Laugh and Learn

Friday June 24th, Gage and I went to the Northwest Branch Library and participated in the Laugh and Learn. At Laugh and Learn the library focuses on preliteracy and is for babies-4 year olds. It was a great time and a very relaxed atmosphere, which made it nice since Gage just wanted to walk around the whole time. :) They had a great big colorful carpet and books, rattles, bells, and scarves. The kids are allowed to play with whatever they want and Gage of course loved it. We sang songs, read books and interacted with the other kids there. There was a time Gage even wanted to get into this other little girl's stroller...she didn't have it. She even tried to hit him! It was a little funny because he just looked at her like "what did I do?"

When the teacher came out to start the lessons, she began by reading a book and Gage for just a few minutes stood in front of her and listened. He was so cute! Then we sang songs and danced. He did really good but then when he was ready to go, he was ready. He kept trying to walk right out the door. HA! We will go again this week and see how things go this next time. I'm glad they have things like this at the library...fun and FREE!

SWIM LESSONS!

Tonight was our first night of swim lessons and it was a lot of fun! We are taking swim lessons all week at Amarillo Town Club. It's inside and in the smaller pool so it's pretty easy and not deep. Tonight's lesson was all about getting them under water, floating on their tummies and moving arms like they would be swimming alone. Gage did SO good! He went under water real well and didn't come back up crying or anything. His eyes were pretty big when he came back up though. There were two other families there and they all said Gage had to go first under water because he was the oldest. :-) The swim lessons are for kids 6 months-36 months of age. So, under he went. He did really well! The other babies there were 6 months, so they were pretty little still, but they did just as good. Gage ended up laughing and making his usual motor sounds with his mouth....now only if we can take that to the water and make bubbles! He floated on his tummy really good (with us holding him of course) and Joe and I even practiced him swimming to the two of us. It was a lot of fun! Gage even held onto the side of the pool all by himself!! I coudn't believe it! He was so tired that on the way home from the Town Club he fell fast asleep. So sweet! What an incredible little boy we have! We are so BLESSED!

We will go the rest of the week and come out swimming pros I am sure. My friend Janice told me last year on the last day of swim lessons you get to go down the BIG slide outside. We shall see....stay tuned for more swim lesson stories and pics of hopefully the big slide at the end of this week.

Birthday Fun!

It's a MICKEY MOUSE PARTY!!! I cannot believe Gage is 1 year old! This year has just flown by! Every stage he is in I just love but wish that time would slow down just a little bit. We celebrated Gage's birthday with a cookout and family! We had a lot of fun!! Gage of course was the life of the party and loved having so many people to interact with. He got great presents and he plays with it all. He didn't really get into opening the presents like I thought he might...too much to look at and too many people. Next year I'm sure he'll be ripping it all open!

He had a Mickey Mouse Cake that was made by the BEST baker around...Mrs. Hale! She makes the best cakes. When it was time for Gage to eat his cake, we got him undressed and in his high chair and at first he tried throwing the plate of cake off of his table! Finally I got the plate back on and he stuck his finger in ever so slowly. He wasn't sure what to think. I pinched off a piece of the icing, gave it to him and after that he went to town. He LOVED the cake and ate it up. I was so worried that after he ate his cake some how or another I would see it again in some form or fashion. GLAD I NEVER DID!!!

We are thankful to everyone who was able to come to his party and missed those that couldn't be there. We are blessed to have such wonderful families!