Millie’s 1st Day of Dance
About a month ago, Millie’s friend Samantha’s mom (the everso hilarious Mandy) and I signed our girls up for a summer dance session so they could get a taste of ballet and tap. As parents, we notice little things like the desire to only wear dresses and the twirling and princess-y-ness of their little swaggers. The sudden disapproval of anything not pink and the increasing interest in television shows revolving around music and dance might also be a clue. We are raising some fierce girly-girls!
We got the leotard, tights, tutu, (a new fantastic nanny named Olivia, who works at the dance store) and 2 kinds of shoes a MONTH ago, in preparation for this day. I cannot tell you how many times the outfit has already been worn during dress up time at our house. Mills was begging for this day to come!
Words cannot express the joy that came over me as I walked Millie into her dance studio yesterday morning. She pranced right over to the door and stood for a moment. She looked at me, looked down at her star sequins sewn into her tutu, and just giggled with glee. I opened the door, and she ran in!
In her own little Millie style (cautious…impulsive…cautious, then…impulsive), she cased out the joint to make sure this was, indeed, a dance studio, and not a holding cell for naughty little boys and girls in time out. After waiting a few minutes, her friend Samantha arrived. Hugs flew around everywhere, and the rest is…herstory.
Waiting with baited breath for Samantha, Millie nearly exploded. They hadn’t seen each other in a whole month!
My gorgeous little ballerina in the doorway of her classroom, room 3.
For some reason, I want a big canvas of this.
Oh, the excitement amongst reacquainted friends made me want to clap my hands in celebration!
I couldn’t have planned sweeter moments.
Can’t you HEAR the giggles?
And, we’re done.
This is the absolute greatest thing in the world! I cannot imagine a greater high than how I feel when I look at these and see the pure joy on Millie’s face. Seeing her w/ Sammie just warms my heart to no end to know that she has a friend like that!
I am not kidding, looking at this just makes me want to giggle like a 10 yr old kid who just can’t get it out of his system!
Kate, we are so lucky to have you AND Millie as our partners in crime–and dance! Sammy will be thrilled to see these when she gets up from her nap! Thank you for having your camera there!
Oh my goodnees!!!! You couldn’t have custom ordered a cuter kid. Watching mills and her little buddy makes me smile from ear to ear. Them in the classroom is probably my favorite ever! Love the new look too. 
YAY! this is very exciting! i cant wait to hear all about it!
Mills is the cutest ever!!!! I LOVE the one of her and Samantha in class together. Too CUTE!!!
I’ve been stalking your blog ever since my friend Stephanie Olson posted a link to it from her blog. I’m addicted…but I’ve also been a serious lurker. However, after seeing these pics I could lurk no longer. These are the CUTEST pics ever. You have a gift!
What a big girl! The tutu is to die for!
Passionate subject + passionate photographer = passionate photos. Great, great, great!
haha… love the last one of them lying in the door way… too much fun. can’t wait for my little one to start ballet.
I am loving that last one, too! It had me laughing out loud!
My 5-year-old daughter is a little ballerina and it is just precious to her daddy (me, duh) when she is getting her groove thang on. I love it when she asks me to dance ballet-style with her and then she corrects me like I am her student. ha!
I love #3!! Her skin complexion looks marvelous around the pale blue walls. She looks just like a doll. She has all of mommy’s features!
Wow! Fantastic pics - she is one precious little girl!
I found a link to your site on a fellow photographers site and… well.. being a photographer, I have book marked you and followed your work and seen some incredible shoots! I have no children, I will admit, but now I can see that the day I do, I will have no less thing to blog about then the wonderful bliss of motherhood. You do it oh so well. Thanks for sharing with us your experiences, your joys and real life. It is wonderful.
oh too cute, the last one makes me giggle
Kate - these are awesome! I love how you kept the entire door in photo four instead of cropping it down around Mills - perfection!
Silly Millie! Seriously, she is too cute. Definitely my favorite images of her you’ve posted on the blog. For sure get a canvas of her little feet in the mirror. Too cute.