When we came home from China I wanted to get Jetta into some sort of program that incorporated tumbling, gymnastics and other activities, in order to get her use to being in a group, as well as active.
After talking with a friend, I decided that the Little Gym might just be the place to go. We went for our first visit back in April or May and have not stopped going since. We go once a week and each week the kids learn new activities, explore all the gym equipment, and just get to run around and be kids. Jetta absolutely loves it. She has learned many great things since starting and some not so great things. The not so great thing is the ability to hang from a bar and not be afraid.
You might be wondering why that is not such a great thing. Well, long story short, it has given Jetta the confidence to climb out of her crib! Since she knows how to hang on the uneven bars at Little Gym, and once her arms tire that you just drop down. Well, that provided a great platform for her to crawl out of her crib. She doesn't take the easy route, by that I mean, climbing over the front rail....nope, not my little dare devil. She opts to climb over the end that isn't against the wall. Since the end rails are taller and rounded (kind of like a sleigh bed), she is able to get up over it, grab the rounded edge, hold on and drop to the floor without a problem. I'm surprised when she lands she does say "ta da"....as you'll see in one of the pictures I'll attach, she loves to say "ta da" when she finishes up something and it should be a "ta da" moment.
So, now, she has figured out how to climb out and makes her way across the house and knocks on my bedroom door at 3:30 in the morning, saying "mommy". Fortunately she has only done this twice, but none the less, not something I was hoping she'd figure out.
So, long story short, Little Gym has been great for building confidence and the ability to climb out of the crib. All joking aside, the Little Gym is great, we love it and as you'll see in the pictures, she just finished her last session, got her medal and has already started her next class. I look forward to her continuing to grow and developing more skills, which by the way, she walks across the balance beam on her own and will jump off the end (of course only when Shannon or I are there to catch her). I think I might have a little gymnast on my hands. She's still a little young to put her in an official program, but if she continues to show interest in another year or so, I will get her into an actual gymnastic program.
Here are a few pics from her last session, such a big girl.... however, notice the ribbon holding up her pants.....yep, my almost 22 month baby needs something to hold up her 12 to 18 month pants. She can still wear some 12 month pants, but they are starting to get a bit short, but 18 month pants are perfect for length, but definitely require a belt (wrapped around her twice). She's is finally almost 24 lbs and 32 inches tall. So, she has gained nearly 10 lbs since we came home 10 months ago (today) and 3 or so inches. I guess that would explain why the 12 month pants are to short. Anyway, enjoy the pictures.
