Soft Spot

 This past Wednesday was Jackson's first day of Gymboree class.  As we walked in I was wondering what his reaction would be and how he would interact with other children.  Jackson got a huge smile on his face once he saw a room full of mats, tunnels, slides, and most of all other kiddos. Of course, he started saying "da!DA!DA!". I set him down and he was off! The excitement in his voice and his face was ridiculously heart warming.  He was overwhelmed and didn't know where to walk first! What to touch? What to push? This was just all too cute.

We started playing with some of the eqiupment and Jackson gravitated towards the big mats that he could "pat". He sat down and looked around at all the other babies with their mommies at one point and took a big breathe. This was just all so epic to Jackson.  I captured this cute picture of him taking it all in...

There was a little opening circle time with the teacher, parents, and babies. Jackson had found a big bucket of balls and was bringing them to other babies and mammas right before circle started. He noticed everyone gravitate towards the big mat, and I brought him over. I know that babies don't sit well for long (Circle time is all too familiar for me). My child was the child that didn't want to join circle and would rather go grab all the balls...this was his first experience so I had a feeling this would happen. I kept bringing him back to the group and he eventually caught on. The theme of the class for that day was climbing through tunnels, so I encouraged Jackson to do so.. we did one tunnel but that was because he was bribed by a ball at the other end! The teacher had a little cat puppet she was using to get the babies to crawl through tunnels and he blocked up the line of babies do to his deep love for kissing a kitty! At one point we got him to climb up a little stairway to the top of this jungle gym, and once he was up he smiled at his victory!

This experience was one of many that I will have as a Mamma. I felt overwhelmed with joy as I saw my child take on his own world. His personality was apparent as he goofed around and played with other babies.(Not to mention that he was the BEST and FASTEST walker) There was one point when I had to hold back tears as I looked over at him staring at other  Mammas and babies while clapping, giggling and  enjoying life.  Yes Jackson, I love you more.