Swim season began in earnest this past weekend, when the late Spring died a brutal and sudden death at the hands of Summer. After 6 days away, i worked all day today to make time to take G in the pool this evening.

Beckie said they swam a lot over the weekend, and that G was really comfortable playing on all the floats and engaging the water a lot more from a swim-like position. Translation: she hung onto my arms and pretended to kick while flailing in a general direction. She also blew bubbles like a pro. Seems that with water-wings, doggie-paddling before the end of summer is a distinct possibility.

G was a little slow getting in with me, since we have not been in together yet this year. But when i talked her into jumping into my arms from the side, all hesitation was lost. Typical pool shenanigans ensued, and as per usual, it all led to Toss the Baby.

I could feel her turning her body more and more into the toss. Last year, she seemed to wait passively for the throw. This year she tensed up like she was ready to spring. All the wrong muscles were tensed, that is to say…all of them, and she threw herself out into completely un-balletic directions that served no purpose for either height or style, but she was definitely digging the big air.

Big air leads to big landings, and i was worried that the splashing would freak her out and she’d go running from the pool terrified yet again.   But instead, i started laughing and spraying water off my face and she seemed to pick up on it.   After a few times, she genuinely got into shaking the water out of her head and laughing about it.   The biggest test came when she went under on the landings, but 3 times in short succession she popped right back up, got her bearings, and started yelling “Again!”   We only got out when she started shivering, and this came with much protestation.

I will genuinely proclaim this an accomplishment if it happens again next time, or how she reacts during her next bath.   Come to think of it, she was actually pretty chill about getting her hair wet in the bath this morning.   Exciting possibilities!!