So Proud!

After Christmas, we decided Madi was doing well enough in school, and life was seeming less stressful and more settled, so we would start her in Gymnastics as well as ballet.  Her very first practice, I was in awe of the kid.  My very very very easily distracted girl was completely focused on her teacher.  For a whole hour, she did what she was told, listened, and didnt look all over the huge gym, as I had figured she would.  There are probably 10 different classes being taught in different areas of the gym at the same time as Madi... plenty ways to be distracted.  Not only was I impressed by her focus, Mike and I were struck and how much our girl LOOKED like a gymnast.  She is pretty graceful, and very athletic.  Her little white with red hearts leotard made her look like she belonged.  And when her hour was up, her little face was simply GLOWING!  I had tears in my eyes just watching the joy and concentration on her face.  Her first night, when she received 2 ribbons for mastering techniques (8 total techniques), she was hooked.  She checked out gymnastics books at the library, and read them repeatedly.
About 3 weeks ago, she decided she was progressing fast enough for herself (she had only had 2 or 3 classes at this point) so she started to do sit ups, push ups, and running the stairs, almost every night.  She was having trouble with her hand stand, so we started working on it home (her handstand is now almost perfect every time!).
Miss Madison has now completed almost all of the techniques and is 2 ribbons shy of being moved up to the advanced level.  Last week, she asked her coach what she needed to learn.  Her coach said her back bend and her walk over.  So all week that kid has worked on it every night.  She was afraid of standing up and doing the back bend with no cushion.  Admittedly, she still is afraid, but she can do it, she just has to convince herself to just bend! And her walkover.  OH man, am I proud.  She has worked sooo hard to be able to do it with a step under her feet, which is the first step. 
Tonight she had to wait until last to do her back bend and walkover, but when it was her turn, she did it perfect!!!  The use a sloped mat and at the top, the easiest one, she did it, then at the bottom, which is harder, she did it again with no help!!  I had tears in my eyes and I was soooo close to crying with pure delight!!  The look on that kids face.... it said, MOmmy mommy, daddy daddy, did you seee????  I TOTALLY did it!! 
Her next step?  To do the walkover on the floor with no help!  That requires a lot of strength, so I know we have a lot of work, but this kid wanted to start tonight!!
Im so proud.  She worked so hard and achieved her goal.  Its been amazing to watch her take hold of something so hard and simply decide she was going to do it. 

Oh.  She decided she was going to be in the Olympics for gymnastics when she is old enough.  Look out world!