Such A Big Girl!

I've talked many times about Ashby's bad separation anxiety.  Remember this post?!  Yeah.  Baby girl does not do well away from me.  So when we were told it was time to move up to the big girl gymnastic class, I was a bit nervous.

Today was the BIG day!  The first day that Ashby was going to her gymnastics class without her mama.  We've talked endlessly with her about how now that she is 3 years old, she is a big girl & doesn't need mama to be in class with her.  How much fun she will have in her big girl class.  How mama will be right up in the bleachers watching her the entire time.  How if she does well & doesn't cry, she will get a special surprise.  Or three.

Marc sent her a message this morning saying that if she did well in gymnastics class today, he would bring her home a special surprise from Dallas (where he's been all week).



And mama said that she'd buy her a special surprise if she didn't cry & did the gymnastics class by herself.

But when she wasn't quite convinced, i.e. tears were in her eyes, I threw in that Jenny the babysitter would bring her a special surprise if she was a big girl.  Guess I need to call the babysitter & give her a heads up.  Ha!

Well, that last special surprise perked Ashby right up!  She willingly (sort of) went into class this morning without a fight.  A few tears shed and a million hugs & kisses were given, but she did it! She went to class all by herself!

And the best part of all?!  She listened to the teacher, participated in class & had FUN!!!

At the end of class, I told the other parents watching with me that this was all kind of anticlimactic.  I was expecting much much worse.

But I will take it!  She did MUCH better than I had expected and I am so proud of my baby girl!

After class Ashby was super excited to get her special surprise from me.  I had no idea what I was going to give her, so I told her she got to pick the surprise.  You will never guess what she picked. *said with total sarcasm*

Her absolute favorite!  McDonald's!  Yum!

I've talked to her all afternoon about what a big girl she was & how proud of her I was.  I hope & pray that it continues well next class & in all future classes.  

This really gives me hope for swim lessons.  Fingers, toes & everything else crossed.

And now I need to go inform Jenny that Ashby is expecting a special surprise from her when she babysits the girls next.  Ha!