SMI Photos: July 2009

July 31, 2009

rain, rain

Miss S recently hopped up on her grandparents's window ledge to watch an intense thunderstorm. Her grandfather came to get me to ask I take her picture. This is what I found when I got there:

Thanks, Da, for looking out for photo moments!

Free Counter

July 24, 2009

This was my last attempt:getting closer. I wish I'd read the amazing updates to Anne's original post, with great information from Paul and Anne. Then I would have known that I'd end up battling the green cast.

I know- too much flare, not sharp enough- but I just love it. It feels like my SIL- just cool.

I was lucky to catch a happy Miss K, who had just run under the hose at Nonna's. She really is a fish- ahem- mermaid. She's most happy when in water! Just look- a REAL smile :)

Free Counter

July 16, 2009

The amazing four day growth of a determined four year old.

This is the story of a girl who decided this year was going to be her turn to learn to swim. She talked about it all year.

So Friday the 10th, she got in the pool. She kept saying, "I need to practice. I'm learning to swim" although she wasn't floating or putting her face in the water yet. But she was sooo determined. So I offered to give her floaties, not inflated all the way.

She swam. She swam in the deep end. She swam across the pool. She kept telling herself, "Concentrate. Concentrate!"

Mind you, this was TOTALLY coming from her. I encouraged her, but did not put any pressure on her. When she got stuck, I'd give her a helpful hint. But this was totally Miss S, being her determined, self motivated self.

Once she swam across the deep end, she was hooked. She took the floaties off, and went back to practicing.

At the beginning of the day, I told my parents, "She'll be swimming in two weeks! She's so determined to do this!" After the deep end, when she got herself moing a stroke or two without help, I told them "One week! Can you believe this??"

Then, she slipped off a step. Her eyes were open. She saw her sister's mermaid fin swim by. She burst out of the water shouting, "I did it!!! I saw (Miss K) swimming!!! I was UNDER THE WATER!!!!"

That day, she jumped in the water from the steps. She went under the water over and over. And SHE SWAM. I'm not exaggerating. She was swimming.

The next time she was in the water (the 12th), she discovered she could jump in from the side of the pool. And she held her breath a little longer. And swam a little further.

The next time she swam was the 14th. She was a little more reluctant, and hit an obstacle. Toward the end of the day, I taught her the game of having an underwater tea party. She was hooked. And she realized going LOW in the water was FUN.

Now we're up to the 15th. I kid you not, this kid is SWIMMING, underwater. She is swimming under my legs. She is diving for diving sticks. She's having underwater picnics with her pool turtle toy, "Cookie." She can swim about 10 feet underwater, a quarter of the distance of the pool.

And I am so proud, and so amazed by my four year old kid, who decided she was going to swim. And did.

Free Counter