The Bailey Bunch: The Girl's Got Stage Presence!

After much anticipation, the big recital day finally arrived!! For a few weeks, Bess has been itching to get into her costume and play! Although she would probably say she the days crawled by, I am here to say that every day for the past few weeks has been so jam packed it has practically flown by!

Dress rehearsal went off without a hitch! Despite the raining weather, Taylor and Bess did a remarkable job preparing for their big weekend debut! They were pretty much the most adorable little things in their big button up shirts with fancy hair and rain boots as we entered into Byrnes Auditorium.

Thankful that rehearsal was a success, we headed home to rest up for the big day! I am not sure what Bess was more excited about the actual concert or wearing "make up"!! The child would NOT stop talking about me asking Lacey to bring her lip gloss because I didn't have any!! Sadly, yes, my children are growing up in a house without a single tube of lip stick!!

In preparation for Bess' recital, Lacey and I found it fitting to take the girls to see the local production of Snow White! The afternoon performance was incredible and I totally thought it would motivate Wy to want to become a dancer, but no such luck! The child is hook line and sinker set she is meant to be a gymnast! We shall see about that!!

Sunday arrived and with every ounce of my being, I attempted to get this little ballerina to sleep that afternoon but had No Such Luck!! My child was so eager to put on her costume and make up and show her brothers and sisters her stuff! Sleeping was the last thing on her mind! But never fear, this momma got a few minutes of shut eye in for her! What else do people do on rainy Sunday afternoons anyway!

By 3 o'clock, the children were loaded in the Bailey Bus , all dressed and ready to see sweet Bessie Boo dance her little heart out!

The girls looked gorgeous waiting in line to enter! I love that these 2 are little ballerinas together! Can't wait to whip these precious pictures out in years to come as we prepare graduation slide shows!

The entrance we had all been waiting for finally arrived. The Bear Necessities Dance was about to begin! Of course, this momma's eyes were puddling as my little love entered onto stage! She walked with such confidence, which is totally Bessie. Why should I have thought she would do anything but that!!

Move by move, my love was into her performance. No stage fright from this one! She was eager and prepared! I guess it is only fitting because she is a Bailey, and the Bailey name is known to enjoy a dance floor!!!! So, she gets it honest!

I couldn't handle this move though! I died laughing! This move was SO HER!! Her little knees bobbing and her fingers pointing. It was such a "her" move! Adorable. That is just about all I can say to sum it up!

Grande Finale move of first dance !!!

Later in the show, Bess' group performed again. This time it was her ballet performance. The entire number was precious. Every little girl on that stage had melted our hearts so I am not sure it could have been any better!

As the number ended, each ballerina was to come to the front line on stage and get down into their pose for the final move! Bess often talks about having a "Giraffe Neck" and how important it is for dancers to have this. I will also add, the child took this part of the dance recital very seriously.

This is what the first shot of her "ending pose" looked like. Precious isn't it! Please take note, she is was one of the first (if not the first) to assume her position! Which, if you can't tell, she was very serious about!! Again, melts my heart!

Now skip forward about 10 clicks on my camera. The others around her either had already let down their pose or had never quite gotten there. But not my Bessie Boo… she was still just a holding on!!

Never did her face or giraffe neck let down! She was going to hold that pose!

And she did so until only 2 other children remained on stage making her one of the last ballerinas to exit the stage! I know, it was one of those, you had to be there moments, but seriously, I hope I always remember how focused and deliberate she was in her posing and posture! It was heart warming!

The girl couldn't have been more proud of herself! And neither could we!

My sweetness had completed her first dance recital and done so with passion, attitude and definitely stage presence! She was so excited to have everyone pooh and ahhh over her! I am pretty sure she felt like she was the queen for the afternoon!