Infant Swim Rescue classes

A little over a week in and I'm very impressed.  Days 3 and 4 were tough...lots of tears from Reese, but this week has seen a shift and while Reese isn't loving it, she's going without any fuss and talks about Mr. Chuck constantly.  Even when she was sobbing in the water last week she would tell Mr. Chuck she just wanted a hug.  When she's done with her lesson she's so incredibly proud of herself and bragging to anyone who will listen that she 'went underwater'.  And if you could see the petite little 24 month old who goes before us full on swimming, you'd be a believer and all but throwing your cash at the man.   Yesterday's session via collage:

Emerson is enamored with the man too... He's already eyeing her up for lessons next spring!  And at a swim camp across town, while Miss Ryan is having a ton of fun, I'm not sure she's progressing as fast as her parents would like.....she'll go underwater but she's still struggling with keeping her head under water and gliding.  Good thing she'll be accompanying me for the next four weeks to watch Reese and you bet your swim goggles, I'll bring the girl in her bathing suit so she can sit in the water and see Reese whiz by.....and Mr. Chuck rocks in the sense that he will always take a minute or two to work with siblings if they are along for the ride.  

Swim Camp

This summer we're tackling swimming from two different angles....traditional swim camp for Ryan (same place she went last year) for two weeks (about 5 hours per day) and because the jury is still out on whether Ryan is going to become a water star (or hell, just get herself to the side of the pool should she fall in), we're taking a different approach with Reese.  I've read on some of my usual blogs of folks having success with ISR classes (infant swim resources self-rescue classes) - you know, those hard core deals shown on the Today Show where they throw an eight month old in the water and the baby turns himself around and floats.  You are forewarned Emerson, should this take, you are on deck.  Anyway, ISR classes are a commitment:  10 minutes a day, every day, taking usually 5-6 weeks to work.  We're lucky to have an instructor fairly close to us (in Clayton) so only about an hour round trip.  I'll have to recap my thoughts on the two styles at the end of summer and see which we have more success with.  But for now, we are in full blown washing of towels and bathing suits each afternoon.
Obligatory 'first day of' shot on the front door....

I was worried about dropping Ryan off right at 9:15 (the starting day window was from 9:15-10am) but as we cruised down the street, all of Kirkwood appeared to be waiting in line right as camp opened.  I do love the old-school-ness of this camp....please, oh please, translate into a swimmer this summer though.  Please.  

Thank goodness we got there when we did because the oft coveted pink laundry baskets (one becomes your 'locker' for the rest of camp to store your stuff) were almost gone.  You may breathe a sigh of relief as Ryan got one of the three remaining.  

Next up was Reese....she was very excited to do her 'door shot':

All smiles as she hasn't had to get in the water yet. 

And this is Mr. Chuck - Reese did pretty darn well, went to him fairly easily but towards the end of the 10 minute session her lip was starting to quiver and she was asking to get out.   They didn't even work on anything it was more a 'get to know you' lesson.  

Mr. Chuck making it fun...

And guess who got in on the action....he couldn't have been cuter with her and Emerson was intrigued - I think she was fascinated with his facial hair.   

 The one bonus to swim camps?  Ridiculously easy bed time routine...the girls were wiped out last night.  Day 2 here we come.....

The many faces of Reese and the pool....

Reese makes me laugh.  She makes a lot of people laugh.  Yesterday they squeezed in some pool time (even though it never had a chance to really warm up so they basically waded in 6 inches of freezing cold water until the clouds and rain rolled in).  Ryan was playing the role of 'lifeguard' who threw pool toys at her 'customers' - some kind of lifeguard she made.
 Proof that it was cold.  Notice Ryan is in for a split second....

And then out....

But the strong (and/or crazy) remained...

 The face below always makes me smile....it is her mischievous 'watch out' face.  You know how you can detect when an animal may attack based on certain behaviors (or Grant if he is uber-hungry)?  Well, if you see this look on this child be forewarned.  Something will happen, I promise you that.  You are about to be splashed, tackled, danced on, etc....

