oh baby, where art thou

So lately I have been making a schedule for Anna and myself.   Doing so has enlightened me to the random world of baby activities.

As everyone knows being a baby is very stressful so we just finished a course in baby massage.  I am not sure but I assume after her massages she is much more relaxed.  There were some interesting things that happened in the class.  1.  Anna is a very busy baby.  She needed to have something in her hands in order for me to be allowed to massage her.   And even then it was a struggle.  2.  There was a boy in the class (colt)  he is 1 month her junior.  He was completely smitten with her, not taking his eyes off of her during the class.

Coming up this week we have found a few courses to replace baby massage, which has sadly ended.

1) on Wednesday we will be attending mum and baby yoga, she obviously is going to be more stressed now that baby massage is over, so it only makes since that she would need to have some relaxing yoga time.

2)  On a more academic side we have signed up for baby signing (I know you are wondering why we would take a class in it as I have had enough sign language experience to do it myself) but its free and Anna is British and as such should learn British sign language.  Plus, she LOVES to be around other children.

3) Anna also has entered the world of swimming lessons.  She is now officially enrolled in raindrops, a swimming course for 6 months to 3 years.  If she does well, she can earn her duckling 1, 2, and 3 badges.  I have a feeling she will do well as she can go under the water (she can even sit on the side of the pool and push herself in, as long as there is a reason, like dropping a toy or something)

4)  She now attends story time on the base on Fridays, as she needs some exposure to her country of citizen ship, and stories are a great way to learn.

5)  She also attends the child development center twice a week for a total of about 3 hours a week.  She has learned a lot from going there.  Including, after seeing all the babies being able to get around, she now has more desire.  After she went on Thursday while on the floor waiting for her bath she figured out how to push herself backwards.  Also she has got on her hands a knees a few times (I am pretty positive these developments are from going to the Child Development center)  I have stayed their with her this past week and watched her from across the room and she really learns a lot.  In the next few weeks I will be leaving her to go to the gym.

6)  She attends a toddler group to sing songs and make friends.  She is such a social baby.  Seeing other children or babies completely makes her day.  She gets very excited and loves singing time.

7) On Mondays we are going to the use the morning to visit friends, this Monday she will be going to a 2 year old's house whom we met at the medical center on base while waiting for a vaccine.

This might sound like a bit of a rigorous schedule, but each thing only lasts half an hour to an hour and a half a week.  We try to go out twice a day 1st time after morning nap and 2nd time after afternoon nap.  Also, most of it is completely free (with the exception of mum and baby yoga (the free course is full) and raindrops.  We have also attended a toddler praise class at a local church, but that is every other week, so it won't really work in our schedule.  We do also spend 2 afternoons a week at home just relaxing and spending time together.  Makes for a pretty great time and I have to say Harrogate is THE place to grow up as a baby, there is so much to do, and it is all fun!