Little Guppy

A few weeks ago a friend talked us in to signing up Elias for swimming lessons at a local (well, 45 mins away but that's about as local as you get out here!) pool. Her little boy and Eli are good friends  and I am anxious to have swimming kids this summer so I decided we'd try it out.

We showed up the first day, not knowing what to expect but excited to play. Or so Elias thought. Turns out the instructor is a mom of 7 kids and teaches swim lessons all day long. So not much playing going on but a whole lot of learning! 

First thing, she started barking out orders and Elias, my not-a-bit-afraid-of-the-water kid jumped right in with the rest of them. It wasn't until the third thing that she asked them to do (and the third time I'd watched Eli almost drown) that she turned to me and yelled, "Has he had any lessons?"

"No", I hollered back! Luckily, after that she decided to help him get to the edge of the pool rather than watch him struggle. 

Turns out, this is a level 3 preschool class so they're supposed to have taken a bunch of classes before this. 

The only classes Elias took was a joke of a "swim camp" this past summer when I was hugely pregnant with Adele and I decided it was only good for the babysitting. So he spent the entire first lesson shaking so hard - I kept asking him if he was cold but I'm pretty sure it was cause he thought he was going to die. 

But he must have had fun cause the next week he was back for more! And then when the original session was over, I figured we were done. We'd given it a try but I was sick of driving all the way to the pool each week. 

Then the next week rolled around and I had to listen to him whine and beg and ask and plead and cry about wanting to go to swimming lessons. 

So I called up and reenrolled him…. but not because of all the whining and begging but because he learned so stinking much in the first session! 

He can now jump in, bounce of the bottom, come up for air and make it back to the side on his own. 

He can also back glide like a champ..

And hold the starfish (floating on back) position for over 20 seconds. I'm very impressed with all of this since after an entire week of "swim camp" all he did was put his head into the pool for a few seconds, which he already did before he started swim camp. 

But even more impressively, he can take off and put on his own goggles!!! Hurray!!! Only a mom of little kids can be thrilled over this accomplishment! 

He can also handle this situation…. which is just plain funny to watch.

And most importantly, this kid loves these lessons. Sometimes Elias is tough to figure out since he doesn't really like to, um, shall we say, "communicate" with words. He's very vocal (and has the fastest comebacks and putdowns I've ever seen in a kid), when he wants to be but man, he is stubborn and often just flat out refuses to answer questions we ask him. So to find something he loves and is good at is great for his little psyche. 

I love that each week he begs to know the days of the week so he can see if it's swimming lesson day. Speed and cooperation don't come easy to him either, but if I mention anything about swimming lessons he's off like a flash to grab his bag, pack it himself with his goggles, new clothes, and a towel, even if it's only Tuesday and lessons aren't till Friday. He takes great pride in keeping his own things in a bag behind his door, ready to grab and go whenever I say the word. 

He's also loving the fact that he knows how to do something that Nathan doesn't yet. He's quite the mastermind behind setting up a situation for his own good, and he loves to play on the fact that Nathan can be timid or nervous about certain situations. To put it not nicely, he likes to gloat over Nathan that he can now swim better. Good thing Nathan's still bigger cause Elias sure knows how to push his buttons. 

But mostly, he's just a sweet, fun-loving guy that likes to kiss his mama, tease his brother, make his baby sister laugh and enjoys life. 

Especially if it's a life that involves going to the pool every week!! So glad we can oblige him… I'd be kinda scared if I didn't… 

Wandering Off

I'm cleaning up the computer area and just came across this gem I managed to jot down - it's almost 3 years old but it still very much applies to Nathan's life.

Nathan 3.5 years (mad about something, my memories fails me here): "I'M GONNA WANDER OFF!!!"

Me (we'd obviously had a few conversations about wandering off without your mama): " You mean you're gonna run away?"

Nathan (frustrated): "This is the thing, I'm gonna wander off but....this is the thing..... I can't shoot a real gun so I can't wander off!!"

Me (obviously not scared by his tactics and probably not listening very well): "Mmmmhhhhh....."

Nathan (very seriously): "Are real animals scared of a pretend gun?" (Now in a very dejected voice) "Then I can't be a wild guy and wander off."

Nathan (about 30 seconds after I didn't respond to that either): "Mama, are there preschools where I wander off to???

Obviously, he was nervous about preschool, wandering off, and wild animals. What a life!!

