Swimming

You may recall that Sebe and I met in a swim program, so it’s only fitting that one of Blake’s first set of lessons be swimming. He’s been in ½ hour private swim lessons for a few months and can now swim independently across a pool. This is great, since it means that he can get himself safely to the wall after coming down a water slide.  We are pretty psyched about his swimming progress.  And he actually seems to enjoy it.  There was a lot of crying on the way to the first few lessons; in those situations, I would allow him to not go, but he had to go in and tell the teacher that he didn’t want to swim.  By the time the suit was on and he saw the water, he wanted to be in, so we have never missed a lesson.

Here is a video of him swimming his first lap (that’s what his teacher is about to say before I unfortunately shut off the camera).

And here are some pictures of our other future swimmer.  Gavin loves the water too.  One time, he went directly from the car, into the swim area and into the pool, shoes and all!  He had to go home wrapped in my jacket.  What a character.

Anyone needing a Gavin update?

I just can't resist posting another guest entry from Grandmother B.  She spent a couple of hours with Gavin this afternoon, while Sebe and Blake went to a live performance for kids, "Toying with Science."  She captures quite wonderfully how little baby Gavin is turning into little boy Gavin.

"Being with delightful Gavin was the highlight of today as he is filled with laughs and allows me the luxury of pure joy. For fun, here's the recap on our play time together. At lunch he ate a bite of all foods on your list and spooned in yogurt on his own. Like B, he says, "mmmmmmmmm" if he thinks some food is going to taste good and then again when it does. The Banilla yogurt got the "mmmmmmmm". Then we threw and rolled the yellow ball, played with a couple of toys, read books not quite as rapidly as he turned pages, played tag for almost 20 mins. and when he couldn't find me because I'd hide in the bathroom, he'd stand still and call out "Bah! Bah!" So I'd let him find me and he'd run into my legs to be swept up for a hug and sometimes a tickle. Then we sang at the piano. He wouldn't sit on my lap but only beside me; he wanted to play the bass notes. He bounced his body in rhythm while we both sang different tunes simultaneously. I made up a Gavin song. As he pulled out the alphabet zipper book, he heard the outside door open. I said, "Who could that be?" He waited quietly and when he saw Blake appear, a sweet, great big grin opened; he loves his brother. Dad gave me a goodbye and thanks. Gavin, on his own, walked me to the door, said "Bye, bye" and blew me a kiss gaining him another B hug. Good manners come from good parents and you both are good ones!"