Playgroup

On Thursday afternoon we attended a playgroup in town held in a school gymnasium. It's typically held in a classroom, so this time Teenie Bird was quite intrigued, and a lot apprehensive of the new environment. She was very excited to go and check it out while we were at home.

I went back to get the camera before we left, 

and she requested I take this picture of her

A trademark characteristic of children with hypotonia (low muscle tone) is that they're big people watchers, especially when it comes to physical activities. They sit and analyze situations, studying how individuals do certain physical tasks. Whether this is so they have some clue when they go on to attempt the same task themselves, or they just enjoy watching other children play, I don't know.

Either way, this personality trait of sorts, was out in full force at playgroup, as she sat with one particular toy: a simulation of a car, with a steering wheel and a bench, and watched the other kids run around for nearly a half an hour, before being willing to join in.

 Ever so watchful...

 Watching another child play

Driving the car

During her study of the other children, she was quite animated about a brother and sister duo, who were so cute and rambunctious in their play with one another. Her eyes were just lit with animation and humor as she watched these two siblings run around the gym or push one another in various little cars.  She would giggle, point, and say repeatedly "They're funny!"

I finally convinced her to relinquish her perch in the corner and explore more of the gym and play equipment. At which point, she discovered the joys of the playhouse, and simply fell in love...

Playing house with the little boy

She and the brother, from the brother and sister duo, both screamed with glee in the playhouse, jumping up and down, wagging their hands all over the place. It was adorable and she had so much fun. It looks like we're going to be making an outdoor yard purchase for her in the near future...

After the playhouse, the teachers let loose a basket of balls, furthering the joy in the gym. Teenie Bird found a blue ball to her liking and didn't let it out of her sight for the rest of the hour long playgroup.

 One of the skills she struggles with is throwing a ball. 

We got some good practice in!

I told her I'd take a picture of her with her ball. 

This is the result. She's such a goofball.

She's not letting that ball go for anything!

Playgroup was a success, I'd say, aside from the one mother's comment about Teenie Bird's size, which I talked about in the previous blog post. Life hasn't been easy for this child, and it hasn't been easy raising her, but it has been very easy loving her. In this respect, life is as it should be.

Now onto next week, with spring break, and NO playgroups! Lord, give this Mother the strength...