Beached Whale

Hey, Baby Adele...

Who me?? 

Yep, you. It's time you thought about thinking about trying to maybe start moving a little…. you know, you are 7.5 months now and, I know it's hard to hear, but you're a little behind in the gross motor skills department…

Says who?? Nobody's mentioned anything to me.  

Well, this isn't my first time around the motherhood block, ya know. I've had some late bloomers before but I think you're taking the cake for laziness… 

So I might not be the most mobile…

but cuteness counts for something, right??  

Besides, I work out all the time. Don't let this belly fool you, I'm rock solid underneath. 

Everyday I do 200 crunches. See how tight my abs are?? 

Yes, I see how hard you're trying to sit up but you need to be able to roll first. It's one of those things the doctors offices ask about every time we go and moms brag about to each other. Time for your well loved "tummy time"….

OH FINE, I'll TRY IT!! But only because you're making me. Mark my words, this was NOT my idea!! 

WHY DO YOU TORTURE ME SO???!!!

For my own good?? YEAH RIGHT!!! 

Oh, I hate my life….waaaaahhhhhhh…..

I give up. I'm stuck forever. I'll never move again.

Enough drama baby. Roll over already. 

I can't. Really. I've tried before and this is as far as I can go. 

Besides, I'm quite comfy where I am… no use breakin' a sweat or anything. 

See?? I'm stuck. No movement going on here. 

Wait, I feel something back here…. yes, it's something new…. and cool…. 

if only I could get back there...

Almost there… I can almost reach it… it's all in the toes…

PLOP!!!

Adele Belle… Whatcha doing?? How'd you get over there?? 

Who me? Why do you ask? 

Just admiring the view from over on this side. Aren't these toes nice? 

But I have one favor to ask? Can you roll me back over? 

Cause I'm pretty sure I'm stuck. 

Touche

Me (while playing on my computer): Na-THAN!! Stop touching Elias. Stop stealing his blueberries, stop annoying him, stop bothering him!! 

Nathan (while jumping around crazy): I just can't stop. It's impossible. You don't know how hard it is for me. It would be like you stopping looking at your computer. 

Touche, Nathan, touche.

Sickies

We've got some sickies over here today.  

You can tell by the size of the bed head going on up there. Pretty impressive. 

Of course, it has to happen when John's gone for 2 weeks on a business trip to Russia. Fate works that way, huh? I don't think I got more than a few hours of sleep last night since I jumped up with every sound that came from the boys room, hoping to prevent any middle of the night sheet changes. 

I haven't seen this guy take a nap in years, so I know he isn't feeling good. That and you can tell by the redness of his ears. The ears always give it away. 

He started complaining of a bellyache the night before last. When I mentioned he was probably going to throw up he just about lost it in hysteria. He's been hugging that ice cream bucket ever since. 

I guess I really can't blame him. I would probably be traumatized too if the last two times I threw up were Christmas Eve and in the middle of our big family reunion in Florida this summer. Not good memories, either one. 

Ah-oh. I see eyes now, even if they're hazed.  Check out the asthmatic shiners around his eyes and the dull look. This kid is pretty easy to read by just looking at his face. I've always been able to glance at him and tell if he's sick, tired or can't breathe. Unfortunately, getting him to agree with me about any of the three has always been the tough part. 

He's definitely not one to go down without a fight. The house has a whole different feel about it when he's not feeling good since usually his feet are dashing around, hopping and jumping and he just can't figure out how to contain all his energy. With John gone and everyone a little subdued anyway, I can honestly say I missed his craziness the past few days. 

I've been discovered. He also is very sensitive and doesn't like much attention on himself, positive or negative. It'll probably be years before he'll be ok with these pictures being up on the computer.  I hope someday he'll forgive me for documenting the rare stillness of the "Nathan-in-the-wild". 

And he's back out. It's a hard job, growing up. Hope he's better soon. We miss his liveliness. 

This "beef turkey" is sick too. 

He just doesn't know it. He came to me in the middle of the night also with a fever. But it sure isn't keeping him down today. 

He's enjoying sneaking around the house, being quiet as a mouse and playing with all the Legos that usually he has to share. 

Look, a rare glimpse of the elusive "Elias's eyes"!!! They do exist and they're actually a very cool color of grey-blue-hazelish. They just often get lost in his smiling face. 

Which is ok too, cause he's pretty cute either way.