Water babies

I took the kids to the pool today. The indoor one, since it's low 60s and overcast after being in the 80s and sunny for several days. We all had a great time. At the beginning of the summer, I got in the pool with 3 kids, all of whom stayed within 3 feet of me the whole time they were in the water. They were even quite clingy. Today I got in the pool with 3 kids, and I had to keep a good hold on Simeon -- even he was trying to get away!

Hannah was swimming everywhere, and I had to tell her a couple of times that even though she thought something wasn't a dive, it actually was, and that there is NO diving in the shallow end. "FEET FIRST!" She didn't appreciate that much, but she didn't allow it to spoil her fun, and she did figure out how to go feet first. Naomi jumped in repeatedly by herself, going under water and coming up with a big grin. "I'm going to jump higher next time!" She also wanted to get toys from the bottom of the pool, especially after she saw Hannah retrieving them. I held her hand for that, since she has a hard time actually getting to the bottom of the pool if I don't help, but she grabbed the toy and came up grinning each time. Simeon was dipping his own face in the water and then sitting up, sputtering and laughing. His full body kicks may be part of the reason he fell asleep so easily at naptime.

The showers were a far cry from the beginning of the summer, too, when both Hannah and Naomi cried and even screamed a bit when I was trying to get them to shower off. It took me a while to convince them to get out of the shower this time. Simeon kept lunging for the water, too, trying to get as much of himself under it as possible.

It's great to see them all enjoying the water so much. I have always loved swimming and am pleased that they're loving it, too! Besides, it's much easier to have the difficulty of getting them out than of getting them in.