Treats and Gymnastics

Avery and mommy have had a couple of busy days!  Yesterday, I decided to brave the holiday shoppers and head to the mall.  I wanted to see how Avery would behave with just her and I.  The trip was good and bad.  First, I was annoyed that I couldn't find a parking spot on a Wednesday afternoon.  But when I finally did, we headed inside to get cookies from Mrs. Fields. They have the cutest little cookies that are just Avery's size.  It was a hit, but once she finished her cookie she screamed to get out of her stroller.  Ok, so off we went, Avery pushing the stroller under me as we walked through the mall.  She would try to dart from time to time.  It was a bit too much for me to try to keep track of her and the stroller!  At one point we were in the Disney store, which Avery loves, and she had two cups she was carrying around.  I was trying my best to keep up with her while trying to maneuver the stroller through the tight spaces and ALL of the freakin' people-um it was 1 o'clock in the afternoon, does nobody work-when Avery took off weaving her way to the entrance of the store!  I was so worried that she would be booked for shop lifting that I ditched the stroller, practically pushing people over, and I caught her just in time!  After that, we headed to the small play area.  WAY too many kids.  Avery likes to go right up to other kids and hug and tackle them, so I decided there were too many to try and referee.  We headed up to the fountain, where she was in amazement for a short time.  We made a complete trip around the mall and Avery was starting to want to go in all the stores so, in an attempt to distract her, I took her to Auntie Anne's.  She happily sat in the stroller to eat her pretzel and let me stroll her to the car!  Phew, it was exhausting, but good to get her out.  It is just too crowded and it really annoys me.  Then, this morning, we had our first gymnastics class.  Avery has joined the itty bitty bugs at a gym just down the street.  Oh my.  I think I was more tired than she was after!!  She got to do the high balance beam, and we found out she's not good at walking in a straight line, yet!  She also got to hang on the uneven bars, which she really liked.  But when it wasn't her turn to do these I was chasing her around and she wouldn't listen to me at all!  I felt like all of the other kids were so much more behaved.  She wouldn't sit and stretch or listen to her instructor.  She kept picking up the floor directions (like feet and hands) and handing them to another dad-I felt bad that my kid was bugging him!  At the end, they do bubbles and Avery tried to hit other kids with her wand and take other kids' wands!  On the positive side, she only bear-hug-tackled one girl the whole class:)  I was a little frustrated and exasperated by the end and I must have been wearing it on my face because a few of the other moms told me there kids took about a month to adjust to the class and were just like Avery when they started.  Whew!  I felt a little better.  Avery wasn't a bad girl or anything.  I just realized how much work my daughter needs on learning to take direction and understand that we can't just do whatever, whenever we want.  Hopefully, this class will help teach her some structure and boundaries.  I wanted to take pictures, but clearly couldn't pause for a second do that, so if Artie makes it for a class then I will hopefully take some then!  All in all, it's been good to do things with my daughter.  I'm trying so much to cherish the precious time with her! 

Avery enjoying her yummy chocolate chip cookie.  She kept saying "mmm" the whole time she ate it and even shared some with mommy!

What a beautiful sight-and sound!!  This was Avery after leaving the mall, she was so tired!!  She also looked this way after gymnastics-mission accomplished:)

One of her two stamps that she got at the end of gymnastics class.  This hand had a reindeer, the other had a snowflake.