Swim Lessons (and Daddy)

I signed the girls up for swim lessons again this year, again with Ms. J.  We just love her, and the girls have learned so much.  It’s hard to believe this is our THIRD summer with her!

I was a little hesitant (and a little heartbroken), knowing that Daddy would be taking them instead of me.  This has been part of our summer routine for quite a while now, and I would be so sad to miss it.  And…I wasn’t sure how much Hubby would *love* the application of sunscreen, the navigating of wet bathing suits, and the piles of wet laundry.

I left work early to accompany Daddy and the girls to their first lesson.  It was so wonderful to see Ms. J, and to see the girls take right back to the water!  I talked Hubby through what I was doing with sunscreen and changing out of suits after the lesson.  He didn’t seem thrilled, exactly, but he was compliant.  [It helps that the girls can shower themselves at home.  At least that's one load off from years' past.]

I got to go to the girls’ fifth lesson, last Saturday, and I was pretty impressed to see their progress!  They were doing so well!  (And I was pretty impressed, too, with how well Hubby was doing!)

Baby A, mid- back stroke.

Baby B, coming to the side.

High five for Ms. J!

It’s been a great set of 10 lessons.  The girls have progressed further than ever before, and they’re really enjoying themselves, exuding confidence in the water.

What’s been equally as great for me is to see all this through J’s eyes.  He’s been excited to report to me each afternoon how the lesson went…not just an obligatory update in front of the girls, but oftentimes something that he comes back to after they’ve gone to bed.

“B had an incredible lesson,” he told me last night.  “She just glides through the water.  She never looks the least bit in distress.  Ms. J says she’s a natural.”

And of A, he mused, “She’s so fast!  Ms. J had to jump out of her way a couple of times!  And you wouldn’t believe the big smile she has on her face the whole lesson.”

Actually…I would believe it…but I’m so glad he’s seeing it, too.

I'm Going to Miss This

I had a really hard time, the last few days before the girls started kindergarten.  It wasn't so much that I couldn't come to grips with my babies growing up...but it was all about how much I would miss the amazing 5 1/2 years we shared so intimately.

Sure, we'll have our mornings and our nights together, and we'll make the most of every weekend...but it's the random, middle-of-the-afternoon, impromptu trips to the orchard that I will miss so very much...

...it's being there for the most average of days, and enjoying the most incredible snuggles, any time I pleased.

...it's sharing the ups and downs and restlessness...turned to incredible displays of imagination.

Here's just a snippet of some of the carefree fun we had this summer.

Swim lessons!

Picking tomatoes from the garden!

Picking strawberries from the berry patch!

Getting lost in a craft!

Having fun at birthday parties!

Playing at the park!

Hanging out at the orchard with friends!

Learning new skills!

Ceramics!

Ice cream with Mommy!

 ...and one of my favorite pictures of the summer...

The dancing fountains!

And, of course, we enjoyed two amazing trips (no vacation time required).

Chicago!!!

New York City...with friends!!!

I am beyond grateful for these baby girls, and for the 5 1/2 years we've ENJOYED, together.  New adventures await, for sure...but these days will forever have such a special place in our hearts.

A Day of Lasts

Last Thursday was a big day. 

In the morning we marked the girls’ last swim lesson.  We did a total of two sessions…twenty lessons in all…and I had to work not to tear up bidding farewell to Ms. Jeanie.

Over the past two months, I’ve seen the girls transform…from kids who didn’t want to get their faces wet this time last year…to kids who were beyond excited to retrieve rings off the bottom of the pool!

I don’t know how much there was to do with the girls’ age – 4 ½ this summer, versus 3 ½ last summer – versus the perfect-for-us approach of Ms. Jeanie.  She was fun and inviting, but firm.  She would let the girls experiment and have a good time in the water, but she also let them feel the consequences of their actions.  “If you don’t keep your belly up and your head back (when floating), you’ll sink!”

The girls truly thrived in the pool this summer.  By the last lesson, they could swim almost across the pool!  And most importantly, they loved it.  I am so very grateful to Ms. Jeanie, who set them up for a lifetime of fun in the water.  I’m already looking forward to seeing her again next summer.

And then Thursday afternoon was our last tumbling class.

Outside of swimming lessons, which I would put in an entirely different category, the girls had never participated in any kind of class / activity.  Since they did so well in the preschool setting, I thought they would be fine…but when the first class started and I saw they were by far the youngest, I began to worry it wouldn’t be a great fit.

