Gymboree Day

Now that the obligations of the holidays are behind us and the new year is in full swing, we've been itching to get out and do something with our free time. Kind of hard with an almost-10-month-old in the dead of a snowy and frigid winter.

I accompanied my youngest niece and brother to a little place in Carmel called Gymboree Play & Music when she was but a wee little thing many years ago.  I remember her having an absolutely fantastic time toddling around in the colorful indoor gym and playing with the other kiddies.  Although David is quite a bit younger now than she was at the time, I researched the place anyway and discovered that they offer "classes" suited to little ones as young as 3 months.  I also found an offer for a free preview class.  With cabin fever really setting in and being unable to find any other indoor entertainment alternatives for babies his age, we signed up this week and went this morning.  What a treat!

Right off the bat, our parental chests were swelling with pride as we watched David crawl around the room, pulling up on the various obstacles and unabashedly approaching the other sedentary, drooling babies that did little else than sit at their parents' feet and gape at David's ambulatory prowess. Cory even gave me the thumbs up once, I'm assuming to acknowledge the obvious advancement of our son, and I hope none of the other parents saw this and felt bad about their remedial offspring.

(Author's note:  the above paragraph is a joke, but kinda true, LOL).

Once class began, David had a great time trying to wrestle out of my arms while the instructor, Miss Melissa, led various songs and activities.  While the other parents manipulated the limbs of thier babies like dolls, all to music and the commands of Miss Melissa, I tried in vain to restrain David as he crawled around the circle snatching the other kids toys, attempting to touch their faces, and trying to make friends with their envious parents.  Cory and I had to take turns chasing after and attempting to hold him because it was so exhausting.  We didn't realize that we, too, would receive a workout as part of the package.

The highlight of the class was the finale, when Miss Melissa blew bubbles with an amazing contraption, and the play space was filled with thousands of tiny bubbles.  David LOVED this.  He also loved watching Miss Melissa as she shamelessly belted out all of the little ditties.  I have to admit I was a little jealous, I'm not sure I liked the admiring gaze he kept fixing on her.  I endured it in the name of fostering his development and socialization, but I'd better still be his favorite gal.

Although we all know that David is a pretty special creature, I will now admit that we signed up for the 6-10 month class because it fit better with his nap schedule than the one for 10-16 month-olds, so he was on the brink of being not just developmentally but also chronologically more advanced than his unfortunate peers.  So, when the instructor suggested that he might be more appropriate for the next level because of his obvious abilities, the sale was made.  And this, folks, is how a "free" class transforms into a full-fledged, dues-paying membership to a (probably) overpriced little operation.  Genius.  And worth it.  Worth. Every. Penny.

Can't wait to see what he does next week with the big kids.  :)