Already Bigger than a Chinese Gymnast
Mr. Husband is a very serious Olympics addict. Every two years, he parks his booty on the couch and watches every. single. moment of Olympics coverage. It doesn't matter if the event is Underwater Basket Weaving and the main contenders are from Liechtenstein and Montenegro, he's watching it. It makes him happy.
Alexis is a very serious Noggin addict. Every day, she parks her booty in her chair and harasses Mr. Husband until he converts into a human remote control and turns on Max and Ruby or whatever is on at the moment. It doesn't matter if the show is a mind-numbingly boring tale about a Latina Whore traversing a road, she's watching it. It makes her happy.
Put the two of them together and you have a recipe for LOTS of temper tantrums, not to mention how annoyed the Toddler gets when she doesn't get her way. It's really just OH! SO! FUN! for me.
Over the past few days, Mr. Husband has somehow won the vast majority of the battles for television supremacy. I may have had a little to do with his winning the battles, and not just because Hello, Mr. Phelps! I really would prefer that the kid didn't spend her day in daycare then come home and stand like a zombie in front of the TV. The adults can be zombies; she should color or play or harass me when she's not at school. Whatever.
Anyway, a few nights ago womens gymnastics came on while Alexis was happily coloring at her handy dandy craft table. She glanced up during the floor routine and was, quite simply, mesmerized. She put down the fat yellow crayon and stared and stared and stared as the girl ran and tumbled and jumped.
Alexis was clearly a fan. I don't know if the girl reminded her of Dora or what, but Alexis could not tear her eyes off the television screen.
And then suddenly she did.
Right before my eyes, the Toddler walked over to the rug in the middle of our wood floors and started doing somersaults. She? Was inspired. I? Was floored. And OH OH OH THE CUTE.
So cute.
Today I called and found a place that doesn't seem to take themselves too seriously and signed her up for gymnastics classes. I'm not sure how it is that Mr. Husband's Olympics obsession has turned into me giving up weekday coffee for the rest of the year, but whatever. Methinks the kid is a fan of the tumbling action and I'm willing to do what I need to for things to work with the old budget.
Psst, don't tell her that she can only grown another six inches and gain about ten pounds if she ever wants to be an Olympian. We don't want to crush her dreams, you know.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Reader Comments (39)
Wonderful! Sounds like your criteria is good (not taking themselves too seriously). Just watch out for the winter Olympics and that girl. Good luck finding a place with will teach her to Curl.
My 3yo on the other hand? Still swinging his arms like an ape playing drums like in the opening ceremonies. Woe is me.
LOL! She's going to have a blast! Have fun and run and tumble Alexis! Be the wonder darling one!!
It could have been winter. And skiing. Like, in the snow. With skis. That would be way harder to support the kids' dreams.
***Shiver***
"Hurry up and jump and slide and ski and stuff. It's cold out here."
Wow that is seriously adorable!
she's about the same age as some of those chinese gymnasts, though... doh! did i say that????
go, alexis!
Oh, I can say I knew her when!! Good job, mama!
10 pounds? Who are you kidding? Did you see the gymnasts from China? Alexis might have to stop eating now!!
Hallie :)
Just make sure she used 25 multi-colored barrettes in her hair so it doesn't fall into her face while she performs.
I think that Ashlyn is already bigger then the Chinese gymnasts...I know gymnasts are small, but really.....
I love your description of the fight over the tv!
Go Alexis! I hope she has a blast.
Those Chinese gymnasts? No way they are all 16 and up. No. Way. But as always, China's government makes their own reality.
Too young or not, they were amazing. It is so moving to see what these athletes can do!
Peace - D
She is going to have so much fun! I can't wait for pictures.
Because she's American she can still be in the Olympic running. The US gymnasts are positive Amazons compared to China. Good grief. Exploiting children.
how exciting!
Miss Peach is in a tumbling class. Very laid back, and she loves it. Have fun!
I bet she looked so friggin cute doing her somersaults!!!!
So cute! I hope she enjoys gymnastics! Caleb has been mesmerized by the olympics too but I think it is mostly because it involves two of his favorite things, balls and flags. Can't wait to see pics of Alexis tumbling around.
awww she'll love it and look oh so cute. My three little ones are all doing gymnastics for the first time this summer and they have a blast...they go each saturday morning for an hour starting at 9. Giving up sleeping in sucks...but seeing how much fun they have rocks
My little Elanor is only One...but I can't wait to put her in gymnastics! how fun!! Were currently don't have Noggin because our satellite doesn't catch it.....and it's definitely the most MISSED channel in our family;-)
Uh-oh. She's got the bug now.
Soon you will be eating, sleeping, and well pottying gymnastics!
Enjoy the cute tumbling now before you want to pop your eyeballs out and feed them to the bulldog.
BTW....picturing cute tumbling....so cute!
Yep. We're looking into competitive swimming over here. Oy.
And her age window is closing in, so you better get a jump in now! I say just take her out of school and do gym classes 22 hours per day. K. So have fun!
She will make a great gymnast, she has the spunk. I wish my mom would have let me take gymnastics, I just know I would be able to do that quadruple back flip on the balance beam instead of falling on my face just trying to walk across it.
Tiny Montenegro hasn't gotten that much love and adoration from an American since The Great Gatsby. I love you for giving them a shout out, Burgh.
Oh, and Alexis is already older than the Chinese gym team, too.
Is it Gymkhana? I did that when I was 3 or 4. I think they're fun without promoting anorexia.
No growing cutie! Kay?
My kids are enjoying it too. Mostly just criticizing the divers with us (snark snark, like WE can dive!!??)
Aaawww...I know my sister would love to do that now! I think 34 might be a tad old for the Olympics though. lol
She is going to have so much fun there!
OMG - is it totally awful that I can't wait for the blog posts that are sure to come from tumbling class debauchery?!
I could have skipped every other sport, but the gymnastics just fascinated me. Still does.
We need pics of tumbling!
Guess this means I have to get my oldest into diving. He kept "taking the plunge" off the sofa the other night. Don't worry, he's fine.
Go Alexis!
Cute cute cute! Did you see the Chinese synchronized divers? They were amazing and a little creepy if you ask me.
She'll be SO CUTE.
I've posted about Phelps too. With pictures. Suddenly I'm a swim fan.
I LOVE the tumbling little ones!!! THEY ARE FREAKIN ADORABLE!!!
oh pshaw...we grow 'em big in the ol' USA...you can be a good 50-55 lbs and still be a gymnast. ;)
and I think I would die of cuteness watching her do her somersaults!
That is so adorable! I hope she enjoys the classes. I loved gymnastics when I was younger, and my little one really liked the tumbling class we took last spring.
I keep hoping that the Pumpkin will get glued to the gymnasts so I can catch up with all that I've got on DVR, but she's only mildly interested. She's still just too young. She doesn't quite translate it to what she did at the tumbling class either. Maybe another year.
All last night, my 6yo was saying, yeah I can do that. I asked her then how come I've never seen her do a back handspring on the beam. And she said, Duh cuz you're always reading a book. It's true, I can't argue with her. She very well may be the next Shawn Johnson and I have no idea because her gymnastics class is the only time I have to read.
Oooohh! I'm glad I read back and saw this one, cuz I definitely want to know how that goes. How cute will she be in her little gymnastics leotard? Good mommy!