Swimming lessons & the park

When I was a baby my mom and I did swimming lessons around the age of 6 months. I was a super tiny baby in fact I wore size 6 month clothes through the age of 18 months. We attended the local Y for these "Mommy & Me" classes. Apparently the pool wasn't heated very well and since I was a skinny-mini I did not have an enjoyable time. The times have changed folks!

Since the time I found out that I was pregnant I knew that I wanted to at least try "Mommy & Me" Swim with my son. If he hated it, well then fine - we'd at least know and not try again for a few years. I thought it would be a good time for mommy and son to bond. So I went on the hunt, I did try to find something through the local Y - but no dice, not one Mommy & Me any type of class. I found that strange, ah well - I continued to look and I finally happened across a company that specializes in swimming for infants in the Northwest and so I signed us right up! The sessions are 30 minutes once a week from now until late June for $165. Not too shabby I say and we get 2 free swims with that fee. The pool we attend is heated no lower than 89' but usually ranges between 91'-93'and both mom AND dad can attend if available for no extra charge. Sounds perfect for us! So I signed Ace and I up for the 4-9 month swim class.

Today was our first class, we were in a class with 7 other babies and mommies and all of them did really well. Ace was the splasher of the class. Maybe next week mommy won't wear her contacts - or perhaps goggles will come in handy. We arrived at the pool and I changed Ace into his swim diaper. This program requires cloth (non-disposable) swim diapers and so I put him in his stylish blue one... and he proceed to pee all over us. Because while the diaper is GREAT at containing poop... not so absorbent on the pee end of things. So before we even got in the pool, we were wet. Siiigh.

So sitting waiting to get in the pool with my little squirmy worm in my arms, soaked in his ...blessing, we listened to the instructor teach us about "Sit, Listen & Wait" teaching the babes how to wait to get in the water and not just dive head first in. They are still a tad young to understand this concept, but start the repetition early and it will be beneficial later. After we all got in the water we acclimated by chewing on a floaty toy. The one Ace chose: an orange fish. :) No shock there. We walked around a bit and then sang a hello song and introduced all the babies to each other. Then we all were in a circle and having the babies push a ball around and then kick it around. The class goes by fast since it's only 30 minutes, but the only thing Ace wasn't terribly thrilled with was the floating part. Being on his back with his ears in the water. He was ok once they were both under but he was so squirmy they didn't want to stay there very long. Overall the first class went great! No screams or severe agitation with the events.

We somehow manged to get dressed and dry after a quick mommy and me shower and then headed to the park. We had to play for a bit so that we were legally parked. ;-) So since I was unable to take photos while swimming. Don't you fret - we'll get some during free swim in the near future! I took a few of Ace on the swing. He was semi-tired but also very contemplative of what was going on around him. There was a kid swinging in the other swing that both fascinated and annoyed him and thus the look we have here on his face!