All the other kids had taken tumbling before, but our girls didn’t know a forward roll from a cartwheel…much less how to do one.  I was really pleased, though.  With the exception of stretches and warm-ups, the girls got a lot of one-on-one attention from the instructors. 

What surprised me, and SO warmed my heart, too, was how much help they got from the older girls.  I worried that the older kiddos (the average age was probably seven or eight) would get frustrated having to “share” the floor with my girls.  I couldn’t always hear the dialogue, but everything I saw was just the opposite.  The older kiddos helped direct A&B on where to go, and they encouraged them all along the way.

The girls LOVED tumbling…and they LOVED the welcome waves across the parking lot, and the hugs from the older kids at the end of class.

Thursday was bittersweet, for sure.  Our girlies are growing up…learning…and doing new things.  It’s such a blessing to watch, and kinda hard to see one chapter close.

Of course we’re looking forward to the next chapters, of which I know there will be many!

Things Making Me Happy

I have been smiling at Marcia's "Things Making Me Happy" blog post for 24 hours now.  I popped over to [finally] write a response, and I decided instead I'd blog about it.

These days I still feel like I'm running like a nut...the summer is zipping by...but all in all, everything is good.  So what's making me happy these days???

Off the top of my head:

1) My girls taking swimming lessons.  I love seeing them working so hard and having success...and of course, having fun.  I love their teacher, and I'm so thankful we found her!

2) Fresh fruit.  We've picked cherries and blueberries over the past couple of weeks, and we've been able to buy tons of yummy grapes, strawberries, and melons at incredible prices, too.  We've been eating fruit four or five times a day (instead of our usual three)...there's just so much goodness to pack into the day!  We'll be heading to the orchard this week, as their peaches are just beginning to come in.  I can't wait!!!

3) Miss Jenny.  I am so thankful for such a wonderful friend to our family.  The girls get so excited every Friday morning when I remind them, "It's Friday!  Do you know what that means?" 

4) Eating out for breakfast.  Hubby and I used to love to eat out for breakfast once upon a time.  Once the girls were born we did it only a couple of times until they were close to four.  It's such an easy meal to make at home, I always rationalized I'd rather just cook and "save" that eating out for another meal.  We've recently found a nice little mom-and-pop diner, and we've been out for breakfast every couple of weeks.  It's such an awesome treat to eat hot pancakes and have someone bring me coffee!

5) Pictures of my girls blowing bubbles.  I have taken a TON of those this summer...and I can't seem to choose my favorites.  I love them all!!!

6) Crafting.  I don't get to do it as often as I'd like, but it's always good for my soul.  I'm due some craft time one of these evenings soon!

7) Being *relatively* caught up on pictures.  They'd go a lot faster if I'd quit taking pictures of the girls blowing bubbles...but I can't do that.  :)

There are many more things, of course, but that's a super-quick list.

Thanks to Marcia for the inspiration (as always!!!)!

Some Michael Jordan Magic

Hubby and I spent a good part of our early years together watching the great Michael Jordan play basketball.  He was amazing in almost every move he made...but you knew things were about to get magical when he stuck out his tongue.

Over the past couple of swim lessons, I've noticed Baby A sticking out her tongue when she comes up from swimming underwater.  This was the best picture I could get of her yesterday, but she has the biggest look of accomplishment in her eyes, her tongue accentuating her achievement.

I couldn't help but think of Mr. Jordan.  I would also characterize Baby A's performance as "magical".

And then I couldn't help but think of one of my favorite pictures of Baby A from when she was six months old.  I didn't recognize it at the time, but perhaps her tongue-out pose was a look of accomplishment at her stellar tummy-time performance.

And yes, I'd call that pretty "magical", too.

A Major Breakthrough!!!

I vividly remember the girls’ first swim lesson, last summer.  I was so proud that they didn’t fuss or whine…they listened to the coach…and they seemed to have fun kicking in the pool.  Sure, they wouldn’t get their faces wet, but it was only the first class, right???

While I still think the overall experience was a valuable one, sadly we didn’t get much further in the two swim sessions we had last summer.  There was plenty of kicking, but I know the girls never fully got their faces wet, much less went underwater. 

This year, I was so thrilled when the girls got their faces wet during the first couple of swim lessons.  The girls were having fun, and I was hopeful that we’d get a little closer to submersion at some point.

