Full of Grace

I am not a graceful person. By nature, I am clumsy, heavy footed, and lack elegance. I grew up more of a "tom boy" finding things like fashion, make-up, and nail polish of little priority. I remember once listening to my dad talk about his kids and make the comment that he did not get a "girl" out of the bunch, as my sister is similarly natured to myself. As I have gotten older, I have an appreciation for "girly" things, as I like to hold an air of elegance to some degree, however it does not come naturally to me.
I remember the moment the doctor told us we had a girl. As mentioned in previous posts, gender is always a surprise for us until birth. And a surprise it was. Due to my previously mentioned nature, having a girl was not something I thought I could manage. I saw myself as a boy mom. God, however felt differently. And He is always right. I recall the moment my mom sat at my bedside the next morning gazing at this new little bundle

She told me she could not wait to go shopping now that we new the baby was a girl. The excitement in her eyes as she described frilly dresses and hair bows frightened me. The dresses came pouring in from family and friends. I had never seen so many. And pink, do not even get me started on everything that can be made pink. I took it in stride. At first our girl did not like bows in her hair and tights made her itch. As she grew into a toddling two year old things started to change. They were subtle changes but I noticed. A sudden interest in my necklaces, lotion and nail polish. We would go to the stores and we could not leave without a new chapstick or hair bow. And then one day I saw her twirling around the kitchen, hands stretched up in the air as she proclaimed, "look at me! I am a ballerina!" Shortly after the daily requests to go to ballet started. I was not surprised. I would sit and watch her all of the time and it seemed like ballet would be a natural thing she would gravitate towards. She has that natural graceful quality that her mother lacks. An inherent quality that ballerina's seem to carry easily. The way she holds herself and articulates herself, even at her young age, shows that she will enjoy the finer things in life. And so, last night was her first ballet lesson. At the dance studio they do not start ballet lessons until after their fourth birthday, for anatomical and maturity reasons. The dance instructor however, hearing about my little lady, said to bring her to class and she would see how she does. 

After class, I was informed that she did amazingly well. She listened intently, even better than some of the 4 and 5 year olds. She practiced and studied the teacher as she was being taught first position and arabesque, all terms I will need to learn quickly. And that she most certainly can come back for the remainder of the semester. As we drove home from her first lesson, she chattered non stop about her experience and excitedly called her dad to tell him all about it. She walked around the house last night like she was ten feet tall but did it in the most graceful, girly manner. I have no doubt that this season will provide us with much entertainment as she embarks down this new path. And honestly, I am loving every minute of it.