Swimming!

I feel like a broken record when I talk about the trials and tribulations of raising Sophia.  Swimming was definitely another one.  

Three weeks ago, she was DEATHLY afraid of getting her face wet.  Last year she got around pretty well in a pool...as long as she had her life vest on.  So this year, we told her it was her year to learn to swim; but before you can learn to swim, you need to learn to get your face wet.  She didn't like this one bit.  So, we did our usual: ignore everything the internet/world tells you about "keeping swimming fun(!)" and not forcing it.  We forced it -- we had no choice.  We told her that every day for the next two weeks we would be in the hot tub for a home swim lesson where she would get her face wet.   The first "lesson" was Greg's turn (I was feeding Dom); I could hear the blood curdling screams from inside the house for about 10 minutes straight.  I walked outside to Greg and Sophia TOTALLY DRY from the shoulders up.  Greg and I looked at each other....this is going to be a long two weeks!  

Every day it got ever-so-slightly better, and about 10 days into it, Sophia actually started having fun!  

Once we got her to that point, we had several fun days in the pool before she started private swim lessons.  It's amazing how far she's come in such a short time!  

Her favorite thing is diving for rings!  She still needs some help getting to the bottom of the pool, but this is worlds better than where we started!

And Sophia isn't the only one who's been enjoying the pool...

Dominic absolutely LOVES being in water.  I think he takes after someone in that way!  (hint: I'm married to him!)  He will stay in the bath or the warm pool as long as he can.  We've had several family swim dates together and just had an absolute blast.  Afterwards once, we'd had such a good time that we wanted to keep the fun going, so we went to the Lodge for drinks and dinner on the patio.  But not before Sophia insisted that we get Dominic's first photo with the bear!

So the next time we all went to the pool together, we were headed toward the car, and Sophia said to us, "Why don't we go to the brewery!?"  We couldn't think of a compelling reason not to!  So we did! : )