To my wonderful surprise, it wasn’t long before the girls were getting their mouths…then their noses…and then their eyes in the water.  That was soon followed by them jumping off the side of the pool!!!  Of course Miss Jeanie met them immediately, but I could never have imagined that after our experience a year ago.

After five straight swimming lessons a couple of weeks ago, we had to take a break to recover from two cases of swimmer’s ear.  (While I was so very sad to see our girls with sore ears, it was scientific affirmation that they had, in fact, been UNDERWATER.  It wasn’t just a figment of my imagination!)

I was afraid that the girls might associate the pain in their ears with swimming and shy away from more time in the pool.  Thankfully, that didn’t happen.  They understood why we were taking some time off, but every day they asked (multiple times), “Mommy, when can we go swimming again?”

Yesterday was our first day in the pool in just over a week.  The girls were very excited, but I didn’t know what to expect.  Would they remember what they’d learned so far?  Would they be timid – at least at first – with getting their faces wet?  Would they fear getting water in their ears?

Baby A asked to go first.  I was a little surprised by that, as to date, B has always been “elected” to take the first turn.

I sat there in total AMAZEMENT.  Baby A hopped right in the pool like she hadn’t missed a beat.  She got her mouth wet, and then her nose, and then she started going under to retrieve dive rings from the steps of the pool…deeper and deeper and deeper.

She was ecstatic to get to work with the kickboard.  She actually leaped out of the pool to get it, giggling wildly, surprising even her teacher.  When Miss Jeanie told her to put her face in the water and kick, SHE DID!!!  And she did it over and over and over!!!

It felt so incredible…to be witnessing what I can only describe as a breakthrough.  It was like my A suddenly “got it”.

She spent the majority of the lesson “swimming” from Miss Jeanie to the side of the pool, and then pushing off to swim back to Miss Jeanie.  Each time, her face was in the water, arms were in “swim position”, and her legs were outstretched, kicking.  And each time, she came up with the HUGEST smile on her face.

Not only was it amazing to witness this breakthrough, but it was such a blessing to see her be so proud of herself.  I know my smile was just as big as I watched my baby girl.

When it was her turn, Baby B did really well, too.  She got right back in with her face in the water and followed directions very well.  It wasn’t the same “breakthrough” feeling as I had with A, but I’m so thankful she fell right back in line with how far she’d come the week prior.

I can’t quite put my finger on it…that the girls are a year older?  That this teacher takes a different approach?  That the blowing of bubbles in the bathtub over the past 10 months was really worth it?

No matter…I couldn’t be more happy that the girls are having such a successful swim experience this year.  I certainly am not ready to call the Olympic Development Program, but I am hopeful it will set them up for a lifetime of fun in the water.

Swimming...Then and Now

Last May / June the girls took swimming lessons for the first time.  It wasn't a bad experience...they never fussed or cried...but they didn't truly love it, either.  I'm still thankful they took lessons...they got exposure to the water and some reference point for "swimming"...but I knew I wanted to take a different approach this year.

We started this year's swimming lessons on Tuesday of this week, and it has -- thankfully! -- been a completely different experience so far!

Miss Jeanie is our swim instructor.  We're at a small pool in her backyard.  The pool is probably only 4' deep or so throughout, so the instructors can walk around the pool the entire time.  As opposed to the ginormous Olympic-size indoor pool surrounded by huge bleachers and bellowing echoes, this setting seems to put the girls much more at ease.

Last year we struggled...through BOTH sessions of lessons...to get our faces wet.

This year, the girls have been much more receptive to Miss Jeanie's directions.  I think it's a huge help that going underwater hasn't been the sole focus of the lesson...she's mixed up blowing bubbles and teaching the girls to blink water out of their eyes with kicking and floating.

After two lessons, I'm very proud to report that both girls have put their entire faces in the water, including their eyes, which feels like a major accomplishment.  They are so proud of themselves, too!

Miss Jeanie uses a ton of positive reinforcement, and I LOVE that she plays in the water with the girls for a few minutes after each lesson.  They laugh hysterically and seem to think that's a riot!

Last year, we took lessons as part of a class.  There were usually one or two other children in the pool while we were, and each child got a five-minute turn, for a total of about 15 minutes per child.

