The Lehmans: Swim Lessons

The Monday we got home from Bass Lake Elyse started her first swim lessons! As you know, Karl's family loves the water and we know Elyse will be around it a lot. We want her to learn to swim young so she is safe and enjoys it! This year Elyse was part of a mommy and me class so I was in the pool with her along with many other mommies and babies. Our friend taught the class and she is fabulous! We went 4 days a week for 2 weeks.

The class starts and ends with singing: This is the Way We Wash Our Hands, If You're Happy and You Know It, etc. Without a doubt this was Elyse's favorite part. Second to that was all the attention and praise she received after each "swim". In fact, when most of the babies were SCREAMING the first week, Elyse would come up quiet and look around to see who was watching her. The funny part is, by the second week the other babies were loving it and Elyse decided she didn't like it anymore. She didn't cry, but she sure fought me to come up! Overall, she certainly learned to hold her breath and kick and her feet well. She also doesn't mind water on her face anymore (which comes in handy while washing her hair in the bath). So, I call it a win! And, I can't wait until swim lessons again next year!

Here we are attempting to smile for the camera before we go for a "swim".

I would talk to her before and excitedly tell her that she was gonna go for a swim and I wanted her to kick her feet and look for my toes.

Next I would gently lay her down in the water and let go.

Pretty quickly her little body would start to go vertical; I guess this is natural since that is how they walk. So, I would have to reach in and tip her (guide her shoulders down) so that her body remained horizontal.

Here are some under-water pics. See what I mean about the vertical!

In all fairness, this wasn't a true swim; it was just for the purpose of pictures, but you know what I mean.

Elyse swimming!

And coming up!

After each "swim" she got lots and lots of love and praise!

Now this part she got excited about! She would yell "YAY!" and clap her hands together, followed by looking around to see if anyone else saw her!!!

In between swims we hung out on the steps where Elyse could play with the lady bug and other "anmals" (animals). She loved this too!

Here is a group pic with all of the babies and mommies.

Here is our attempt at a group pic of just the babies.

Here is Elyse drying off and relaxing with one of her besties "Ri-Ri" (Riley)!

On the last day of swim Elyse had a little audience. Of course daddy came to watch along with Mimi and Aunty Amy with her nephew Kase. Papa didn't make it quite in time, but he got to see her afterwards!

Elyse was always pretty hungry after swim. After the last day, to celebrate the completion of her first swim lessons, Elyse and I went to McDonalds with Aunty Amy and Kase. This was her VERY FIRST time at McDonalds, and her very first HAPPY MEAL. I figured it was an appropriate way to celebrate! I'm really not sure if she liked eating the chicken nuggets or playing more!!!