Spring Swimming Shamble...Sport & Squirt!

I may not have mentioned how much Andrew has regressed in the pool.  Last summer (in addition to the previous 2 summers), he was like a fish….jumping in anytime, anyplace.  While I fully intended to keep him in the pool at the gym throughout the winter, somehow August turned into February.   But by then, it was time to get moving to get him swimming by Memorial Day.  And how was our first time back in???  Disastrous.  He didn’t want to get his big toe wet, much less jump to me or put his face in.  While everyone has told us this is completely normal, that doesn't make it any less frustrating.
We started expensive private lessons, theory being they spend a lot of time on the step in group lessons.  But that proved to be a waste of money.  While his instructor honestly said he was improving weekly, I decided to take a break and work with him myself to try to get him back to where he was.  I actually received kuddos from his instructor for being the only parent to inquire what I could do to help my child progress.  While my intentions may actually be selfish, it was nice to hear that I'm doing something right!

Two months later, we have definitely made some progress, but oh my, has it been slow!  I’ve gained weight using my gym time to work with Andrew and I can’t wait to get Margaret in, but I patiently, patiently, patiently try not to bang my head up against the wall while reminding him how much fun swimming is!   These days, he’s at least not terrified, declaring in a jingle-voice, “ I’m going to do something that you might like….” then dunks head.  Yeah!

Sport and Squirt

In March, Andrew turned 4 and Margaret was 18 months.  Where on earth does the time go!   Andrew is LOVING school, Bible Study, MOPS, and anything outside.  He is not taking to his bike or the pool as we had hoped.  Time, right?  He has great enthusiasm for weeding and mulching, though, so can I complain?  In addition to the 20 bags of mulch he and I spread around the yard, we also tackled beneath the deck.  For weeks, I painstakingly weeded the entire 18’x20’ area.  Then I sprayed Round-Up, and meticulously staked down landscaping fabric…again, with both kids in tow since Daddy has been gone most weekends, sadly.  Next step was having 3 cyds of playground delivered.  Delivery is great, but then it all has to be hauled from the driveway, through the fence, down a decent hill, dumped, and spread.  The area is now a plush, clean, area for the trampoline and sky chairs, but let me tell you.  It takes a while to haul, dump, and spread 3 cyds of mulch with the “help” of a 4 yr old and an 18 month old!

Andrew was a good sport, though, which leads me to their newest nicknames.  “Sport” and “Squirt” are quite the pair.  Andrew is tickled by their names and by Squirts newest words.  While she doesn’t have as many words as he did at 18 months, her choice is interesting.  “Apple” and “Purple” delight her now and “Dada” finally made the line-up.  Go figure!  And her new favorite foods are huge green olives and spicy mustard.  What?!?