This year, we're doing "semi-private" lessons, designed for two children...which is just perfect for our duo.  B has elected to go first for her 20-minute session, and then A has her turn.  That works so well in keeping the girls focused...and also allowing them to watch each other and cheer each other on. 

I'm not interested at this point in the girls learning each of the four competitive swim strokes.  At the age of four, I want them to enjoy being in the water, and to learn the basics of "swimming"...or at least how to work their way to the side of the pool if they needed to.

I think this approach is exactly what we need!  The girls are having a blast...they're excited to go...and they're excited to come home and tell their daddy the new things they learned that day.

And -- of course -- here are a few pictures!

B, practicing floating.

B, with her beloved kick board.

Baby A giggling with Miss Jeanie.

A big smile from Baby A.

And I had to include this one of Baby B...drying out under Mommy's sun hat while A had her lesson.  Swimming is VERY hard work!!!

Woe is B!

We've promised the girls a trip to the water park after they complete their lessons.  I can't wait for some family pool time!!!

Fab 8 Friday!

We returned from our mini-vacation late Saturday, to many fun adventures on the home front…plenty of things to make this week fabulous!

1)      While the girls (and Hubby) were napping on Sunday, I made Fudgy Brownie cookies.  I gave the girls each a cookie for snack.  They are super ooey-gooey (especially when they’re still warm!), and I have never seen two messier girls!  They were in absolute heaven with their chocolate confection, which made the fact that we almost needed a bath afterwards, worth the cleanup effort.

2)      As part of our Father’s Day tradition, I broke out the finger paints for the girls to make handprints this week.  I was super brave, allowing them to paint at the table, whereas before I’ve always strapped them into their highchairs for finger painting expeditions.  We came away with some excellent handprints, and they had fun doing some free-form painting.  And…Mama survived the mess with [relatively] minimal stress!

3)      I bought a new bookshelf to corral the girls’ books in the den / kitchen area, which I hope will cut down on some of the strewing of toys and books from the den to the living room.  I usually assemble things once the girls are in bed…but I decided to be adventurous and ask if they wanted to “help” Daddy and me put it together.  Of course they were game.  They did a pretty good job of following directions, and they were so proud to be able to hand me a screw or hold something in place.

4)      Baby B has been a vehement thumb-sucker since she was about six months old, but only when she sleeps.  We’ve been talking to her for months and months about trying to stop.  She recognizes that her right thumb is not “smooth” like her left one, and she seems to want to stop…but it’s such a habit that she always succumbs to it overnight.  I asked her this week if she’d like for me to put a sock on her hand for bedtime, and she was so excited!  And I am SO proud that B has woken up with her sock still on for the past two nights!

5)      B is also so proud of her accomplishment.  The first morning, I told her she was due a celebration.  I asked what she wanted, and she immediately said, “Bagels!”  And she requested to go with Daddy to pick them up by herself.  She and Daddy loaded up – B, still wearing her pajamas – and off they went.  Her smile was priceless!

6)      While Daddy and B went to pick up bagels, I let Baby A help me unload the dishwasher.  She was such a good helper!  She put away the silverware, and a few bowls and utensils in lower cabinets.  I could tell she felt like such a big girl.

7)      Our swim lesson on Wednesday got cut very short (due to no fault of our own).  The girls and I were dressed in our swimsuits, so we decided to do something else before heading home.  We went to the water park, our first visit.  We only stayed about 45 minutes, but the girls had a BLAST!!!  There is a huge kiddy area that is about 2 ½’ deep, with sprinklers and a small waterslide.  It was too funny, that the girls could walk, but they didn’t seem to realize it.  They were laughing hysterically as I kept trying to coax them to put their feet down.  I took them down the waterslide a couple of times each, and then I asked if they wanted to go themselves.  Daddy (who wasn’t dressed to swim) made sure they got up the slide, and I waited at the bottom.  They were SCARED to sit down, but once they did, they were SO PROUD at coming down themselves.  And…don’t tell their swim coach…but they actually got their faces wet at the bottom of the slide.  Woo hoo!!!  We’ll definitely be going back to the water park one day, and it will be even more fun when Daddy gets in so we can each man a baby.

8)      Daddy has been practicing counting with the girls over the past couple of weeks.  Together, they count to 100 several times a day.  I was so thrilled, listening to B count by herself one morning.  She made it all the way to 39 without flaw, and then shouted, “80!”  Oh, well…I’ll take 39, I guess.  :)

So thankful for lots of fabulousness this and every week!