Swimming
Who takes after their mama and could stay in the pool all day? These two!
When we started attending baby swim class back in August, Sloane was a natural. She's mellow in the water and, if you put a toy a few feet in front of her, she'll start paddling and kicking until she reaches it. She hates floating on her back (which is no surprise given that she refuses to lie on her back at home). But she has no problem submerging her entire head underwater or floating by herself in an inflated tube. She even tries to pull herself up on the lip of the pool (an important safety manuever). I love going to swim class with her because we get to hold each other and bond. Even better, it's in a setting that's so comfortable for me I could spend the entire day there (surely thanks to the hundreds of hours my dad spent with me in the pool when I was a kid).
Getting Riley comfortable with the pool was another story. We missed his first class entirely because he hid behind a rocking chair, refusing to go to the pool. Fortunately his friend, Owen, convinced him that swim school is awesome and promised he would have a good time. The next week, he (very reluctantly) agreed to attend class. He mostly watched from the sidelines that day, but each week since he's gotten better and better. This week, I was so proud when I saw him swim dive underwater and swim a few feet entirely under before coming up for air. Even better, he professes a love for swimming that now exceeds Sloane's. Such progress!
Sometimes we arrange extra time at the pool for free-swim. My fantasy is that we will one day live in a city that averages 10-15 degree hotter temps and we'll have access to an outdoor pool. Ah, I could seriously spend my entire weekend lounging in a sunny pool. Absent that, I will cherish these moments inside with my water babies.
When we started attending baby swim class back in August, Sloane was a natural. She's mellow in the water and, if you put a toy a few feet in front of her, she'll start paddling and kicking until she reaches it. She hates floating on her back (which is no surprise given that she refuses to lie on her back at home). But she has no problem submerging her entire head underwater or floating by herself in an inflated tube. She even tries to pull herself up on the lip of the pool (an important safety manuever). I love going to swim class with her because we get to hold each other and bond. Even better, it's in a setting that's so comfortable for me I could spend the entire day there (surely thanks to the hundreds of hours my dad spent with me in the pool when I was a kid).
Getting Riley comfortable with the pool was another story. We missed his first class entirely because he hid behind a rocking chair, refusing to go to the pool. Fortunately his friend, Owen, convinced him that swim school is awesome and promised he would have a good time. The next week, he (very reluctantly) agreed to attend class. He mostly watched from the sidelines that day, but each week since he's gotten better and better. This week, I was so proud when I saw him swim dive underwater and swim a few feet entirely under before coming up for air. Even better, he professes a love for swimming that now exceeds Sloane's. Such progress!Sometimes we arrange extra time at the pool for free-swim. My fantasy is that we will one day live in a city that averages 10-15 degree hotter temps and we'll have access to an outdoor pool. Ah, I could seriously spend my entire weekend lounging in a sunny pool. Absent that, I will cherish these moments inside with my water babies.
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