Littlest Lindsays: Dance Recital Debut

As I'm sure I've mentioned before, Bella took a dance class for the first time this year. It was technically called a "Creative Movement" class because, let's face it, using the term "dance" to describe the movement of 2 and 3 year olds is a stretch, at best. She has really enjoyed herself. And as her first year of dance came to a close, we got to enjoy Bella's first dance recital yesterday. They danced to "How Much is that Doggie in the Window". Her Grandma (my mom), Nana (Scott's mom) and Papa (Scott's dad) came to watch her perform too. Her Grandaddy (my dad) was out of town and had to miss it- but no worries Dad, I'm sure they'll be many more recitals to come! Bella was super excited, which was evident when she showed up in our bedroom at 6 am saying she was ready to go...
As a mother of a tiny dancer, I had to hang out with Bella to make sure she was all ready when it came time for her class to perform. So, I didn't get to sit in the audience and watch the performance. I could only see a little bit since I was off on the side of the stage with the other moms. But, true to my over emotional self, I teared up as I watched her sing, dance and wag her little doggie tail.
After her class danced, Bella and I slipped in the back of the auditorium to watch some of the other dancers. I enjoyed watching her in awe of the older girls. She would comment to me every once in a while "She's good!" or "I love their sparkly costumes!" She's such a girly girl sometimes and it's always fun when Bella and I get some one on one "girl time". But, she is a 3 year old after all, so she could only sit still through 4-5 dances and then was ready to move on. We would've headed home, but all the dancers were supposed to go on stage together at the end, and Bella wanted to stay so she could go on stage one more time. So, we headed for the lobby where we ran into my mom and Austin. We hung out with them until it was time for Bella to go backstage for the grand finale. When she went back on stage at the end, she just kept waving at the audience. From the side of the stage, I just figured she found Scott and the rest of our family. Scott later told me that she wasn't waving at them, so who knows she was waving at!
Her first recital was a success! She had a blast and is already looking forward to another year of dance in the fall. I think she's most excited because next year, she'll get to start tap dancing "like the big girls".
Here are a few pictures. I didn't get as many as I wanted because it was a little hectic backstage and Bella is not always the most cooperative person when it comes to taking pictures.

Here's my little doggie before the promise of ice cream later in the day if she cooperated for a picture.