 And then just as quickly our little Jekyll and Hyde turns all sweet again.

 Hula lifeguard

Cheap fun

Two spray bottles + dad + a nice warm evening =

Swim Camp Recap

On Friday we went to family day at swim camp - mom, dad, Reese, Grandma and Papa.  Ryan was excited to show us all she has learned so far.  And we couldn't have been prouder.....after a slow start (4 days of anti-head under water), we were shocked to see how far she has come.  While we're not talking Michael Phelps or anything, we are making headway.

A moment with dad...
Showing us her 'dive'...
Reese was more interested in playing with Papa or attempting to jump in the water herself...
Showcasing her backstroke...
Don't let the pained expression fool you, she loved showing us her skills....and it was mildly humorous as she looked like she was in agony trying to keep the water out of her eyes.
Pep talk from one of her adorable teachers...
A supportive pat on the head from Papa:
Grandma was right there to towel off our swimmer...
With my girls...
We couldn't have been more proud of Ryan - she did awesome and we decided to send her for one more week so we'll see how much more she has progressed after this week!

Scenes from a pool.....a baby pool

The ladies wanted to play in their spare-no-expense backyard pool yesterday.  Ryan was anxious to show anyone who asked her new underwater skills...
Dad decided to take a dip as well:
Ryan would like to thank you all for the kind words and encouragement in her quest to swim! You all are too nice!

Houston...we have water!

So we were four days into swim camp and Ms. Ryan was wanting nothing to do with going under water.  She would blow bubbles and 'bob' up and down....as long as you count the 'down' portion to be her neck, and then apparently she would stop.  I was getting a little anxious that the nice sum of cash we forked over for a two-week swim class was quickly turning into a two-week wading in two feet of water class.  Last night, Grant was out of town so my folks had us over for dinner...afterwards I told Ryan she and I were going to have our own special 'class' up at a local pool.   Off we went (she looks psyched, eh?):
I'm not going to lie, the first 30 minutes of practice were not fun. Lots of tears and hesitation. Countered with lots of hugs, deep breaths, encouragement and a bag of chips. I would hold onto her, she stopped crying for a moment while we counted to three and went under together. It wasn't pretty but we were making headway. We took a break for some chips and switched pools. In the next pool, my goal was to get her to hold hands with me, but go under on her own. That took some coaxing and promise of a soda. After a few tries, she had worked up the courage (or thirst) to give it a try. The hormonal pregnant part of me was near tears, so proud of her for starting to overcome her fear. Off we went for a soda. Sprite of course....we weren't going hardcore here. We had a nice little chat in the snack shack and something there flipped the switch because all of the sudden she was ready to head back in and practice more. From there on out it was cake. We played ring-around-the-rosie, simon says, any game in which going underwater could be part of the fun. She was the ringleader and oh so happy for herself. We played for another hour. I had to beg her to leave.
Meanwhile, back at Grandma and Grandpa's the Reesers was in heaven...
When we got back to my parents, Ryan went into the garage, found a fake flower, walked over and handed it to me saying "thank you mama for teaching me"....Seriously? Seriously? I'm still recomposing myself from that one - the ultimate in parenting moments. And as I tucked her into bed last night she gave me a big hug and said 'I can't wait for swim camp tomorrow'.  And that was the real test....would she remember what she learned and not revert back to being afraid.  I could tell as she rounded the corner that she had done it.  Such a smile across her face and so proud of herself as her teacher told me she was a different person...underwater all morning and attempting to swim - face down in the water.  Of course about .4 seconds after she got in the car she recalled the ultimate of bribes...a chocolate milkshake.  I had been promising it all week.  So off we went to grab one and celebrate:
And she gladly shared with her sister, even though "Reesey, you didn't go underwater but I will share a little anyway":
You can bet your milkshake we will be at the pool this weekend! Have a good one!