June takes ballet

Our sweet girl turned three yesterday.

She is the dearest, most precious girl to us — cheerful, funny, surprising in her observations, the best big sister, imaginative, independent, and a gleeful enjoyer of life :) We feel incredibly lucky that we were chosen to be her parents, and try to simply enjoy her each and every day, per the immortal advice of my grandmother. (She makes it easy!)

We celebrated her birthday on Sunday with her requests: blueberry muffins and fruit for breakfast, spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, and church, presents, and a first try at her balance bike in between. Her legs are still a bit short for it, but by the time spring and summer roll around, I know she’ll be zipping around our neighborhood like a pro!

Aside from the bike, her presents included a leotard, tights, ballet slippers, and tap shoes because… she’s starting her first ballet class today!! She already has dance class every other week at her preschool, and she LOVES it (in fact, when we did her birthday interview and asked her what she’s “really good at,” her answer was “dance class!”). I hope she enjoys this deeper dive, but if not, it’s just 45 minutes for eight weeks through Parks & Rec.

While it should come as no surprise I’m thrilled she loves to dance, and think my heart might grow a few sizes when I watch from the sidelines later today, I’m not sure anything can make me happier than our daily pre-bath dance parties — the ones where she says, “dance with me, Mama!” and squeals like I hung the moon when I oblige.

The only thing that makes the heart squeeze of her being a year older a little easier?

Knowing there will be more of those moments :)