. I think she was excited to see other little girls in dance outfits. This was when I found out you can't watch. Not only that but you sit on the floor in a hallway (dark hallway) and wait for an hour staring at the dingy wallpaper in front of you. Lovely. Lilly went in the class (even though one little girl was crying and I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop before Lilly got upset) and they shut the door. I was a bit panicked but didn't hear any crying so I figured all was well.

At one point a little girl needed to leave to use the bathroom so I got a peak inside and Lilly was holding Miss Tiffany's hand and they were toe tapping and counting. Lilly was the loudest one hollering, "SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT...!" and she looked happy as a clam. When the child reentered the classroom I sneaked a peak again and saw Lilly doing Angelina Ballerina twirls and looking at herself in the mirror. The only thing is no one else was twirling, lol.

I tried to nurse Ella while sitting on the floor of the hallway. I was trying my best to be discreet. Ella couldn't get a good latch (guess I was trying too hard at being discreet) and was screaming and starving. I was juggling my shirt, boob, blanket, and burp cloth. The mom next to me thought it was a good time to engage in conversation so I was mortified she'd see my boob. Finally I just got up and went and sat on the toilet in the tiny bathroom (pants on and pulled up of course) and nursed her letting my boob be exposed and not suffocating Ella with the blanket.

When the class was over Lilly came out with a sucker and a stamp on each hand. She was very happy and loved it. I talked to Miss Tiffany and she said Lilly was great. She said, "She's so cute!" and I asked her several times if Lilly listened to her. She said yes. Found out there are two 4 year olds in the class (they're very short - much shorter than Lilly so I was unaware), a 3 year old, and Lilly. When I told the teacher she was 2 she said, "Oh my gosh I had no idea. I thought she was much older. She doesn't act two!" I'm not sure how to take that but at least it gives Tiffany some perspective if Lilly was a bit free-spirited in class. All that matters is everyone was smiling when class was over including the teacher. I found out there is a recital in June and they'll be doing a ballet and jazz dance. I cannot wait!

After class we went to McDonald's to celebrate!
Ella was (once again) a trooper. She is starting to smile much more frequently and still just goes with the flow (thank you Lord!).